Parkrunners Assemble - the new thread that will remind you to "do not forget barcode" and that "you can walk, jog, run or volunteers"

I've signed up in the hope of getting a little fitter.

My daughter runs the junior parkrun near us and i've run that a few times with her so i'm hoping i'll be okay with the 5k. I've checked the times for the last couple of runs and the last one over the line seems to be around 50 minutes so i'm hoping i can manage that. Even if I will be running and walking it!

Just to ask, what do people do with water bottles? Do you carry them around with you or just leave them by the tent and drink afterwards?

Also, does anyone have any recommendations for armbands/bumbags for phone/keys/barcode etc?

Thank you!

Welcome, kitschencabernet!

Can I join? . A local Parkrun has recently started on local beach track. So no excuses now.i can walk to the start from home. I did C25k using NHS podcasts a couple of years ago,on this track, but I've slacked right off. This is just what I need. Hopefully I will be back on Saturday with a smug Halo of achievement.

The screen won't scan and having a rule against manually entering numbers except in certain cases where the bar code is damaged means people don't hold up the entire process.

Parkrun is apparently trialing an app-based method that doesn't require scanning bar codes. I'm not sure how it works, though.

I also track myself on runkeeper, just to have a preview... It's always a few seconds off because I have to get the app up and stop it.

I'm afraid we absolutely won't accept a screen shot. They don't scan reliably, and we don't have enough volunteers to manually enter a queue of people (though that will be done for those who have a correctly presented bar code which doesn't scan that day, or if their finish token won't).

It's not being 'brain dead' and it might depend on number, those with only a couple of hundred runners have different scanning (and funnel management) issues to those with 700+

It has to be printed, either on paper or wristband/card. Those are the published rules too. But you can work out your time by looking at the ones either side of you, if you remember your finish number.

Countess - my local has only been going about six months or so, maybe they're still in the early "sticklers for the rules" phase but I was told expressly that we can't scan barcodes on devices. Printouts, cards, fobs, wristbands, even the torn ones were fine the scanning support person wrote those down manually. But you couldn't just show your phone. And from almost 400 runners no one asked to. If I could just show a screencap on my phone that'd probably be easier since I run with my phone anyway but I'm guessing it would take longer to do with people faffing trying to bring up the right screen in the queue - is that why they say no electronic ones?

Unless your parkrun is run by brain dead zombies. Most will scan a screen shot of your barcode. Don’t bow into the pressure to buy a wrist band or worry about getting it printed off.

Hello, can I join? I’m an occasional Park-runner, I aim to go at least once a month and any more is a bonus. Done 7 so far.
I’ve been running for years though. Current PB is 25:24 and I’d like to get below 25 mins. I start near the front as I don’t like overtaking but am not sure if I’m pacing myself correctly.

My belt lies very flat and doesn't jiggle. I have something off amazon. Look into flip belts I think they're called. They lie flat and are very popular

Just I have been thinking about getting a running belt, as the armband I use for my phone is bothering me now I've switched from long-sleeved tops to vests. I'm worried about it jiggling when I run, though, which I think would distract and annoy me. Are you happy with yours?

Also... I was reading something about young children (8 and under) running longer distances (5k+) on hard surfaces, and the advice seemed to be for them not to do it regularly because of the risk of damage to feet and/or joints. Eek. Now I'm wondering whether we are right to let DS run it every week as he is currently intending... I don't want to curb his enthusiasm, but equally don't want to be setting him up for issues when he's older. Maybe we should start off with every other week.

How about "med info in phone case"? At least that way they'll know to look!

I was thinking about getting one of the printed loyalty card/key fob sets and/or a wristband. But the official ones only have 27 characters for emergency info which isn’t long enough for the the name of my underlying condition, let alone the drug (potential for major interactions) or the relevant hospital phone number.

So unless anyone knows of a supplier where there is more space, I think it’s going to have to continue to be a tatty bit of paper in phone case, where an ‘emergency’ card already lives!

Loyalty cards is a great idea. Mine is taped to my phone as I usually want to listen to some music on my way round

Same here JustGettingStarted - waterproof with added sturdiness! Saw a couple of people with them on lanyards in those plastic holders which seems like another good option, and a few people had those snazzy official wristbands.

Key fobs are another good one but I did accidentally scan someone's Co-op loyalty card fob that was right next to their parkrun fob...

I cellotape my barcodes to old loyalty cards/hotel keycards that I have somehow accumulated. I printed off the sheet and made a bunch of cards. I put a couple in my car, a couple in my billfold, and a couple in my running belt. They're very sturdy that way.

Well done c’estlavie what a super achievement

Artful that is fab - so lovely to see the kids just nail it. We were tied up this Saturday with other family stuff but really looking forward to being tourists next Saturday.

I've got a dodgy knee at the mo so did another volunteering stint at my local, barcode scanning this time. There were two of us scanning and just under 400 participants - it did get a bit chocka at the peak time but meant it all seemed to go very quickly! I think the finish-related volunteer tasks seem a bit more fun than marshalling where you're stood off on your own for a fair chunk of the time. Still not sure I quite trust myself to do timekeeping yet...

Top tip: do laminate/sellotape your barcodes if you can. We had two runners with barcodes completely torn in half and they had to be sent off to have their numbers written up by hand. Sweaty scraps of paper aren't very sturdy!

It U11s who need to keep their adult within arm's length.

As you know their likely time, you could ask around for someone else who runs about the same pace to run with them from time to time. Or even see if he can be cheeky enough to just latch on to friendly looking people as a kind of pass-the-parcel.

(TBH, if they're running welll, no one is likely to notice. What mustn't, really mustn't, happen is for a child to be left behind. I've once scooped up a 10yo whose adult had decided she was too slow and gone on ahead. That's just not on. It's bad from a safety POV - it's
not like a junior Parkrun where the course is marshalled - and frankly not much fun for the child either?

That's really great!

Well done!!

I did a parkrun! Can't believe I said that...
First time ... since october I 've been doing a sort of cto5k in the gym. Never been a runner of any kind. 53. Not slim. I am well chuffed with 43.40 as my now pb.

Might not be up there with the 30 minuters but it s huge for me!

I don't think they can run alone until they're 11. He'll just have to be a pace setter for the two of you!

Am feeling very humble right now: 8yo DS did his first parkrun today (full 5k, not junior). He ran with DH, and I told him I'd wait for them at the finish and cheer him on. Well, he smashed it in just over 25 mins, two whole minutes faster than me, even with my own PB! It was supposed to be my turn to run with him next week, but I'm not going to be able to keep up. DH is fast enough (for now) but theoretically, what happens when an under-11 is faster than their 'responsible adult(s)'? If they know the course and have someone looking out for them (because of the nature of the course we would pass each other 4 times) are they ever allowed to run alone?

PS well done to all other parkrunners today and thanks to the volunteers! I haven't been brave enough to volunteer for timekeeping yet. Barcode scanning is my favourite job!

Well done!

I'm injured and was volunteering today. I had my first stab at timekeeping (but not in Peterborough, so I wouldn't have done you JustGettingStarted )