I recently discovered Parkrun (see https://www.parkrun.com/ for details) and realised during our trip through Ireland and the UK that house-sitting and Parkrun are a perfect combination.
For sitters: The run (or walk) on Saturday morning gives you a simple and hassle-free way to meet new people, explore the area and get some exercise. There are also places where you can take your dog along.
For HOs: There are loads of Parkrun tourists – they travel to a different place every weekend to take part in the event on Saturday morning (earning points in the various challenges). These Parkrunners are therefore ideal for short weekend house-sits.
So here’s my appeal to the hosts: find out where the nearest Parkrun is in your area, how to get there, and mention this in your listing!
I know, they are brilliant @MJS . Also Parkrun’s are typically dog friendly. They are also free, so if there’s a Parkrun in a place where you usually have to pay to gain access, you’ll get admission for free, but they are usually in free public parks etc anyway.
This one is amazing:
Eg Beautiful Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire (usually £21 per person)
AND you don’t need to run, there are plenty that walk the route, like us.
For sitters who do not fancy running, I would highly recommend mall walking/jogging during the summer … in Dubai. It is a great way to get some exercise in a fully air-conditioned environment and meet new people. Morning activities in almost every mall. More info on local expatriate Facebook groups.
It all started (as always) with a few individuals, but now it has grown enormously, often in a more organised form. Check out e.g. Dubai Mallathon: During the summer months, the Dubai Sports Council hosts a massive city-wide fitness initiative across six major malls. Between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM daily, you can walk or jog in destinations like The Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and Dubai Hills Mall. The routes typically feature designated distances (2.5k, 5k, and 10k) as well as pop-up wellness stations. [1]