Meet Greg Parkin - The Heart of Outlaw

At Outlaw, we know that while athletes may cross the finish line alone, no event is ever possible without the incredible community of volunteers behind it.

One of those volunteers is Greg Parkin, better known within the Outlaw community as ‘Wakey Greg.’

Greg has been part of the Outlaw journey from the very beginning, first getting involved around 2006 when he helped support what was then the British Championships in Wakefield. After meeting the Outlaw team through local triathlon connections, he quickly became part of the furniture and has now spent more than 15 years volunteering across the series, most notably leading a feed station at every Outlaw ‘full’ event.

Ahead of the Outlaw Nottingham Weekend, we caught up with Greg to find out why he finds volunteering “fantastically rewarding.”

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The power of community

“If you have ever been involved in something with a strong community spirit, you understand the incredible power it holds,” Greg explains. “When everybody is aligned with making the event a success, wishing every athlete finishes and working collaboratively, it is fantastically rewarding.”

That sense of community is something Greg returns to throughout every conversation about triathlon, volunteering and Outlaw itself. For him, it is never just about the race.

“There’s a feeling amongst all the volunteers that Outlaw is friendly, fully inclusive and really well organised. My partner, who is doing the ‘Original’ this year after racing the Half last season, said recently: ‘I just know they want me to succeed more than anything else.’ That feeling is apparent as a volunteer too.”

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Helping others through coaching

Outside of Outlaw, Greg has spent many years deeply involved in triathlon coaching and club development. After moving to Wakefield through work commitments, he joined Wakefield Tri Club and eventually became Head Coach, helping grow the club to more than 650 members. He later became Head Coach of the junior section, winning Yorkshire Junior Coach of the Year in 2022.

“I never really thought I was someone who did clubs,” he laughs. “But I loved it.”

Alongside coaching, Greg is also an entrepreneur and a Positive Psychology Performance Coach, combining his experience in business, mindset and sport to help others overcome limiting beliefs and build confidence.

“This year has been particularly rewarding because I’m now bringing positive psychology into my coaching. Helping athletes overcome imposter syndrome and self-doubt can make a massive difference.”

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Mental health and wellbeing benefits

His passion for helping people extends far beyond race day. Greg believes volunteering has genuine benefits for mental health and wellbeing, both for the athletes and the volunteers themselves.

“On reflection, I genuinely believe I get more out of volunteering than the athletes get from me offering them a banana. The benefits of giving and helping others have been proven to positively affect mental health. I love it so much that I even book my holidays around the events.”

Greg’s enthusiasm for the sport is impossible to miss, but it is often the difficult moments during events that stand out most in his memory.

“There have been plenty of standout moments over the years. Athletes are not allowed to pull out at our feed station. It’s not an official ruling, I just won’t accept it! Helping someone get to the finish line after they wanted to pull out two hours earlier is incredibly rewarding.

“But some of the strongest memories are when things go wrong. When the swim gets pulled close to the start, or the bike course suddenly has to change due to an accident. That’s when you really see the power of teamwork and community spirit. Everyone just pulls together and gets it done.”

Greg is also quick to point out how many volunteers eventually become athletes themselves.

“The majority of volunteers at the Wakefield feed station have either completed an Outlaw event or are considering one. Once you volunteer, you suddenly start thinking: ‘I think I could do this.’”

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Enjoy the journey

For athletes racing this year, Greg’s advice is simple: enjoy the journey.

“The finish line is not the destination. It is part of life’s journey. Don’t rush it. Enjoy it. You should have many more years to improve and chase times.”

He also offers some practical wisdom gained from years spent watching athletes tackle some of their toughest moments.

“The biggest mistakes I see are going too hard on the bike and not fueling properly. And never make the decision to pull out when you’re at your lowest point. Slow down, get your heart rate down, eat something and reassess. It’s supposed to be tough. Keep going.”

For Greg, however, the real magic of Outlaw still comes back to the people.

“If the world was aligned as much as the Outlaw events, we would be in a much better place.”

After more than 15 years of volunteering, coaching and supporting athletes through highs and lows, Greg has become a huge part of what makes the Outlaw community so special.

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