Identification of novel characteristics that encourage first-time adult participants to return to parkrun in Scotland

Abstract

Physical activity is essential for promoting good health and reducing burdens on healthcare systems. parkrun organise free weekly events where participants run or walk a 5km route. Previous studies have identified characteristics of people associated with lower levels of engaging in and returning to parkrun events. The aim of the study was to identify novel characteristics of parkrun events associated with the return rate of new participants. The return rate of adult first-time participants to parkrun was determined for all 5km parkrun events that took place in Scotland over a 1-year period between February 2019 and January 2020. The dataset consisted of 20,191 adult participants made up of 11,459 females and 8,732 males across 58 different event venues. A General Linear Mixed Model was used to determine factors associated with whether new participants returned to parkrun. Return rates were negatively correlated with event size and positively correlated with the proportion of other first-time adult participants. Age was positively correlated with return rate and males were more likely to return. New participants that finished in a relatively slow time were disproportionately less likely to return. Return rates were positively correlated with the amount of freshwater and woodland on the route. These findings provide opportunities to manage events to enhance their efficacy. For example, specific events could be promoted as first-timer days to encourage new participants to attend their first event together. The creation of new events could be prioritised in proximity to those events that currently experience the highest attendances. The study suggests that benefits of green exercise maybe enhanced by freshwater and woodland. Therefore, the creation of events with routes through woodland and alongside freshwater could be prioritised. The findings are likely to be widely application to other mass participation events and those interesting in understanding the mechanism by which green exercise provides its benefits.