To think ParkRun need to consider banning racers?

Just men being selfish pricks I think. I tried ParkRun a couple of times and didn’t like the sharp elbows.

You often do three laps of a park to get the 5k so it’s probably that they’re on the final lap while others are on lap 2.

Our park run got closed down as it got too popular and there wasn’t space for the numbers so I don’t go anymore but when I did that behaviour would not have been acceptable and runners would have been spoken to. YANBU, the idea of park run is fun and inclusive.

Park run is for everyone and everyone can run their own “race”. Pushing, yelling, shoving and swearing is not welcome at any event and for that reason they shouldn’t be allowed back.

This is terrible PR behaviour. I haven't been for a couple of years but have done 100+ runs and the same number of volunteer sessions and no one should make comments like that. I have been last and had nothing but encouragement.
My local run had a walking backmarker for people with that sort of finish time. Perhaps try another place? (I used to look at the times from the week before to judge if I would fit in with the attendee profile,).

My local parkrun is lovely. The fast runners go to the start at the front and then are long gone (women in this group too) then the normal runners and me at the back.

It’s not acceptable to push and be rude but it absolutely is to race considerately. It’s for all so whatever that means for you.

These blokes just sound like twats and I am sorry you have those types at your parkrun. They aren’t at all of them.

It all sounds rather performative to me. If you want to run seriously, go on your own and time yourself. If you want to race with your friends, go another time your friends. Surely park run is for people who want a sociable low-pressure run?

Going to a park run with the expectation of getting a PB would be like trying to swim rapid lengths during an aqua aerobics class!

absolutely appaling! YANBU

What Parkrunners also need to remember, is that it isn't an organised race where a route is cleared for them - they are using public space, and other non-runners are equally entitled to be there.

But surely it’s not the persoanal PB’s but the rank you want. That is why people tour the park runs- to get ranks on each one. I know people disagree but I can totally understand people wanting the official records.

I'm assuming there's two laps of this one, so when they are lapping the slower runners they shout at them to get out of the way? Other wise they'd start at the front and never be bothered by the 'slower' ones.

That was kind of you to move to the side. After the first tut I'd have been right back into the middle of the path taking up as much space as possible. People moving out of runners way in a public space is a kindness being voluntarily bestowed, not a right.

Time based starts/pens don’t really work with Parkrun as most courses are multi-lap, so fast runners will have to navigate the crowds as they do their second (and any subsequent laps).

Absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a PB at Parkrun but people have to temper their expectations. It’s not a £50 Run Through supported race with a goody bag and medal at the end!

Pushing and swearing is out of order, I can't do parkrun anymore due to my health but going after a PB is totally fine. It’s a race against yourself I feel.

I think it depends on the PR. One I went to has 3 laps so regardless of who starts where, there is lots of overtaking. Another was only 2 laps so only one overtake and much more spread out.
However shouting, shoving and swearing is never acceptable.

Surely if someone is running seriously, and aiming to improve their pace over a period of time, then they shouldn’t go to a place where they’ll be surrounded by other people? Presumably the park is still there 24-7. Why not go at a different time when it’s not so busy? Much easier to run fast when you’re not surrounded by people.

The first (and only) time I went to a park run I was last - it took me 56minutes and the 2 women at the back behind me moaned that they weren’t going to be home as early as normal. I was mortified.

In my experience it’s not the ones touring (for example collecting the A-Z) who behave badly, but then the runners I know who do that are women. They use it as a way to see different bits of the country and are also people who volunteer at Park Run which is part of the ethos. I bet these men don’t have many volunteer hours!

Racing and running fast absolutely fine. Shouting keep left. Fine
Pushing and swearing absolutely not fine.
I always race at park run though it is usually against somebody who like me has been toddling along and finishes at the 30 minute mark!

Despite Parkrun’s mantra of ‘it’s a run, not a race’ lots of adults & children do treat it as a race in terms of wanting to get a PB. That’s fair enough and at our local Parkrun it doesn’t seem to cause any issues.
The individual at your Parkrun behaved terribly- shouting, swearing and pushing people is absolutely not in the spirit of Parkrun. If it’s a one off, I’d be inclined to forget about it and hope you never see him again. If he turns up regularly with the same attitude I’d get a group of you together and speak with the run director/committee. He should at least be spoken to and asked to stop behaving like that, or banned if he doesn’t improve.

This behaviour is frustrating (and I don’t condone swearing or pushing at all) but there are some people who don’t help this situation. For example, if you know you will be walking by km 2, start near the back. If you want to jog slowly chatting with two friends, again, start near the back. Likewise, if you are a human gazelle, get up near the front.

As mentioned upthread, bigger races have time based pens so you start with people who will complete the race about the same time as you so no one gets in anyone’s way.

Park Run absolutely can allow everyone to achieve their goals but people need to be more considerate and take into account how their actions might impact others too. Yes, a fast runner can join a ‘proper’ race but so too can the slow plodder take themself off round the park by themselves at a different time.

They can't be very fast if they are having to push the socialising fun runners out of the way. It sounds like you have some inconsiderate rude people in your park run. Most racers aren't like that.

This is true, in the park runs with large numbers of runners, or where the paths are narrow, you are often directed to place yourself before the start based on your anticipated speed ( sometimes there are ‘pacer’ volunteers to help with this). Same as in a race. The runners running to win, are placed at the front.

I run races and this behaviour is also unacceptable in a race. It would not be tolerated.

Parkrun is a bit strange as it claims not to be a race yet is set up as a race ( measured course, start and finish, chip times). There are a minority of people looking to win or for PBs in Parkrun, but then that is the same as in a race. Most people enter races for the fun of the course, not to win or even PB.

So it’s their behaviour that is the issue, not that they regard it as a race as their behaviour is not acceptable in a race either.