To think ParkRun need to consider banning racers?

I already stated the rudeness wasnt acceptable. The racing bit is ok.

parkrun definitely does not have chip timing.

The other poster’s DC who likes to chase a PB wasn’t rude to anyone, OP.

As often happens, in your situation a few men spoiled things for others.

it’s only 90 minutes in total (including before and after) once a week. The health benefits to a lot of the participants can be significant and the spaces would otherwise not be used much at the early time.

The race directors are volunteers too so other than the briefing at the start will have few resources to address antisocial behaviour.

No. My friend started taking her son as he was over weight and they ran together. The competitive element of trying to beat his previous time has helped her son become so much fitter and healthier and he is no longer overweight but loved trying to improve.

He wouldn't enjoy a running club but loves the park run.

Because you have to pay for official races. They may not be so convenient, all manner of reasons. It’s fine to want to improve and to beat others at pr, it’s just not ok - ever -to be an arse.

They shouldn't be pushing or behaving like arses. But it's fine to race at parkrun if you want to. I wouldn't go as fast if it wasn't for the speedy runners at the very very front pulling us all along.

I'm an average runner and get mightily pissed off if it's too busy for me to overtake at any point. We're meant to keep left and overtake on the right but some runners veer around a bit.

Check out Isabelle Sparkle on Facebook (account Martin Boyce, her father).

I dare anyone to tell that incredible young lady she should not be racing (context, she's 10 years old and smashed her PB again this morning, going sub 21mins for the first time! 😲 ) She and her Dad always overlap with the utmost respect in their videos, it can be done.

The 'racers' of today could be the future Team GB Olympians of the future. Thank goodness they have a platform to hone their skills against people of all ages and genders. I doubt she'd be so fast at her age if she was restricted to just racing against her own age group on the track. She's spurred on by chasing down fully grown adults at parkrun, and why shouldn't she? It looks like she 'raced' a woman today to be the first female finisher, and she achieved it. That 'race' probably contributed to at least 30 seconds of the minute she took off her previous PB.

Inclusivity means opportunities for all, regardless of age, gender or ability. Parkrun is definitely not just for us 'non-elites'.

Newsflash - running clubs aren't just for elites either!

You can be part of both, whatever your pace.

thank you @AwesomeChampagne @justletusrun you have an answer

If you have an issue you can either talk to the nearest marshall or speak or email the run director

How do you ban racers? The entire concept of that idea is absolutely ridiculous. Tie everyone together to ensure they all at exactly the same pace? There’s nothing wrong with running Park Run as fast as you can, it’s a very useful tool for that but you can do that in the right way, starting in the right place (for both that faster and slower) telling people to keep left (often for their own safety) etc.

The issue is Park Run needs to (somehow as it’s run by amazing volunteers that don’t need this strife) take note of awful behaviour and ban people.

I run a lot but rarely get to Park Run and I find the concept a like they don’t know what they want it to be. It’s not a race but is marked and timed.

I didn't deliberately splash her. The course was near waterlogged - there were puddles everywhere and getting splashed is part and parcel of doing parkrun in those conditions.

Park run is whatever you want it to be, a serious competitive sprint or casual social jog while pushing a buggy, that's the beauty of it.

she wasn't out of order though - don't splash people and they won't swear at you.

As lots of people have already said it’s absolutely fine to race at parkrun and try and get your fastest possible time and even to try and beat your friend or just some random person that you’re trying to catch up with. That is probably why the majority of people turn up at all and then get hooked and then volunteer etc

Pushing and swearing is of course, not acceptable.

It is an inclusive event, but inclusive also includes the fast runners as well as the walkers and everyone in between.

haven't RTFT but who organises your Parkrun? I mean I know its a "just turn up" thing but is there nobody who can intervene if people are pushing and swearing?

i’d say racing isn’t bad in itself but the swearing, pushing etc is absolutely unacceptable. if you do go with the intention to race you still need to respect others around you and accept that they are equally entitied to take up space and therefore you may not be able to go as quick as you’d like to!

Lol, well done, only took 8 pages before cyclists got bought into a moan about runners..........

Any rudeness or inappropriate behaviour towards other parkrunners or members of the public should be reported to the run director and you should expect action to be taken.

Aside from this, parkrun is for anyone who wants to come along and can complete the 5k in a reasonable time (yes this is not officially a thing but if you're going to take two hours this may cause a problem if volunteers are expecting to be done in around 70 minutes max). Policing who is too experienced to come to the parkrun is just as bad as saying that people are too slow to take part in organised races. As long as people are being polite, respectful and considerate, we have no need for gatekeeping.

have you told PR that? they receive money to increase women's participation in sport. If your daughters don't go because of the racing men, PR - who claim it is not a race - should know about it and take action on it.

Social media is responsible for this, and that includes strava. Competitive and nasty and that is why I run alone. A few ruin it for the huge majority of people.

Why don’t they register for actual races then?

oh no you don't. It's a fun run. Trying to get a PB is for running clubs, surely?

I've done almost 250 parkruns over the years and have never been pushed or nudged. I am surprised at the OP as I have done parkruns in many different locations and never seen the sort of behaviour reported.

I would like to say I have never been sworn at but one time a young woman told me to "oh fuck off" as I ran past her in a puddle and plashed her but that was the only time. And I didn't take it too personally then! She was out of order but I understood her frustration.