"I'm a better version of me!" parkrun data

This research was ethically approved by the University of The West of England (UWE Bristol) Ethics Committee (UWE REC REF No: FET.19.06.062)Abstract 1. If equitable greenspace interventions are to be designed and delivered to motivate wider urban publics to experience the life-enhancing benefits of physical activity, it is essential to understand what motivates people to practise physical activity in nature, the perceived benefits, and which greenspace characteristics are most preferred by whom, including deprived, inactive populations. 2. These gaps were investigated in collaboration with parkrun, a not-for-profit organisation offering free, weekly, timed 5-km runs or walks in public settings. Post parkrun questionnaires (n=246) were conducted with participants at 3 UK events across a range of park settings with contrasting public health profiles: i) Urban new town (Stevenage: socio-cultural and health profiles close to England benchmark); ii) Inner London (Barking: ethnically diverse, economically deprived, inactive); and iii) Rural Lakeland (Fell Foot: low ethnic diversity, income deprivation, healthier than benchmark). 3. Overall, Physical fitness was the dominant initial motivator for parkrun participation (n=93%). Fresh air and scenery (+28%, p