She may have World Championship gold and Olympic bronze medals to her name, but curler Eve Muirhead still brought up the rear at this weekend’s Falkirk parkrun.

However, rather than experiencing a dramatic loss in fitness, the 27-year-old was actually taking part in UK Sport’s #teamparkrun event, acting as the ‘tail runner’, to ensure that – as is the parkrun ethos – no-one finished last.

On August 19 UK Sport is encouraging National Lottery funded athletes to follow in Muirhead’s footsteps and be a tail runner at their local parkrun as a way of saying thank you to the millions of people who buy play the National Lottery each week and, in doing so, help fund elite sport in the UK.

Muirhead took to the pathways of Callendar Park at 9.30am on Saturday for her very first parkrun, and encouraged everyone to get involved on August 19.

“It’s just to say a thank you from us athletes to those who go out and play the National Lottery, and for us to have their back when they’re doing the parkrun, after they’ve had ours,” she said.

“It’s absolutely great for us to be able to do this. It’s a huge thank you from all us athletes to all the public that play the National Lottery.

“It allows us to get our UK Sport funding; without people playing we wouldn’t have the same level of support.

“It’s great for them to support us, and now it’s even better to show our thanks and to support them and have their back when it comes to physical activity and staying fit – such as these parkruns.”

Parkrun is a nationwide network of organised, free, 5km timed runs that take place every Saturday morning and encourage anyone, of any ability, to get active – with a volunteer tail runner, such as Muirhead, at the rear to ensure no-one finishes last.

Muirhead will be go to another Olympic Games in Pyeongchang next year, having been one of the first Team GB athletes named for the 2018 Games.

And while her training will be planned meticulously in the lead up to the Winter Olympics, don’t be surprised to see Muirhead as a parkrun near you in the coming weeks and months.

“It’s an opportunity for anyone and everyone to get involved,” she added.

“It’s free to sign up, you can walk, you can run, you can jog, and you can even volunteer.

“I had’t run in a Park Run before, this was my first time, but I know a lot about them and I know they’re getting really popular.

“And from doing it – having seen that there were more than 200 participants of all ages, all fitness levels, whether they were walking, trying to beat a PB or for whatever reason – it’s spurred me on to think that I really want to get involved in these parkruns.”

To thank the public for their support through playing The National Lottery, Britain’s top athletes will volunteer as Tail Walkers at parkrun events across the UK on Saturday August 19. Everyone is welcome at parkrun - be part of it! www.teamparkrun.com