Josh and emily maddocks volunteering with Ivy and jack Junior park run — junior parkrun is family time

What if I told you there's a way to get your children outdoors, get yourself moving, meet some lovely people and still have time for the playground afterwards?

And it won't cost you a penny.

Every Sunday morning at 9am, something rather special happens at The Walks in King's Lynn.

Children aged 4 to 14 come together for junior parkrun, a free, timed 2km event where they can run, jog or walk their way around the course.

But here's something I've noticed that I absolutely love.

Some parents are using the opportunity to get back into running themselves.

And why wouldn't you?

You're already there with your children, there's a lovely 2km route around The Walks, and there's absolutely no pressure to be fast.

Your children get some exercise, you get the chance to improve your own fitness, and you're spending time together.

And the best part? You don't even have to consider yourself a runner to give it a go.

How We Discovered Junior Parkrun

It all started when I was looking into doing my first parkrun.

I'd been browsing the parkrun website and noticed there were two events listed in King's Lynn.

There was the regular Saturday 5K, but there was also something called junior parkrun on Sunday mornings.

I hadn't really looked into it before, but when I discovered it was a free 2km event for children, I thought it might be something Ivy and Jack would enjoy.

So I asked them both if they fancied giving it a go.

They said yes!

I also made it clear that if they didn't enjoy it, that was absolutely fine. There's a playground at The Walks, so we could always go and have a play instead.

As it turned out, they ended up doing both!

And that's something I've tried to remember ever since.

We weren't trying to turn them into athletes. There was no expectation that they needed to run the whole distance or achieve a particular time.

We just wanted them to give something new a go.

And what started as a simple Sunday morning activity has become something we all really look forward to.

Finding Their Own Pace (Introducing Stupid Slow!)

When Ivy and Jack first started junior parkrun, my wife Emily and I ran alongside them.

One of the first things we wanted to help them understand was pacing.

Like most children, it's tempting to set off as fast as your legs will carry you, but there's still 2km to get around!

So we explained that it's okay to slow down, take your time and save some energy for later.

And somewhere along the way, we invented something called Stupid Slow.

It's exactly what it sounds like!

When you're running out of energy, you slow right down. Almost jogging on the spot, with a slight lean forward, barely moving faster than a crawl.

You're still moving, but you're giving yourself a chance to recover before picking the pace back up.

Jack absolutely loves Stupid Slow! It's become our little family running technique, and he'll happily use it when his legs need a breather.

Ivy, on the other hand, preferred a different approach during her earlier runs.

When she needed a break, she'd simply walk for a bit before running again.

And that's absolutely fine too.

Neither approach is better than the other. It's about finding what works for them.

I think sometimes, as adults, we can become a little too focused on running continuously, getting quicker or beating our previous times.

But they're children.

They're learning, discovering what they're capable of and hopefully developing a love for being active.

If they want to run, brilliant. If they want to walk, that's brilliant too.

And if they aren't enjoying it one Sunday, there's no point turning it into something they dread.

For me, the most important thing is that they enjoy themselves and want to come back.

The Finish Line (And Straight to the Playground!)

One of my favourite things about watching Ivy and Jack at junior parkrun is seeing them coming towards the finish line.

Emily and I are usually volunteering somewhere near the finish, so when they cross the line, they come looking for whichever one of us is helping out.

And then?

They're off to the playground!

Honestly, I think that's what they're looking forward to just as much as the running itself.

They've just completed 2km, but somehow they've still got plenty of energy to climb, play and run around some more.

And I absolutely love that.

Of course, they're both proud of their running achievements too.

As of 8th November 2026, Ivy's personal best is 12:48, while Jack is right behind her with 12:54.

Just six seconds between them!

They're both incredibly proud of those times, and so are we.

But they don't need to get a personal best every Sunday for us to celebrate what they've achieved.

And the competitive spirit doesn't end when junior parkrun finishes.

After they've finished playing and we're all walking home together, they always insist on having another race!

Apparently, running 2km and spending time in the playground isn't quite enough exercise for one Sunday morning.

But that's exactly what I want running to be for them.

Something fun. Something they look forward to. Something they choose to do because they enjoy it.

The pride comes from seeing them enjoy themselves, give something a go and discover what they're capable of.

The finishing times are just a lovely bonus.

Parents, This Could Be Your Starting Line Too!

Something else I've noticed at King's Lynn junior parkrun is the number of parents who turn up ready to run alongside their children.

And I absolutely love seeing it.

Some are clearly experienced runners, while others appear to be using the opportunity to get back into exercise themselves.

And what a brilliant way to do it!

I've seen parents making the most of those 2km, sometimes looking just as relieved as their children when they reach the finish line!

And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

You don't need to be in fantastic shape to get started. You don't even need to run the whole distance.

Walk a bit, jog a bit, take your time.

And who knows where it might lead?

That Sunday morning 2km could eventually become your first 5K, your first Saturday parkrun or simply a lovely weekly habit you share with your family.

And if your children decide they'd rather make their way around without you running alongside them, that's okay too. Parents can cheer them on or even help with the event, while following the junior parkrun guidance on supervision.

If you're a parent in King's Lynn who's been thinking about getting a little more active, junior parkrun might just be the perfect place to start.

How We Ended Up Volunteering

One Sunday morning, we arrived at The Walks a little earlier than usual.

I noticed the volunteers getting ready, putting on their hi-vis jackets and preparing everything for the children to arrive.

