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Original poster

Park Runs: Children - Why?

506 replies

Knowillbeflamed · 19/01/2025 09:12

There’s a park run every Sunday near me. They jog along the pavement by the seafront taking the whole damn thing up so no one else can even walk along it.

Honestly, I don’t get running. But, what I understand even less is dragging young children along?! Yes, the older one’s (10+) seem to enjoy it but there’s at least 5x more that seem wayyyy to young - toddlers, very young kids - who hate it. They’re dragged along by their parents, literally kicking and screaming and crying.

AIBU to think if your kid hates running that much or patently doesn’t want to be there, that you do NOT force it on them?! Just because you like running doesn’t mean you force it on them. Find them an activity they enjoy.

PS. Yes I am annoyed by the sheer ignorance of 100+ people taking up that much space and forcing others to dive out the way - but mostly it’s the shrill screams of toddlers being forced to run that drives me bonkers. Someone will pop up and say ‘they love it,’ but I’m sorry - kids screaming ‘it hurts’ ‘I don’t want to’ whilst their parents drag them along by their wrist just angers me. And it’s not one parent one week - it’s multiple different parents on various weeks.

OP posts:
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dynamiccactus · 26/08/2025 18:14

MissSingerbrains · 26/08/2025 00:22

Given the OP’s tendency for over exaggeration (screaming and crying children and toddlers for a whole hour 9-10, really?) I tried searching for information on permanently closed down junior parkruns at a seaside location in England and haven’t found any.

I've not heard of any either and I generally have my ear to the ground. I know about one in Dorset which closed but it wasn't due to complaints and it was a 5k event.

dynamiccactus · 26/08/2025 18:12

Knowillbeflamed · 23/08/2025 07:40

It must be nice not to have your livelihood depends on the tourist trade…what a privileged position

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You haven't heard of parkrun tourism then?

Plenty of places make a mint out of parkrunners. There are Facebook groups full of people discussing which parkrun they will do next (and which cafes are the best for breakfast).

Phthia · 26/08/2025 00:47

LameBorzoi · 25/08/2025 19:36

Yes, so nice to know that that a lovely, free, inclusive community event has been shut down.

And if the business have caused it to shut down, that's just daft of them. People travel from all over to go to all the different park runs, and runs almost always have a group cafe visit afterwards.

I suspect it's simply moved elsewhere. It's unlikely that there isn't a suitable park in the vicinity. Win-win.

MissSingerbrains · 26/08/2025 00:22

Given the OP’s tendency for over exaggeration (screaming and crying children and toddlers for a whole hour 9-10, really?) I tried searching for information on permanently closed down junior parkruns at a seaside location in England and haven’t found any.

LameBorzoi · 25/08/2025 19:36

Yes, so nice to know that that a lovely, free, inclusive community event has been shut down.

And if the business have caused it to shut down, that's just daft of them. People travel from all over to go to all the different park runs, and runs almost always have a group cafe visit afterwards.

Original poster
Knowillbeflamed · 23/08/2025 08:03

@incognitomouse well clearly we get different sorts of tourists. Because screaming and crying children at 9-10am on a Saturday is something ours (and most of the people living here) dislike.

And that’s okay. People are allowed to have different standards, our tourists standards are clearly just a bit higher. 😁

OP posts:
incognitomouse · 23/08/2025 07:59

Bit of a stretch @Knowillbeflamed How do you know I don't?

I actually live in a very high tourist area - mainly US and Japanese visitors. Very busy with coach loads of tourists.

Everyone manages to coexist perfectly fine. If anything Parkrun events tend to generate income for local businesses here, as there are a lot of coffee shops and cafes that tend to be very busy afterwards.

Londonlassy · 23/08/2025 07:51

Bloody zombie thread

Original poster
Knowillbeflamed · 23/08/2025 07:40

incognitomouse · 23/08/2025 07:33

What a lot of fun people must live tnere! Can't deal with 30 minutes of this on a weekend Grin

It must be nice not to have your livelihood depends on the tourist trade…what a privileged position

OP posts:
incognitomouse · 23/08/2025 07:33

What a lot of fun people must live tnere! Can't deal with 30 minutes of this on a weekend Grin

Original poster
Knowillbeflamed · 23/08/2025 07:27

Well as people are still posting here, I will happily confirm that the park run no longer operates in that location due to so many complaints (according to my local coffee shop owner. Don’t you just love local gossip??).

There’s a lot of business along the seafront path, and I imagine their patrons took objection to the screaming and crying when trying to enjoy their breakfast and coffee etc. We’re also very popular with tourists, so I don’t imagine they were best pleased

So I guess I wasn’t unreasonable at all 😁as it is, I have enjoyed many walks sans screaming children as have my dogs.

OP posts:
ZenNudist · 23/08/2025 07:21

Ugh ZOMBIE THREAD ALERT

ZenNudist · 23/08/2025 07:17

You seem to have an awful lot of excuses why the absolute only time and place you are able to walk your dogs clash with junior park run. You are adamant there is no other space. That means there is no alternative location for park run. In which case you just need to put up with it. Public spaces are shared

In an ideal world you'd walk them in the remaining 23 hours and 20 minutes of the day not affected by park run..

