Newism behind the global parkrun App

parkrun, the global movement

If you haven’t heard of parkrun, it’s time to lace up and join the movement that’s sweeping the globe! With free, weekly 5km events in 22 countries, parkrun is more than a jaunt in the park—it’s a community phenomenon. And guess what? Every finisher's time, every volunteer's effort, and the entire global buzz come together through an app crafted by Team Newism.

We're proud to say that our Virtual Volunteer app has been a game-changer for parkrun. It’s not just about ditching the old-school stopwatches, infrared scanners and bulky hardware; it’s about innovation that empowers. Thanks to the app, parkrun has been able to expand, hosting more events worldwide without breaking a sweat over costs. In fact, the net savings in future hardware and equipment are mind boggling.

Available for both Android and iOS, the app we designed is sleek and user-friendly, boasting a foolproof barcode scanner and a ‘smart’ stopwatch, all fine-tuned to meet parkrun’s unique event needs. In 2020, we levelled up the game by integrating the app with parkrun’s API, making results faster than a sprinter on the final stretch and more reliable than Pippa, who turns up every week to parkrun – rain, hail or shine.

Today, the app stands as the heart of parkrun’s operations, and we’re right there with them - ensuring it stays up to speed with the latest smartphone tech and new platform updates. Because at Newism, we don’t just build apps; we build partnerships that go the distance.

Outcome

The Virtual Volunteer app is now the heartbeat of parkrun events worldwide, proving to be indispensable. And we at Newism are committed to the long run (or walk!).

We're continuously updating and refining the app, ensuring it stays in stride with the latest tech trends and platform updates - because when parkrun moves forward, we're right there with them, keeping pace every step of the way.

The app is the critical link in processing hundreds of thousands of personal parkrun results each and every week across 2,000+ locations global.

In 2018 Newism took home the Best App Award at the annual Newi Digital Awards.