Provo River Delta Gateway parkrun

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A Weekly 5K, a Worldwide Community: parkrun Brings a New Saturday Tradition to Provo

Free, volunteer-led gatherings welcome walkers, runners, and neighbors of every pace

PROVO, Utah — A Saturday morning walk or run can become something more when familiar faces greet you each week. That sense of belonging is at the heart of Provo River Delta Gateway parkrun, a new community gathering designed to bring people together through movement, volunteering, and friendship.

parkrun is a worldwide movement built around free, weekly, timed 5K events. It began in 2004 with 13 participants and five volunteers in London’s Bushy Park and has grown into an international community of more than 12 million registered parkrunners. Provo is expected to become Utah’s second parkrun, joining Coal Creek Trail parkrun in Cedar City.

What makes parkrun different from another 5K is the opportunity to return every week, without an entry fee or pressure to perform. Walking is welcome, there is no time limit, and a volunteer tail walker finishes behind the participants so nobody needs to worry about being last. Timing gives people a way to follow their own progress, while the weekly routine creates space for friendships to grow.

parkrun offers a free weekly way to meet people, build fitness, and prepare for Utah’s popular races. The Utah Valley Marathon weekend reports more than 7,000 runners, Provo’s Freedom Run has drawn more than 6,000, and Temple to Temple has attracted crowds exceeding 10,000. The St. George Marathon and Half Marathon welcomed about 9,000 runners in 2025, while the Deseret News 10K recorded more than 1,000 finishers in 2026.

Whether preparing for a first 5K, the Provo City Half Marathon, or a full marathon, participants can use parkrun to practice pacing, track progress, and find encouragement from others. Walkers and volunteers are equally welcome, making Saturday morning an opportunity to build friendships as well as fitness.

Someone might arrive hoping to improve a 5K time, spend an hour outdoors, or meet people after moving to the area. Others may come primarily to volunteer. Each has a place in the same community.

“Utah has an extraordinary running community, and we want everyone to feel they have a place in it,” said John Hedengren, a local organizer and Roadrunner Junior Club coach. “Our goal is a Saturday tradition where people learn each other’s names, encourage one another, and look forward to coming back. Walking, running, or helping at the finish line are all ways to belong.”

The event builds on a rich local running tradition. BYU-connected Olympians include marathoners Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, steeplechaser Courtney Wayment, and Olympic silver medalist Kenneth Rooks. BYU’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams both won NCAA championships in 2024, while Utah Valley University’s men’s and women’s track and field teams swept the 2025 Western Athletic Conference outdoor championships.

That tradition extends through local high schools, including national standouts such as Timpview graduates Aidan Troutner, Jane Hedengren and Lily Alder, American Fork graduates Casey Clinger and Daniel Simmons and Herriman graduate Jackson Spencer. Community programs such as Roadrunner Junior Club help younger athletes discover the sport through teamwork, encouragement, and friendships. Provo parkrun adds another welcoming place for those connections to grow across ages and experience levels.

Volunteers make the weekly gathering possible, welcoming newcomers, guiding participants along the course, keeping time, and scanning finish barcodes. Helping out offers its own opportunity to meet neighbors and contribute, whether or not someone wants to complete the 5K.

Practice events begin October 17, 2026, giving organizers and participants time to refine course logistics, rehearse finish-line procedures, and build the volunteer team before the official launch on November 21.

Participants register once for free with parkrun and bring their personal barcode to have their finish recorded. The same registration works at parkrun events around the world, connecting a Saturday morning in Provo with a much larger community.

Participation information

• Location: Delta Gateway Park, 311 N. Lakeshore Drive, Provo

• Schedule: Saturdays at 8 a.m. May-October and 9 a.m. November-April

• Distance: 5K, with walking, jogging, and running welcome

• Cost: Free

• Practice events: Beginning October 17, 2026

• Official launch: November 21, 2026

• Registration: parkrun.us/register (available early November for Provo event, register for any parkrun to get the barcode)

Local information and volunteer opportunities: https://roadrunners.club/events/parkrun

Location and seasonal start times are listed on the local event information page.

Media contact:

Eliza Jorgensen

801-388-5299

hafeneliza@gmail.com

Instagram @provo.run