I've only seen kids enjoy running evemts Are you sure you aren't just observing the odd recalcitrant /tantrumming/ crying child that might happen at any family event? I'll take your word for it that there's some people pushing their kids at your event . There's loads of volunteers you can complain to.

Every park run I've been at is an amazing joyful event and it's lucky for these kids to be involved. Everyone is having fun at the ones near me.

incognitomouse · 23/08/2025 07:03

My DS loves Parkrun on a Sunday and will ask to go throughout the week, it's a fun atmosphere. I'm not running unless someone is chasing me with a knife but I don't think it's a bad thing to encourage exercise either other people.

That said, if you see him crying there it's not about the running, it's more likely he wanted red shorts and I put him in blue. Or because his tongue feels funny. Because kids cry sometimes.

wineosaurusrex · 23/08/2025 06:51

Additionally, my children are 5 and 8 and adore running! I live abroad so don't have Park Run here but would absolutely take my children if they did as they'd love it. I don't particularly like running either but it's important to teach children healthy habits.

As for your claim that most children hate running and are being dragged along while wanting to go home - I'm a teacher and would be VERY shocked if this were true. I can't think of many students of mine who wouldn't enjoy running with their parents - they'd think it was great fun!

jasjas3008 · 23/08/2025 06:47

CrochetQueeen · 21/08/2025 22:26

Middle class virtue signalling at its finest. YANBU kids run miles on an average day, why it counts more on a parkrun who knows

that must be why we have some of the fattest kids in Europe?

perhaps w/c parents need to get of their fat arses?

wineosaurusrex · 23/08/2025 06:46

Knowillbeflamed · 19/01/2025 09:29

I’d be less annoyed by the ignorance of the parents if more of the kids had a good time tbh. It’s hard to think ‘oh yeah this is fine’ when all you can hear is kids saying they want to go home, it hurts and they’re not having fun.

But as a PP said - her kids hate it, but she enjoys it so she’ll use this to build resilience in them. So I guess my point is proved - some kids do hate it, but as long as the parents are happy, it’s fine

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Is it ignorant? You and I clearly have different ideas about good parenting! Taking a child out to do a healthy activity like park run seems great to me! Fresh air, exercise - what part of that is bad for a child?

It's fine for parents to encourage healthy activities in their children and not simply allow children to do whatever they want. You're saying that parents should only allow their children to do things that the children consider fun? So if the child says "mum I don't want to exercise, I just want to go home, sit on the sofa and play on the iPad!" that they should be allowed to do so? That's nonsense - parents need to encourage healthy activities in their children, especially in this era of obesity.

Do you also get annoyed when parents ask their children to eat healthy, balanced meals instead of letting them just eat junk food all day? Ridiculous.

LameBorzoi · 23/08/2025 05:02

MorrisZapp · 21/08/2025 22:23

Wtf have I just read? If your hobby makes your child cry then do a different bloody hobby. I know some runners are insufferable but this is the worst thing I've ever seen one say.

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My nephew was crying today because his sandwich was cut in squares.

CrochetQueeen · 21/08/2025 22:26

Middle class virtue signalling at its finest. YANBU kids run miles on an average day, why it counts more on a parkrun who knows

MorrisZapp · 21/08/2025 22:23

nutsandraisinsrock · 19/01/2025 09:19

Just go to the park at a different time. You have the rest of the week.

Most kids love it, if you're a runner you'll know that some days it's harder than others - as adults we don't tend to cry on a bad run, but kids haven't worked this out yet. Generally it's a good thing to be taking part in - fresh air, friends, exercise - I can't really see your problem.

Wtf have I just read? If your hobby makes your child cry then do a different bloody hobby. I know some runners are insufferable but this is the worst thing I've ever seen one say.

Peacepleaselouise · 21/08/2025 22:13

Probably one or a combination of :

  • child previously said they wanted to come and changed their mind
  • mum/dad is trying to encourage exercise
  • Its one of the few forms of exercise which you can bring a child with you, so might be the only way to exercise for a single parent who can’t live their child home alone
  • It can be fun and they hoped their child would like it.
Muffsies · 21/08/2025 22:08

Dragging kids along to do something they hate, all together as a family? Isn't this what Sundays are all about?

alanet · 21/08/2025 22:05

Join in, then assuming you can outrun a screaming, tantrumming child, you'll only hear them at the beginning.

tommyhoundmum · 21/03/2025 07:27

I took my daughter on a cycle ride along an esplanade on the south coast. It was a lovely day and 7 miles. She complained and even cried most of the way.She later said how wonderful it had been. She trains hard now, runs and keeps fit. Strange how things turn out.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 21/03/2025 06:08

What a great post! Well done to her, and especially well done to you, @tinylittlepiggy.