How parkrun Supports Veterans in Rebuilding Routine and Community

Every Saturday morning in more than 520 locations across Australia, communities gather to participate at parkrun, whether to walk, jog, run or volunteer. For some, parkrun is a fitness routine. For others, it’s a way to connect not just with themselves but with others and with their community.

For veterans, especially after transition, finding a sense of connection in their community can be especially meaningful. After years of service, structure, and shared purpose, the transition to civilian life can feel disorienting. parkrun offers a space where people are welcomed without expectation, where participation is celebrated regardless of pace, and where community is built through shared experience.

Rene, a veteran of the New Zealand Army, found that parkrun helped him rebuild routine, rediscover fitness, and reconnect with his family and community.

Service and Sacrifice

Rene joined the New Zealand Army at age 17, beginning his career as a Telecommunications Technician with the Royal New Zealand Signals Corps. When the trade was merged into the Electronics Technician stream under the NZ Army Logistic Regiment, Rene continued to serve, eventually reaching the rank of Corporal.

After leaving the Army in 2006, he spent several years travelling internationally, exploring Canada, the USA, the UK, and Australia. He was enjoying exploring the world and without the regimented training that defence provides, which saw his fitness starting to decline.

In 2010, he re-enlisted and was deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, where he supported electronic equipment and served as a backup LAV III driver with the NZSAS on Operation Waatea. During his deployment, a major earthquake struck Christchurch, the city where Rene and his pregnant fiancée (now wife), was based. The experience prompted a significant life decision and upon returning from Afghanistan, with both of them packing up their bags and relocating to New South Wales to be closer to Rene’s wife’s family in Bega NSW, the start of a new chapter for them.

A New Kind of Routine

Upon transitioning to civilian life, Rene found himself trying to keep active and connected sharing: “The Army had a different kind of fitness where you need to carry enough equipment to support yourself and the tasks, and not be fatigued.” The reality is that it is hard to replicate those fitness regimes in civilian life, so Rene had to find another outlet and although he had always been active, he struggled to find a routine that felt purposeful.

That changed when a friend invited him to parkrun. Rene had never heard of the free, weekly 5km event before moving to Wollongong. He knew that all paces are encouraged, and that you didn’t have to be fast or run the entire distance, however he was still hesitant at first. Once his friend got him to his first parkrun he was quickly put at ease. He shared, “The first time I turned up, I wasn’t the only first timer, but the crowd of runners and volunteers clapped and celebrated our first parkrun.”

After Rene’s first parkrun, he didn’t immediately fall into a routine, it took him a while to work up 10 parkrun finishes. “I think I kept finding ways to avoid it, just a feeling of being overweight and knowing people that also ran at parkrun,” Rene said.

With the encouragement of his friend, who kept inviting him to go each week and run at the same pace, this sense of routine and connection kept Rene in routine and parkrun quickly became something that him and his mate looked forward to each week. The atmosphere was inclusive, the pace flexible, and the post-run coffee something to look forward. Rene knew he didn’t need to run fast or finish first. He just needed to show up.

parkrun, a special place for the whole family

parkrun quickly became part of Rene’s family life. His mother-in-law Beth was a dedicated volunteer at Bega parkrun, often helping even on the frosty, cold winter mornings there. Her commitment to the event reflected the values Rene had carried through his service, consistency, contribution, and care for others.

When Beth passed away suddenly, the Bega parkrun community held a special event in her memory. Many people attended for the first time, drawn by the impact Beth had made. That same week, Rene’s youngest son Nixon turned four, the minimum age to officially register for parkrun. Beth’s memorial event marked Nixon’s first official run, where he ran, at Bega parkrun with his father, a special moment for them both. The atmosphere was uplifting and they could attend together, feeling supported by the community, although most people were unaware of the significance. You can read more about the special event held here.

Endurance, Friendship, and Support

Through parkrun, Rene has built lasting friendships, including one with Chris, a fellow dad and runner. The two met while pushing strollers at parkrun and bonded over shared values and their connection to their parkrun group, Running Dads OZ. They began training together at 5am, fitting in runs before their families woke up. It became a way to stay active while protecting time with their children.

Rene also connected with Invictus Australia through parkrun, attending the North Wollongong parkrun in October last year, where Invictus Australia encouraged veterans to come down and connect. Rene encouraged many of his mates and fellow veterans to attend and get active with Team Veteran, including his friend Chris.

Rene has since completed a range of endurance races, supported by friends he met through parkrun. His commitment and consistency have inspired others, and his community has rallied around him crewing, pacing, and cheering him on at events. On 14th of November, Rene will take on Coast to Kosci, he is one of around 70 runners selected to take on Australia’s premier 240km ultramarathon. The local community has rallied around Rene, getting behind him in his efforts to race and also raise awareness for Skin Cancer Australia. You can follow his journey here.

A Message to Veterans

Rene’s advice to other veterans who want to get out there and give parkrun a go: “Don’t wait for the time to be right, you’ll be waiting a while.”

He understands that parkrun can feel overwhelming at first, but it’s also adaptable. Whether walking, jogging, or running, the 5km distance is achievable, you just have to take one step at a time. There are no medals or podiums. People come together to move, connect, and support each other. There are also a variety of volunteering roles you can participate in, too.

Rene also had some tips on meeting new people through parkrun, he shared “You can always wear something identifiable and relatable like a sports team shirt you support, or a band you like. It can be a good talking point if people know something they can talk to you about, unless you wear a Wallabies shirt then expect banter from me”.

CONNECT WITH TEAM VETERAN PARKRUN GROUP

Throughout October, Invictus Australia staff will be at a range of parkrun locations across the country with an aim of connecting veterans and their families in local communities. If you’d like to find the closest one to you, see where we’ll be here, including North Wollongong on the 25th of October.

To get your FREE Team Veteran shirt at one of the above parkrun locations, you’ll need to sign up to Team Veteran parkrun group and show an Invictus Australia staff member on ground. Team Veteran one of the third biggest parkrun group in Australia, a group that aims to connect current and former serving veterans and their families to find community, connection and friendship.