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Original poster

parkrun defending their position

780 replies

Funtime2 · 26/04/2026 11:52

I used to be a parkrunner and do not understand how parkrun can defend their position of allowing trans identfying males into the female category.

I read that 280 published race winners in the female category are actually men identifying as women. How is this fair to women? Some women don’t care about this but some women do, just as some men take it as a race and care about the rankings and some men don’t

The other option of course is they could stop the timing, stop recording winners and records?

AIBU to genuinely not understand why parkrun claim not to be a race when they time the runners, publish times by category, rank times and runners, and have record holders by category.

OP posts:
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21
BananaPeels · 28/04/2026 15:31

WorstPaceScenario · 28/04/2026 15:26

You're right that parkrun isn't competitive - and the people who treat it like a chip-timed race with world record attempts hanging in the balance are annoying and embarrassing - but the app happily tracks your stats, and if parkrun are going to bother to split the stats into male and female then of course this matters!

It is a chip timed race though. This is so bizarre. You get the chips, the times, the stats and the records and the shout outs in the local paper but then you get comments like yours suggesting they are weird for partaking in the manner it is designed for and originally set up for.

IAmBeaIDrinkTea · 28/04/2026 15:30

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:25

So have people who want timings take part in actual races and leave parkrun alone.

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People want timings to see how they've done though. To see their timing and how they did compared to last week, and compete only against themselves. Not everyone has a stopwatch, and nor should they be expected to go out and get one if they don't.
Completely agree that Parkrun should be left alone though, but by the competitive ones trying to bend it their way. Wish they'd piss off and leave everyone else alone.

givemushypeasachance · 28/04/2026 15:30

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:25

So have people who want timings take part in actual races and leave parkrun alone.

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Can you go and set up your own non-timed non-recorded non-categorised runpark event and leave parkrun alone.

WorstPaceScenario · 28/04/2026 15:26

You're right that parkrun isn't competitive - and the people who treat it like a chip-timed race with world record attempts hanging in the balance are annoying and embarrassing - but the app happily tracks your stats, and if parkrun are going to bother to split the stats into male and female then of course this matters!

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:25

IAmBeaIDrinkTea · 28/04/2026 15:23

That's what I like so much about it - the community aspect. People in general, altogether, not male v female. There's plenty of races you can go get that at if racing is more to your thing.

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So have people who want timings take part in actual races and leave parkrun alone.

Original poster
Funtime2 · 28/04/2026 15:25

IAmBeaIDrinkTea · 28/04/2026 15:23

That's what I like so much about it - the community aspect. People in general, altogether, not male v female. There's plenty of races you can go get that at if racing is more to your thing.

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But men can race at park run.
Women can’t see meaningful data

OP posts:
givemushypeasachance · 28/04/2026 15:24

Funtime2 · 28/04/2026 15:22

27 pages of a handful of people arguing for men’s rights.

“It’s just fun so women don’t need to have the same access to data as men"
“It’ll be too difficult to police the cheating men so we should just keep the rules unfair towards women"

Edited

Feel free to come to a parkrun and carry out a survey of participants asking if we should remove all times and records of peoples' runs (and volunteers? in case men are cheating and trying to become the woman volunteer with the most volunteer credits I guess?).

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:24

Mangelwurzelfortea · 28/04/2026 15:23

Nah, it doesn't. But I don't think there's any point in discussing anything further with you.

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Yes, it does. Every.single.time. But you are right there is no point discussing it further with you.

Original poster
Funtime2 · 28/04/2026 15:24

Funtime2 · 26/04/2026 11:53

To Add

The arguments seem to be that’s it’s not competitive but it is very much competitive for some people and parkrun facilitate this competition by posting times and winners as well as everyone starting together and having barcode timings.

Another argument seems to be that they can’t check or police the categories, but that is not a reason to make the rules unfair. Most people abide by rules and I’m fairly certain trans identifying men wouldn’t break the rules if parkrun required everyone to register by biological sex.

Another argument is that it is inclusive for everyone and by this they mean that everyone should be able to run, which is fantastic but registering your actual sex on the form wouldn’t mean a trans identifying person couldn’t run would it? It would still be open to all.

I basically wrote all this in my opening post.

OP posts:
IAmBeaIDrinkTea · 28/04/2026 15:23

Mangelwurzelfortea · 28/04/2026 15:12

It's a big community thing. Lots of the regulars do 'Parkrun takeovers' where they run it, and I am also volunteering next month with a local charity that's doing a takeover. I really love that aspect of it - it feels important in today's society when we're all set against each other half the time. To me, making a big (pointless, seeing as it wouldn't be policed anyway) issue out of the trans thing does actually make it less inclusive, which spoils some of the focus on community. Others may disagree and that's their right but I think it works pretty well as it is.

