The impact of Covid-19 on participation , wellbeing and exercise activity in two South African Parkruns

Contributors
Gillian B Dealtry
DOI icon https://doi.org/10.36386/sajrsper.v47i1.514
Abstract

“parkrun” is an international organisation holding weekly, timed 5-km community events for runners and walkers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, parkruns were suspended globally, with gradual resumption in South Africa from October 2021. Comparison of participant event choice and performance at two Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) parkruns was ongoing when COVID-19 began, endabling questioning of previously recruited volunteers on their physical activity and wellness during suspension and after parkrun resumed, to determine effects on fitness and wellbeing. All respondents maintained some physical activity during suspension but missed the camaraderie and emotional support of parkrun. After reopening, 81% of respondents resumed parkrun within 1 year (i.e., by September 2022). Their stated motivations and benefits of parkrun were the same as pre-COVID-19. Enthusiasm for parkrun increased, although commitment to regularly attending a specific parkrun event reduced. The remaining respondents reported losing the habit of attending parkrun, developing new exercise routines, or moving to areas with no parkrun nearby. In the first quarter of 2022, total participation in NMBM parkruns was 29% of pre-COVID-19 numbers; by first quarter 2024 this increased to 69%. Individual parkrun times were initially reduced, but mean participant performance 1 year after resumption was not significantly impaired.

