They are charged with crimes ranging from drug trafficking to murder, but for an hour a week the criminals in one of Queensland's largest female prisons are able to forget they are locked up.

Key points: Parkrun is a free 5km running event, held every Saturday morning in 20 countries

Parkrun is a free 5km running event, held every Saturday morning in 20 countries Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre has started hosting its own Parkrun behind bars

Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre has started hosting its own Parkrun behind bars Prisoners and staff say it helps with physical and mental health, and could reduce recidivism

Of the 230 inmates at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre, more than 90 have signed up to a new Parkrun program, in which prisoners and correctional officers run 5 kilometres — or 20 laps — around the exercise yard.

The inmates say it helps them escape the reality of being incarcerated.

"I'm a mum of two," Alice* said.

"When you think about the outside it upsets you, especially when you have kids knowing they are out in the world without you.

"This takes your mind off it and makes you forget you're in prison for a good hour.

"It also helps your mental health. You sleep better after it because it's hard to sleep in here."

Prison staff do the 5km run with inmates. ( Supplied: Queensland Corrective Services )

Is Parkrun different in jail?

The Parkrun program sees people gather every Saturday morning to take part in a free, timed 5km run at locations around the world.

The first prison Parkrun was held in north-west England in 2017. Now thousands of inmates across the UK, Ireland and Australia run the course weekly.

Brisbane's Women's Correctional Centre is the only fourth women's prison in the world to host the race.

Parkrun ambassador Kristen McGuire ran alongside the inmates and said, just like on the outside, race times were posted publicly online, but for the inmates real names were replaced with pseudonyms.

"Parkruns in prisons are essentially run the same as they are in the wider community," she said.

"It's a really great initiative to get the prisoners interacting with each other in a way they wouldn't normally."

QCS assistant commissioner for women and safer custody Tamara Bambrick and Parkrun ambassador Kristen McGuire. ( ABC News: Anna Hartley )

Running could help prevent crime, prison boss says

Queensland Corrective Services assistant commissioner for women and safer custody Tamara Bambrick said activities like Parkrun improved mental and physical health for inmates, but also had the potential to reduce recidivism.

"It absolutely has the potential to reduce reoffending and make the community safer when the women are released," she said.

"It will make a difference in the choices these women make.

"It's about being able to release women who are making meaningful decisions, pro-social decisions and being able to make differences in their, and their children's, lives.

"It also makes day to day operations safer because of the integration between inmates and staff."

Inmates say the race is helping them bond with each other and prison staff. ( Supplied: Queensland Corrective Services )

Running may help inmates adjust to life outside

Jessica* came in second place in the inaugural prison run.

"I suffer from anxiety," she said.

"For me, I am trapped inside, so I tend to think about what's going on outside, so it's really good for my mental health.

"I'm not really a people-person but when you get in here [to run] you're encouraging everyone, so we're all a team in here for some reason."

Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre is largely a remand centre with sentenced prisoners housed in southern Queensland or Townsville.

There are more than 90 inmates who have signed up to the prison Parkrun and more than 20 who have volunteered to help direct and time the race from the sidelines. ( ABC News: Anna Hartley )

Many women taking up the Parkrun in the centre are preparing to complete lengthy sentences.

They said running was something that could make it slightly easier for them to transition back into normal life once they were released.

"I'm going to continue this on the outside and have my kids participate with me so they don't come down this path like I did," Alice* said.

"It can be overwhelming when you do get out, so it's good to get used to big crowds and it gives you confidence."

*Names changed to protect the identities of inmates.