In January, Helen Weir will begin her new role as Chair of the Board of Trustees for parkrun. Below, I’ve included a copy of the letter I recently sent her, reflecting on recent developments and expressing our hope for a positive path forward - one that works for everyone involved.

I want to sincerely thank you all for your continued support, in whatever form it takes. The resilience and camaraderie within our group are truly inspiring. Nothing brightens my Saturdays more than seeing the shared selfies in BBTS tops!

Wishing you a joyful festive season and a happy, healthy 2025.

Dear Mrs. Weir,

Firstly, congratulations on your appointment as Chair of Trustees for parkrun. We are excited about your leadership and the potential for a fresh approach to shaping parkrun’s future direction.

I am writing as part of the Bring Back the Stats group, which was formed in response to the changes made in February when detailed course statistics were removed from parkrun webpages. Despite the considerable challenge of reaching everyone in the parkrun community, our petition has garnered approximately 27,000 signatures - an indication of the significant number of people who oppose these changes.

These statistics were immensely valuable to many. They provided a sense of achievement for those featured, motivation to return each week to improve, and inspiration through seeing the accomplishments of others. From the under-10s to the over-100s, these stats facilitated friendly competition and strengthened community bonds. While we understand that parkrun is not a competitive sporting event, the statistics were cherished as an enjoyable and motivating aspect of participation.

We have shared substantial evidence supporting the power of gamification in sport, which aligns with these stats' benefits. However, no counter-evidence has been provided by parkrun HQ beyond subjective opinions.

Since their removal, there has been no discernible benefit to participation. The number of UK adults registering for parkrun has remained steady at an average of 10,500 per week, with little variation. Despite 539,000 new UK adult registrations this year, average weekly participation in 5k events has held at 175,000 since January, showing no upward trend. If the course stats had been off-putting, their removal should have spurred increased registrations or participation - yet this has not been the case.

Had parkrun provided clear, compelling reasons for their removal - demonstrating genuine benefits - we could have understood and accepted the change. Unfortunately, the reasons provided have been unconvincing and have led to speculation about ulterior motives, such as reducing attacks of gender category policies. This lack of transparency has eroded trust within the community and failed to address the ongoing issues it perhaps sought to allay.

During our meeting with Paul Sinton-Hewitt and Russ Jefferys, comments such as, “This is our playground; we made it. We set the rules. If you don’t like it, perhaps you should play somewhere else,” and “For each disgruntled participant, there will be another hundred to take their place,” were deeply disheartening. These statements contrast sharply with parkrun’s publicly stated values. For a charity reliant on a dedicated community of volunteers and participants, such remarks felt inappropriate and unethical.

The removal of the stats, and the manner of subsequent communications, has alienated many devoted parkrun advocates. While we appreciate the ambition to double participation within the next five years, this approach undermines the very foundations that have fuelled parkrun’s growth and success over the past two decades. Future plans to restrict access to more data, limiting it to selected contacts, would only further weaken the community and hinder opportunities to connect and celebrate achievements.

Nick Griggs' recent achievement of breaking the global parkrun record generated immense excitement and inspired participants worldwide. Similarly, local records once brought that same sense of joy and pride to individual parkrun communities. Celebrating age category records at each event fostered a sense of shared achievement and connection that enriched the entire community. Furthermore, many of the removed statistics were not performance-related, such as records for most events attended or highest attendance, which also were important to many participants.

The latest annual financial report shows that parkrun’s expenditure exceeded its income, and raises concerns about the charity’s financial reserves. Many participants have reduced their spending on merchandise and donations since the removal of the course statistics, citing diminished goodwill and frustration with the lack of transparency. Restoring these stats would not only rebuild trust and enthusiasm within the community but would also likely lead to increased financial support through renewed donations and merchandise purchases. In the long run, making these statistics accessible again could provide a welcome boost to parkrun’s revenue while preserving the goodwill that has been a cornerstone of its success.

We urge you to reconsider the decision to remove course statistics, and develop a compromise that allows them to remain accessible. Doing so would honour parkrun’s ethos and benefit the entire community. This Christmas, our wish is simple: to restore these beloved stats, reunite our community, and make parkrun the best it can be for everyone for the future.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We sincerely hope your leadership will promote transparency, inclusivity, and renewed community engagement in parkrun’s future direction. I wish you a very merry Christmas and a successful 2025.

Best wishes,

Mary Taylor
Bring Back the Stats group