Keep on Running – parkrun comes to Innsbruck

11 November 2025

Post originally written in: English

Established in London 21 years ago, parkrun finally arrived in Innsbruck at the end of August. I found out about it from two British friends who had the idea to bring the weekly five kilometer run to Innsbruck at roughly the same time. Rhys Clayton (from Wales) and Matt Firth (from England) had previously never met but both had taken part in parkruns in the UK and were keen to get bring the event to their adopted home.

Sadly, due to injury, I'm not able to run at the moment, but, as I've come to find out, the actual running is only a part of the parkrun experience. I've volunteered as a marshal and timer several times and thoroughly enjoyed taking part in that way.

With around seventy people running when the weather's been good (understandably, numbers drop in the cold and rain... let's see what happens when the snow arrives!), parkrun Innpromenade is already proving popular with both locals and visitors.

I recently talked to Matt to find out more.

How did you first hear about parkrun?

Matt: "Around ten years ago when my best friend back in the UK, Kirsten Burnett, set up a local event. She’d recently got into running and wanted to contribute something to the local community. I’d also got back into running around the same time and could see how great it would be to have a parkrun in Innsbruck.

What really struck me about parkrun was that it wasn’t just about running. It was about people – about creating a space where anyone could turn up, run or walk five km, volunteer, bring their kids, have a coffee afterwards, and feel part of a community. It also changed how I thought about running – not just as something individual (which for me it generally had been), but as something that could be deeply social."

What was the impetus to bring it to Innsbruck?

M: "I’d seen how great parkrun had been for Kirsten and her community and wanted to bring that here. I also wanted to build a stronger connection with Innsbruck. Shortly after I moved here 27 years ago, I started a pub quiz, which I ran for five years before moving to Augsburg. When I moved back to Innsbruck, both my wife and I were focused on work and family. I didn’t feel I had the time to commit to a weekly event but did miss running the quiz and had had the idea of starting a parkrun in the back of my mind for quite some time. Then Kirsten sent me a series of ChatGPT prompts at the end of 2024 to help establish goals for the new year. One of them was ‘Looking back on 2025, what is the one achievement that would make you most proud’. The answer was clear: establishing a parkrun in Innsbruck.

Establishing a parkrun in Innsbruck

M: I contacted some friends to see if anyone else would be interested. There was a lot of support – including from my friend Steve Neill, who was also keen to get one going. So the time was right.

Steve and I wanted to help create something lasting and meaningful – something that would bring people together around movement, wellbeing, and friendship. Running has played an important role in my life, both physically and mentally, and I wanted to share that. As a dad, I also wanted my children to grow up with parkrun as part of their lives – something they could participate in, volunteer at, and feel proud of. That’s true for many of my friends too. Many of my closest friends have kids of similar ages who now regularly run and volunteer at parkrun. I remember hearing Steve’s son explaining parkrun to a friend – he was so proud of what he was part of. And he summed up the parkrun ethos perfectly: a run, not a race. Open to all. I was quite choked."

What was the process? (Who did you go to for permission etc)

M: "Once Steve and I decided to try to bring parkrun here, the first step was to contact Parkrun Austria. From the start, we had a lot of support from Lukas Gärtner, who helps guide new events in Austria, and from Wiebke Kasper, the territory manager for Austria and Germany. They put us in touch with Rhys and the three of us formed the beginnings of an initial core team of ten (we now have over thirty people who regularly volunteer).

Lukas helped Steve, Rhys, and me through the process – everything from completing the relatively straightforward insurance documents and other paperwork to dealing with the operational details that make an event run smoothly. We also had a huge amount of support from Kirsten, who brought with her over ten years of experience.

Volunteers and Paperwork

M: Before any paperwork, though, we first had to build a core team of volunteers. Parkrun relies entirely on volunteers to ensure each event runs smoothly. We need a minimum of six people each Saturday: a run director, two marshals, and three people who ensure everyone gets the correct time (every run or walk is timed and results are available shortly after the event).

After we got permission from the city, they then processed the paperwork, sent us the equipment (including signs, hi-vis jackets for volunteers, a first aid kit, and a defibrillator), and set up the online infrastructure."

What is the parkrun ethos?

M: "The ethos is simple: parkrun is for everyone. It’s free, it’s weekly, and it’s completely inclusive. You can run, jog, walk, push a buggy, bring a dog, or just come along to enjoy the great atmosphere. There’s no pressure, no barriers, and no competition – it’s a run, not a race.

What I love most is that every participant is celebrated in the same way, whether they’re finishing first, beating their PB (personal best), or completing their first-ever 5 km. It’s about building a supportive community where people feel they belong and where participation matters more than performance. That inclusivity and openness is at the heart of what makes parkrun so special."

How was the route picked?

M: "We wanted a route that captured what makes Innsbruck so beautiful while also being safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone. The Innpromenade along the river was the obvious choice – it’s flat, scenic, easy to navigate, and already a popular route for walkers and runners. It was also pretty much the only realistic route we could have chosen!

It was also essential for us to be on a bus route, have nearby parking, and have a café that could accommodate large numbers of runners after each event. The coffee and chat after each run are a big part of parkrun. It’s what I look forward to most whenever I’m on holiday somewhere near a parkrun – it’s a great way to meet new people with no ice to break. You immediately have something in common with everyone there. That social side – the conversations and connections that happen after the run – is every bit as important as the run itself."

What does running mean to you personally?

M: "It’s a fantastic way to both get fit and keep fit, and something most people can do at some level. All you need is a pair of running shoes. My runs are also a time that I can enjoy the wonderful scenery that surrounds us. You’d never get me on a treadmill. Whatever the weather – within reason – you can always run outside as long as you’re dressed appropriately. Starting the morning with a run also helps set me up for the day. And exposure to at least twenty minutes of natural light within a couple of hours of waking up has also been proven to improve sleep quality – especially when combined with a fast walk or run.

I run most days before work and generally try a different route or a different approach each time. Sometimes I’ll do hill running, sometimes a long run, other times fartlek (an approach informed by high-intensity interval training). It’s always different, never boring, and you can always set yourself a new manageable challenge."