If you walk through Dartford’s Central Park at 9AM on a Sunday, you can’t miss the sight of dozens of children smiling and enjoying themselves as they take part in the weekly junior parkrun.

Everyone is welcome at this free and fun event for 4 – 14 year olds to walk, jog or run 2 kilometres around the park. The children can complete the 2-lap course every Sunday while being cheered all the way round by the friendly marshals.

Parents are very welcome to join their child for junior parkrun. There is no time limit and no one finishes last thanks to the role of a volunteer tail walker. Why not get together a group of friends or classmates and come and join us? Just register on the parkrun website www.parkrun.org.uk/register/

The first Dartford junior parkrun took place in May 2016 and since then it has been held more than 260 times with 1200 children having finished. It is one of around 400 junior parkruns that take place across the UK each week.

The event has become a regular Sunday morning fixture for many of those who take part, and regular attenders are awarded a special wristband for completing it 11, 21, 50 and 100 times.

As their confidence increases, some of the children go on to join local athletics clubs or take part in the longer 5k parkrun event held in Central Park every Saturday morning, which is open to anyone aged over 4 years.

Dartford junior parkrun only takes place thanks to a community of enthusiastic volunteers who come together on Sunday mornings to ensure a safe and fun event that can be enjoyed by everyone. However, it is always looking for new people to come along to help and most of the roles are very easy to do.

For more information about taking part or volunteering at Dartford junior parkrun, visit the website at www.parkrun.org.uk/dartford-juniors or take a look at our pages on Facebook or Twitter
@dartfordjpr