Running in groups: Nine in ten Brits who take part are HAPPIER
Nine of out of ten Brits are HAPPIER from Parkruns
The Parkrun is now a nationwide phenomenon in which up to 120,000 people a week run as fast or as slow as they like across five kilometres of countryside or parkland.
And while the fitness benefits are obvious, a vast majority are also experiences a feel good factor which includes higher levels of confidence, motivation and body image, said the university research.
Unlike more serious events, such as the marathon, many of those who take part link up with others via social networks, including the Strava exercise app for instance, which makes it more of a fun run.
Yet the study by Glasgow Caledonian University also found that many of those who try a weekend Parkrun go on to do more exercise during the week as well.