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That's what I like so much about it - the community aspect. People in general, altogether, not male v female. There's plenty of races you can go get that at if racing is more to your thing.

Mangelwurzelfortea · 28/04/2026 15:23

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:22

The word 'inclusive' almost always means unfairness to women. Colour me shocked that you don't have a problem with that.

If parkrun is unfair, then it should be abolished, yes.

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Nah, it doesn't. But I don't think there's any point in discussing anything further with you.

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:23

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Funtime2 · 28/04/2026 15:22

27 pages of a handful of people arguing for men’s rights.

“It’s just fun so women don’t need to have the same access to data as men"
“It’ll be too difficult to police the cheating men so we should just keep the rules unfair towards women"

OP posts:
ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:22

Mangelwurzelfortea · 28/04/2026 15:20

You don't like the word 'inclusive'? Colour me shocked.

So abolish Parkrun in the name of fairness. Gotcha.

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The word 'inclusive' almost always means unfairness to women. Colour me shocked that you don't have a problem with that.

If parkrun is unfair, then it should be abolished, yes.

Mangelwurzelfortea · 28/04/2026 15:21

BananaPeels · 28/04/2026 15:19

But again, park runs funding depends on numbers. Take away the timing, competitive element and you will lose at least half the runners overnight. I expect it will no longer be viable

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I assume TheBlackCat is being disingenuous. At least, I hope so.

Mangelwurzelfortea · 28/04/2026 15:20

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:18

The 'inclusive' word again. It's not about 'trans'. It's about male vs female. Having no rankings, timings, categories makes it more inclusive (as much as I detest that hateful misogynistic term).

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You don't like the word 'inclusive'? Colour me shocked.

So abolish Parkrun in the name of fairness. Gotcha.

BananaPeels · 28/04/2026 15:19

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:16

Goodness, this is getting ridiculous. No one has said parkrun should be abolished. Just that it should merely be a run in the park with no details taken. That's all.

Is that really so incredibly hard to understand?

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But again, park runs funding depends on numbers. Take away the timing, competitive element and you will lose at least half the runners overnight. I expect it will no longer be viable

givemushypeasachance · 28/04/2026 15:18

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:16

Goodness, this is getting ridiculous. No one has said parkrun should be abolished. Just that it should merely be a run in the park with no details taken. That's all.

Is that really so incredibly hard to understand?

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How would every run or walk in the park not then be "a parkrun". You haven't acknowledged that I'm parkrunning now! It's not timed or recorded, but I am! I'm now the world record holder for the most parkruns, I've done thousands since I discovered that I am only counting them myself and I didn't need to time anything or scan anything.

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:18

Mangelwurzelfortea · 28/04/2026 15:12

It's a big community thing. Lots of the regulars do 'Parkrun takeovers' where they run it, and I am also volunteering next month with a local charity that's doing a takeover. I really love that aspect of it - it feels important in today's society when we're all set against each other half the time. To me, making a big (pointless, seeing as it wouldn't be policed anyway) issue out of the trans thing does actually make it less inclusive, which spoils some of the focus on community. Others may disagree and that's their right but I think it works pretty well as it is.

Show quote history

The 'inclusive' word again. It's not about 'trans'. It's about male vs female. Having no rankings, timings, categories makes it more inclusive (as much as I detest that hateful misogynistic term).

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:16

Mangelwurzelfortea · 28/04/2026 15:08

Why has it been ascertained that men won't cheat? And why does this mean we should abolish Parkrun to make things fair for women? I don't follow your reasoning here.

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Goodness, this is getting ridiculous. No one has said parkrun should be abolished. Just that it should merely be a run in the park with no details taken. That's all.

Is that really so incredibly hard to understand?

IAmBeaIDrinkTea · 28/04/2026 15:15

Mangelwurzelfortea · 28/04/2026 15:14

Please don't tell me how I think.

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👏👏

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:14

WeMeetInFairIthilien · 28/04/2026 15:01

How can there be a world record, if it isn't a competition?

EXACTLY! 'It isN't A comPetItiOn' is bullshit. And everyone on here knows it.

Mangelwurzelfortea · 28/04/2026 15:14

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:13

Yes, as proven, it most certainly is. And you and everyone on this thread knows it.

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Please don't tell me how I think.

Mangelwurzelfortea · 28/04/2026 15:14

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:13

So you're a political purist. If the hard right were against animal abuse, would you take a contrary position simply because they are the 'hard right'.

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Yawn.

ThatBlackCat · 28/04/2026 15:13

Mangelwurzelfortea · 28/04/2026 15:00

It isn't though.

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Yes, as proven, it most certainly is. And you and everyone on this thread knows it.