And I had a thought.

Well, I'm already here. Why don't I help?

It really was as simple as that.

Rather than standing around waiting for Ivy and Jack to finish, I could get involved and do something useful.

And that's how volunteering became another part of our Sunday mornings.

We've now been volunteering for around a year, and it's something both Emily and I really enjoy.

There are all sorts of ways to help, whether that's marshalling, handing out finish tokens, scanning barcodes, tail walking or welcoming people who are attending for the first time.

You don't need to be an experienced runner, and the volunteer team can show you what's involved.

But there's one part of volunteering that I particularly love.

Free High Fives and Power-Ups!

One of the things I never expected when I started volunteering was just how much I'd enjoy cheering on all the children, not just my own.

There's something genuinely wonderful about watching the kids come past, giving them a bit of encouragement and seeing their faces light up.

And of course, I offer free high fives and power-ups! ✋⚡

They're completely free of charge, although I can't guarantee the power-ups will actually make anyone faster!

It's become one of my favourite things about Sunday mornings.

I've also started recognising lots of the regular children, and it's been brilliant watching them develop over time.

Some have become quicker, others have grown in confidence, and some are simply getting more comfortable with the whole experience.

You find yourself celebrating their achievements almost as much as your own children's.

And that's what makes volunteering so rewarding.

You might only be standing somewhere around The Walks for 20 or 30 minutes on a Sunday morning, but you get to play a little part in so many children's running journeys.

Seeing those smiles and knowing you've helped make their morning a little more enjoyable is worth getting out of bed for.

Watching Emily Grow in Confidence

Perhaps one of the loveliest things to come out of our volunteering journey has been watching Emily develop her confidence.

She started off marshalling, then gradually tried different roles, including finish tokens, barcode scanning and tail walking.

Each one gave her a little more experience.

Then came something a bit different.

The first-timers welcome.

This involves standing in front of a group of parents and children, introducing them to junior parkrun and explaining what they need to know before their first event.

Now, being a magician, I'm quite used to standing in front of people and talking.

Public speaking has never really bothered me.

But for Emily, this was a big step.

And she absolutely smashed it.

I was so proud watching her stand there, speaking to everyone and welcoming new families into something that's become such a big part of our own lives.

I even filmed it and shared the video on YouTube because it was a moment I wanted to remember.

It's funny, really.

We originally went along to junior parkrun because we thought it might be something nice for Ivy and Jack to do.

I never expected that we'd end up getting so much out of it ourselves.

And that's another reason I'd encourage parents to consider volunteering.

You might go along thinking you're simply helping out for part of your Sunday morning.

But you could end up making friends, learning new skills and discovering a little more confidence in yourself along the way.

Sometimes it's not just the children who grow at junior parkrun.

Thinking About Coming Along to King's Lynn junior parkrun?

If you're a parent reading this and you've never been before, I'd genuinely encourage you to give it a try.

Here's what you need to know.

Where: The Walks, King's Lynn, meeting near the café.

When: Every Sunday at 9am - get there for around 8:45 if you haven’t been before.

Distance: 2km.

Age: Children aged 4 to 14.

Cost: Completely free!

What to bring: Comfortable clothes, suitable footwear and your child's parkrun barcode if you'd like their time recorded.

You can register for free through the parkrun website before your first visit.

There's a first-timers welcome to help explain everything, and the volunteers are always happy to help if you're unsure about something.

Children can walk, jog or run at their own pace, and parents are welcome to accompany them around the course.

Just remember that only the children go through the finish funnel and receive an official junior parkrun time.

Children under 11 must have a responsible adult at the event, although they don't have to run alongside them.

And when it's all over, there's the playground!

You can find out more and register at www.parkrun.org.uk.

Give It a Go!

Looking back, it's amazing to think that something I stumbled across while researching my own first parkrun has become such a big part of our family life.

Ivy and Jack have discovered something they enjoy, made progress and celebrated achievements they're genuinely proud of.

Emily has developed her confidence through volunteering, and we've both become part of a lovely local community.

And I've discovered that giving away free high fives on a Sunday morning is surprisingly good fun!

But the thing I keep coming back to is how simple it all is.

It's free. It's local. It gets people outdoors. And there are so many different ways to get involved.

You don't need to be an experienced runner, and neither do your children.

You don't need to worry about being the slowest or whether your child will complete the whole course without walking.

There’s always a tail walker, both Emily and myself have done this role so you will never be last!

Josh Maddocks volunteering — My time as a tail walker.

And if the kids decide they love the playground just as much as the running, that's absolutely fine too.

Because for me, junior parkrun isn't about raising the next generation of elite athletes. It's about helping children enjoy being active, giving families something positive to do together and building a community where everyone feels welcome.

And if a few parents manage to kick-start their own running journeys along the way?

Even better!

Hope to see you at The Walks one Sunday morning.

I'll be the one giving away the free power-ups!

Josh 🏃‍♂️

PB with J | Personal Best with Josh

Fancy Volunteering?

You don't need any experience or have to commit to every Sunday. Whether it's marshalling, scanning barcodes or handing out finish tokens, every little bit of help makes a difference!

If you'd like to get involved, visit the King's Lynn junior parkrun website or simply speak to one of the friendly volunteers at The Walks.

Give it a go! You might enjoy it just as much as we do. 💙

ㅤ

King's Lynn Parents: The Free Sunday Morning Running Hack You Need to Know About!