Runners who socialise before a parkrun tend to perform better, study suggests

Being social before the event, such as chatting with friends, was associated with higher enjoyment and increased energy levels during the 5km run. Picture: iStock

Runners who socialise with other participants before a race tend to perform better, a new study suggests.

Researchers at University of Limerick and Oxford University looked at participants in parkrun, a free weekly community-based run that takes place in many towns and villages in Ireland.