ParkRun York

York parkrun is back at York Racecourse on Saturday 29 August, and it's a weekly one, so if you can't make this particular date, there's another one the following Saturday. It's a 5km run, and the course follows the tarmac service road around the inside of the racecourse, which means you'll be doing about one and a half laps to hit the distance. It's 3.11 miles in total, and the whole thing is very flat with few turns, so it's a fast one if you're chasing a personal best. There's only about 25 metres of total climb across the whole route, which is practically nothing.

Because it's a parkrun, it's open to everyone, regardless of how fast you go. You can run it, jog it, or walk it, and you'll be in the company of people doing the same. It's a community event rather than a competitive race, so there's no pressure to keep up with anyone in particular. If you're new to it, you'll find plenty of other first-timers and regular runners who've been coming for years.

The practical side is simple: it's free to take part, though you do need to register in advance. The start is at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, and the venue is York Racecourse, Cherry Lane/Tadcaster Road, YO23 1EX. If you've never been, the racecourse is easy enough to find on the edge of the city, and the tarmac service road keeps the footing steady throughout.