References
  1. ASTELL-BURT, T.; HARTIG, T.; PUTRA, G.N.E.; WALSAN, R.; DENDUP, T. & FENG, X. (2022). Green space and loneliness: A systematic review with theoretical and methodological guidance for future research. Science of the Total Environment, 847:1-16 [157521]. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157521
  2. BRAUN, V. & CLARKE, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2): 77-101. doi: 10.1191/147808870qp063oa
  3. BYRNE, D. (2022) A worked example of Braun and Clarke’s approach to reflexive thematic analysis. Quality & Quantity, 56: 1391-1412. doi: 10.1007/s11135-021-01182-y
  4. CHIVUNZE, E.; BURGESS, T.L.; CARSON, F. & BUCHHOLTZ, K. (2021). Motivation and behaviour change in parkrun participants in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18: 8102-8110. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18158102
  5. DE VRIES, L.; KOTZE, N. & MORTON MCKAY, T. (2022). Parks, participation and the Parkrun ‘move-ment’ in South Africa. South African Geographical Journal, 104(3): 382-396. doi: 10.1080/03736245.2022.2087727
  6. DE VRIES, L. & GUNTER, A. (2022). ‘Event-tualising’ physical leisure activity: How Gauteng Parkrunners brought the Parkrun home during COVID-19. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 10(5): 1562-1575. doi: 10.46222/ajhtl.19770720-179
  7. FORDYCE, B. (2023a). “parkrun South Africa’s 12th birthday!”. Hyperlink: [https://blog.parkrun.com/za/2023/11/03/parkrun-south-africas-12th-birthday/]. Retrieved on 3 April 2024.
  8. FORDYCE, B. (2023b). “A long and healthy lifestyle for all South Africans”. Hyperlink: [https://blog.parkrun.com/za/2023/10/31/a-long-and-healthy-lifestyle-for-all-south-africans/]. Retrieved on 3 April 2024.
  9. FURMAN, C.R.; VOLZ, S.C. & ROTHMAN, A.J. (2023). Understanding physical activity declines during COVID-19: The affective repercussions of disruption to exercise routines. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 64: 102330. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102330
  10. GILBURN, A. (2023a). New parkrunners are slower and the attendance gender gap narrowing making parkrun more inclusive. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20: 3602-3615. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043602
  11. GILBURN, A. (2023b). Predictors of successful return to parkrun for first-time adult participants in Scotland. PLoS Global Public Health, 3(8): e0001786. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001786
  12. GRUNSHEIT, A.; RICHARDS, J. & MEROM, D. (2018). Running on a high: parkrun and personal well-being. BMC Public Health, 18: 59-69. doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4620-1
  13. GRUNSHEIT, A.C.; RICHARDS, J.; REECE, L.; BAUMAN, A. & MEROM, D. (2020). Evidence on the reach and impact of the social physical activity phenomenon parkrun: A scoping review. Preventative Medicine Reports, 20: 101231. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101231
  14. JOUBERT, J.; NORMAN, R.; LAMBERT, E.V.; GROENEWALD, P.; SCHNEIDER, M.; BULL, F. & BRADSHAW, D. (2007). Estimating the burden of disease attributable to physical inactivity in South Africa in 2000. South African Medical Journal, 97(8): 683-690.
  15. MABWEAZARA, Z.S.; LEACH, L.L.; SMITH, M.; TSOLEKILE, L. & PUOANE, T. (2019). Ellisras Longitudinal Study 2017: Patterns of physical activity in an urban and rural setting among black South African adults (ELS 23). Cardiovascular Journal of Africa, 30(5): 262-267. doi: 10.5830/CVJA-2019-018
  16. MCCORMICK, A.; EDMANSON, P.; JANE, B. & WATSON, P. (2024). How do new runners maintain their running, and what leads to others stopping? A qualitative, longitudinal study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 70: 102515. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102515
  17. MCCARTHY, H.; POTTS, H.W.W. & FISHER, A. (2021). Physical activity behavior before, during, and after COVID-19 restrictions: Longitudinal Smartphone-tracking study of adults in the United Kingdom. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(2): e23701. doi: 10.2196/23701
  18. MZANZI LOCKDOWN MARATHON (2020). “Mzansi Marathon Lockdown Challenge.” Hyperlink: [https://www.onramp.co.za/mzansi-marathon-lockdown-challenge/] Retrieved on 3 April 2024.
  19. PARKRUN SOUTH AFRICA. (2024). parkrun. Hyperlink: [https://www.parkrun.co.za]. Retrieved on 12 April 2024.
  20. PATRICIOS, J.; SAGGERS, R. & TORRES, G. (2022) A pandemic we continue to ignore: South Africa’s disease burden of physical inactivity. Wits Journal of Clinical Medicine, 4(1): 51-56. doi: 10.18772/26180197.2022.v4n1a7
  21. PETERSON, B.; WITHERS, B.; HAWKE, F.; SPINK, M.; CALLISTER, R. & CHUTER, V. (2022). Outcomes of participation in parkrun, and factors influencing why and how often individuals participate: A systematic review of quantitative studies. Journal of Sports Science, 40(13): 1486-1499. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2022.2086522
  22. QUIRK, H.; BULLAS, A.; HAAKE, S.; GOYDER, E.; GRANEY, M.; WELLINGTON, C.; COPELAND, R.; REECE, L. & STEVINSON, C. (2021). Exploring the benefits of participation in community-based running and walking events: A cross-sectional survey of parkrun participants. BMC Public Health, 21: 1978. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11986-0
  23. QUIRK, H.; HAAKE, S.; BULLAS, A.; GRANEY, M. & WELLINGTON, C. (2023). Change in health, wellbeing and physical activity levels during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal cohort of parkrun participants in the United Kingdom. Health Promotion International, 38(3): daac012. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daac012
  24. REECE, L.J.; OWEN, K.; GRANEY, M.; JACKSON, C.; SHIELDS, M.; TURNER, G. & WELLINGTON, C. (2022). Barriers to initiating and maintaining participation in parkrun. BMC Public Health, 22: 83. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-12546-w
  25. ROCHE, C.; FISHER, A.; FANCOURT, D. & BURTOON, A. (2022). Exploring barriers and facilitators to physical activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A qualitative study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15): 9169. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19159169
  26. SHISANA, O.; LABADARIOS, D.; REHLE, T.; SIMBAYI, L.; ZUMA, K.; DHANSAY, A.; REDDY, P.; PARKER, W.; HOOSAIN, E.; NAIDOO, P.; HONGORO, C.; MCHIZA, Z.; STEYN, N.P.; DWANE, N.; MAKOAE, M.; MALULEKE, T.; RAMLAGAN, S.; ZUNGU, N.; EVANS, M.G.; JACOBS, L.; FABER, M. & SANHANES-1 TEAM. (2014). The South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2012. SANHANES-1: The Health and Nutritional Status of the Nation. Cape Town [online]: HSRC Press. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/2864 Retrieved on 3 April 2024.
  27. SMITH, R.A.; SCHNEIDER, P.P.; COSULICH, R.; QUIRK, H.; BULLAS, A.M.; HAAKE, S. & GOYDER, E. (2021). Socioeconomic inequalities in distance to and participation in a community-based running and walking activity: A longitudinal ecological study of parkrun 2010 to 2019. Health and Place, 71: 102626. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102626
  28. STEVINSON C. & HICKSON M. (2014). Exploring the public health potential of a mass community participation event. Journal of Public Health, 36(2): 268-274. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdt082
  29. WANDAI, M.E.; AAGAARD-HANSEN, J.; MANDA, S.O. & NORRIS, S.A. (2020). Transitions between body mass index categories, South Africa. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 98(12): 878-885I. doi: 10.2471/BLT.20.255703
  30. WICKS, C.; BARTON, J.; ORBELL, S. & ANDREWS, L. (2022). Psychological benefits of outdoor physical activity in natural versus urban environments: A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 14(3): 1037-1061. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12353
  31. WOODBRIDGE, K. (2023). parkrun Global Annual Report 2022–2023. Hyperlink: [https://www.parkrun.com/blog/news/2023/10/30/parkrun-global-annual-report-2022-2023/] Retrieved on 22 March 2024.
  32. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. (2024). “Obesity and overweight.” World Health Organization factsheets. Hyperlink: [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight]. Retrieved on 22 March 2024.

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Gillian B Dealtry (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright of the South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation is held by the author/s and licensed under the CC Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0