How can UK public health initiatives support each other to improve the maintenance of physical activity? Evidence from a cross-sectional survey of runners who move from Couch-to-5k to parkrun

Bibliographic Data

ID22944502
AuthorsNicola Relph (0000-0003-3323-3444, Edge Hill University, corresponding author), Michael Owen (0000-0002-7960-2404, Edge Hill University), Mohammed Moinuddin (0000-0001-9364-390X, Edge Hill University), Robert J Noonan (0000-0001-9575-5729, University of Greater Manchester), Paola Dey (0000-0003-4555-1917, Edge Hill University), Alice Bullas (0000-0003-2857-4236, The Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University , Olympic Legacy Park, 2 Old Hall Road, Sheffield S9 3TU , UK), Helen Quirk (0000-0003-2716-4681, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield , 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA , UK), Steve Haake (0000-0002-4449-6680, The Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University , Olympic Legacy Park, 2 Old Hall Road, Sheffield S9 3TU , UK)
Year2023
Volume38
Issue5
Publication date2023-10-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/daad108
PMID37791595
OpenAlexW4387322681
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited21

Physical activity improves physical and mental well-being and reduces mortality risk. However, only a quarter of adults globally meet recommended physical activity levels for health. Two common initiatives in the UK are Couch-to-5k (an app-assisted 9-week walk/run programme) and parkrun (a free, weekly, timed 5-km walk/run). It is not known how these initiatives are linked, how Couch-to-5k parkrunners compare to parkrunners, and the extent to which this influences their parkrun performance. The aims were to compare the characteristics and motives and to compare physical activity levels, parkrun performance and the impact of parkrun between Couch-to-5k parkrunners and parkrunners. Three thousand two hundred and ninety six Couch-to-5k parkrunners were compared to 55,923 parkrunners to explore age, sex, ethnicity, employment status, neighbourhood deprivation, motives, physical activity levels, parkrun performance and the impact of parkrun. Couch-to-5k parkrunners were slightly older, more likely to be female and work part-time, but similar in ethnicity, and neighbourhood deprivation compared with other parkrunners. Couch-to-5k parkrunners had different motives for participation and reported high levels of physical activity at registration, which remained to the point of survey completion. This group had slower parkrun times but, when registered for a year, completed a similar number of runs (11) per year. Larger proportions of Couch-to-5k parkrunners perceived positive impacts compared with other parkrunners and 65% of Couch-to-5k parkrunners reported improvements to their lifestyle. parkrun appears to be an effective pathway for those on the Couch-to-5k programme, and the promising positive association between the two initiatives may be effective in assisting previously inactive participants to take part in weekly physical activity.

Cross-sectional study · Ethnic group · Geography · Mental health · Neighbourhood (mathematics) · Physical activity · Physical therapy · Psychiatry · Public health · Quarter (Canadian coin) · Demography · Medicine · Nursing · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Physical Activity and Health · Psychology · Urban Transport and Accessibility · Gerontology

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