Publish date: 11 January 2023
Jeremy Mulcaire – Rough Sleepers and Mental health programme team park runner
Jeremy Mulcaire is a service manager from the Rough Sleepers and Mental Health programme team. As part of the West London Get Fit campaign Jeremy wanted to share how he began his running journey by taking part in a park run every Saturday.
What is a Park Run?
A Park run is a weekly run that takes place in a local park on a Saturday at 9am, all participants try to complete a 5km course at their own pace. The aim is for members of the community to get active, have some fun and potentially make friends whilst taking part.
What made you take up running and how long have you been taking part?
I joined Park Run about 5 years ago and tried to do the 5 km run every week early on a Saturday morning. A friend a similar age to me had participated and persuaded me to try. At first I found I was slow, but there are people with every kind of speed and there is no pressure to do it fast. The point is to get healthy together. There are some amazing runners who do it in 19 minutes!
What mental and physical benefits have you experienced since you began running?
At the start I often wait at the back of the group – there are often 100 + runners of all ages, say 10 years to 80+ years - and I go with a slower group who sometimes do it in 40 mins. There are people who need to slow to a walk during the course, but this is fine –the object is to keep moving!
What beginner’s tips would you give to someone who is thinking of taking up running?
There is something about taking part in such a huge community event that makes it feel good – it costs nothing and can only improve your physical and mental health. I have also found it can help in the “art” of problem solving…you have a “head” space put aside where you can think through issues. If you are thinking of starting and have no running experience, like many of us, then stay at the back at the start and stay with the slower runners. Some like to improve their speed and you get issued with a bar code which records your time for you it’s so simple! I also take my music with me, which I find encouraging and motivating - and am sure it helps de-stress me!
Tell us about one of your most memorable runs and why was it special?
I have taken part in the runs at Northolt, Gunnersbury and Osterley Park. Osterley is a flat run, Northolt has some slopes and Gunnersbury is between the two. They are all fun and interesting places to run… I usually see someone I know from the neighbourhood or work. Do try it!