Saint John is welcoming a new weekly fitness event with Fort La Tour parkrun.
The free, inclusive five-kilometre walk/run takes place every Saturday at 9 a.m. at Fort La Tour.
Event director Alex Coffin says parkrun is part of a global movement that began in the UK and has expanded worldwide, bringing accessible fitness to communities everywhere.
“What started as a small running group has now grown into cities all over the world,” Coffin said.
“It’s exciting to see Saint John join in and provide a space for people to come together, move, and support one another.”
Parkrun is a non-competitive, volunteer-led event that encourages people of all fitness levels to participate, Coffin explained.
There are no winners, no trophies—just an opportunity to get active in a welcoming environment.
“You’ll get some people who take pride and set a course record or something,” Coffin said.
“But that’s totally on them, right? It’s for themselves. It’s not to win a big trophy. This is more about the group and being inclusive.”
Parkrun uses a barcode system along with a finish-line tag to track each participant’s time.
Coffin explained that parkrun’s timing system relies on a combination of personal barcodes and event-issued tags to accurately record results.
Participants register online for free and bring their barcode each week.
At the event, they receive a small, lightweight tag, which they carry until they cross the finish line.
Once they finish, participants hand the tag back, and organizers use it to match their time with their finishing position.
Coffin says this simple system helps ensure accurate timing while keeping parkrun accessible to all participants.
He adds that while everyone is welcome to run or walk without a barcode, only those who bring it will have their times recorded in the official results system.
Parkrun has already been introduced successfully in Fredericton, and now Saint John is the latest Canadian city to offer a free, weekly fitness event, according to Coffin.
“Having something like this in Saint John makes a huge difference,” Coffin said.
“It’s not just about running—it’s about community, and giving people a reason to show up, make connections, and feel supported.”
The first Fort La Tour parkrun takes place this Saturday at 9 a.m., kicking off a weekly tradition in Saint John’s running and walking community.
Registration is open online, and newcomers can sign up anytime to join.
