The physical and mental health benefits of running have been extensively studied. We know that runners tend to live longer, and have a lower risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer than non-runners. Scientific research has also provided biological backing for the phenomenon called ‘runner’s high’, a chemical hit generating a sensation comparable to the use of narcotics.
But still I’m greeted with an expression somewhere between exasperation and confusion when I tell my non-runner friends that I’ve entered another race. Probably because I complain before and after—and sometimes during—my runs. “I’m too busy”, “it looks cold outside” or “it’s not a hair-wash day”, feature prominently in my rotation of excuses. And I’m sure my limping around, whining about shin splints doesn’t do much to sell the sport to them.
So why, you may ask, do I keep running if all it does is cause me pain and misery? Because, contrary to my mithering, I do genuinely, somewhere deep, deep down, enjoy it. And, most of all, because I love being part of the community of runners.
Running has a tendency to bring out the best in people, and make you feel all fuzzy inside. Many tears were shed when Rugby League star Kevin Sinfield carried his friend, and former Leeds Rhino teammate who suffered with motor neurone disease, Rob Burrow over the Leeds Marathon finish line in 2023. Similarly, presenter and podcaster, Jaimie Laing undoubtedly pulled on a few heart-strings upon completing his five-day ultra marathon challenge in aid of Comic Relief earlier this year.
Running has the ability to foster a sense of community that can restore your faith in humanity. And Oxford’s running culture is no exception.
Town and Gown 10k race
On 11 May, I joined over 6,000 runners to race in Oxford’s annual “Town and Gown” 10k. The race was established in 1982 by the father of Daniel Cleaver, a local boy with muscular dystrophy, with the aim of raising money for Muscular Dystrophy UK. This year’s was a record event, raising a whopping £300,000!
Although a play on the age-old ‘feud’ between Oxford’s students and local residents, the Town and Gown race does anything but rehash historic divisions. It encourages a sense of community and team spirit amongst students and locals, united in aid of a common cause.
The Parkrun at University Parks
If you want to see Oxford’s running culture in action, head to University Parks at 9am on a Saturday morning. Students and locals of all ages and species (dogs are welcome, nay, encouraged) gather every week for Parkrun: free community 5k events that take place globally.
My first experience of the Uni Parks Parkrun was in April 2024, five months after picking up running as my New Year’s resolution. I was terrified. Making it around the course wasn’t my biggest worry, but what daunted me the most were the social aspects. I didn’t know anybody there and had never done a Parkrun before, nor any other remotely competitive sporting activity for that matter. As soon as I arrived on that crisp Spring morning, however, it was clear just how wrong I was. Going to Parkrun was like a warm hug that left you feeling supported, encouraged and buzzed on endorphins from getting out in nature and doing some exercise. It soon became a staple of my Saturday morning routine.
I asked Alex, the co-director of the Uni Parks Parkrun, about why people love to run and what makes community running so special. “Everyone’s reason for taking part can be different”, he told me: “It can be about fitness, mental health, spending a bit more time outdoors. It can be a way to socialise with friends, to meet new people in the community, or just an excuse to stop by the café afterwards”. After every event, the group meets at the Common Ground café, Little Clarendon Street for a post-Parkrun coffee.
Reflecting on his involvement with Parkrun—joining the first ever Uni Parks event when he was a graduate student at Oxford—Alex’s experiences reflected my own: “I loved the opportunity to be part of a community that was outside of the bubble of student life”. And there’s more ways to get involved in the community than running! “Many people walk our events each week”, or they volunteer which is a “super fun and rewarding” role that is commitment-free, but crucial for the events to take place.
Alex summarised by saying, “it’s been really heartening to see the popularity of our event grow over the last three years, and I think above all it’s the friendly and inclusive community that’s grown around our event that keeps people coming back.” The Uni Parks Parkrun is hugely popular; to date, it has seen over 20,000 finishers, and it’s easy to see why.
Joining a run club or taking part in a race can feel daunting, even more so in a place like Oxford which is full to the brim with competitive over-achievers. But, against all odds, Oxford’s running culture is genuinely supportive, welcoming and inclusive of all abilities. Running is so much more than speed, distance or what position you finish in—it’s about friendship, community and those beautiful moments that restore your faith in human kindness.