The parkrun 400 milestone Tshirt
Parkrun milestones are very important to parkrunners. (To those who don’t know, they are literally just the number of parkruns you’ve done.)
Back in the day, when I first started parkrun in 2015, there were just milestone Tshirts for 50, 100 and 250. There were also 10 Tshirts for under-18s and purple 25 Tshirts for volunteering. It was around that time that parkrun legend, Darren Wood, became the first person to run 500 parkruns. So a blue Tshirt was introduced for that.
In 2021, purple 25 Tshirts were introduced for running and walking, while 50, 100, 250 and 500 Tshirts were introduced for volunteering. The yellow 1000 Tshirt was introduced in 2024, when the first person reached the 1000 volunteer milestone – before the 1000th parkrun event actually happened. (You can theoretically reach volunteering milestones more quickly, because you can volunteer for junior parkrun on Sundays as well as parkrun on Saturdays.) In May this year, Darren Wood reached 1000 runs and earned his yellow Tshirt. At the time of writing, he’s still the only one.
I got my 250 Tshirt in May 2022 – seven years after I started parkrun (it was away for 70 weeks for Covid). I was so proud of my achievement. I love my 250 Tshirt and I also have a 250 vest. I always wear them when I’m doing parkrun tourism and often at my home parkrun too.
And then I started the long slog to 500…
I do a lot of parkruns. I always do at least 50 a year. There are 54 parkruns a year, if you just stay in the UK – 52 weeks, plus an extra one on Christmas Day and on New Year’s Day. I’ve never missed a Christmas Day and I’ve done every NYD since 2019 (apart from 2021 when parkrun was off for Covid, of course).
But doing approximately 50 parkruns a year still means it’s five years from the 250 milestone to the 500.
I recently picked my 100 volunteer milestone and, all being well, I’ll reach my 500 runs in spring 2027. I’m so excited about it. I’m getting all the merch! I’m even planning a tattoo.
I couldn’t imagine how long the wait between 500 and 1000 would feel. I hoped parkrun would introduce a 750 Tshirt, in maybe a bright pink or bright orange or perhaps a kind of silvery grey.
And then, all of a sudden they introduced Tshirts for all the hundreds up to 1000! Which means there are three Tshirts I’ve missed out on – 200, 300 and 400 (and 25, to be honest).
When they announced them, I was literally 31 away from 500. But I knew I had to order the 400 Tshirt. I couldn’t do parkrun tourism in a 250 top, with people thinking I hadn’t even made it too 300.
There was a bit of a delay on delivery of all the new milestone Tshirts. By the time my 400 top arrived, I only had 24 runs to 500. I was literally more than 90% of the way between 250 and 500. But it had to be done.
Part of me is disappointed they chose to do all the hundreds rather than just a 750. Knowing there is a 600 to earn will possibly slightly take the shine off my 500.
And there’s no bright pink in any of the Tshirts! The closest is the 800, which is a sort of pinkish purple. I’m guessing they thought men wouldn’t wear a pink top, but I reckon they would wear it with pride if they’d run 800 parkruns. My husband is very happy with his bright pink London marathon socks and yellow and pink marathon trainers.
Anyway, I’m rambling. Until I finally get my hands on that coveted 500 Tshirt (and all the rest of the merch I’ve promised myself), I’ll be wearing my parkrun 400 milestone Tshirt with pride.
