So, who's doing Parkrun in the morning?

[shakingmytambourineatyou]

Please inspire me as I always think of a reason not to go .

A lovely run this morning, buzzing and busy with lots of tourists. Had a lovely drive there over the hills as well

Slightly smaller turn out at our new year parkrun so I managed to get in the first 100 for the first - and probably last - time! Was a gorgeous morning - and I got a PB

@shakingmytambourineatyou
Thank you. I’m going to register-there’s a choice of two where I live so will try them both

I won’t do it anymore. I liked the original concept of it being for everyone but now it’s all competitive and all about being the fastest and getting a PB. If it was really for everyone and not about competition, then the times wouldn’t be published online for all to see.

@Phos

I won’t do it anymore. I liked the original concept of it being for everyone but now it’s all competitive and all about being the fastest and getting a PB. If it was really for everyone and not about competition, then the times wouldn’t be published online for all to see.

You don't have to get a time. You can just do it for the atmosphere and company. Just don't go through the end funnel.

It always was a time trial

It became a mass participation event - one which is proud that the average time is now slower than when it began. One that has support groups for walkers/runners with certain medical conditions, one that has 'parkrun practices' with GPs, one that has '5k Your Way' fir those living with cancer.

It's rare to hear about the fast runners (usually only when someone breaks the record) or to talk about fast times at all - although I do remember them posting that of the 51,363,611 parkruns completed at that time, only five had been faster than his 5k splits

And of course you don't have to take a time, you can just run. Or you can enter under an alias if you want to see your progress but not have anyone spot you in the results tables.

Of course some people just won't like it, whatever it is. But one thing that it isn't is competitive
(there will be competitive types there - parkrun is open to all - but that's not the core ethos)

Well said folks, I agree totally ! Parkrun has brought me connection to new people, a sense of community, confidence, purpose and consistency plus adventures. It has grown into something special for me and so many people.

There have been some really important conversations in the 5ks over the years with people I only see at parkrun but who have become really important in each other’s lives for that time each week - difficult topics including divorce, aging parents, job worries, health problems, depression, domestic abuse, wayward children, bereavement have all been talked through. On the upside we have celebrated together too - births, job promotions, new relationships, podcast recommendations, school successes, kind words, better health, increased confidence , weight loss, ditching mental loads and overcoming much together. And milestones for participation rather than PBs for speed.

There is something special going on.

his 5k splits refers to Kipchoge's in his sub-2 marathon

Don't know how I managed to miss out what I was comparing!

And I also forgot to mention that you don't have to do the running/walking/whatever at all - there are people who are solely volunteers and so very much part of the community

For me parkrun is very much about the time spent with others. My favourite ones recently have been with a mum friend. We trot around together chatting and then when we can see the line we go flat out in a race (that she almost always wins). Sometimes I go for my best recent time, sometimes I do whatever my current Garmin plan suggests, occasionally I volunteer although I struggle to volunteer at the 5k because it is more of a time commitment than the juniors and I do a fair amount of volunteering in another sport.

Who’s at parkrun tomorrow? I’m going to be volunteering as the run director sent out a panicked email yesterday! I’ll be doing finish tokens and DD will be doing timekeeping.

Weather looks horrible - wish I had waterproof trousers

I think I’ll give it a miss as heavy rain is forecast where I am. Shame as I was really looking forward to getting back to it after Christmas.

A bit of local touring tomorrow, Linford Wood near Milton Keynes.

I was timekeeping today - I think the rain kept numbers down a bit, because it was more like pre-pandemic normal turnout than the big numbers we used to get following New Years resolutions

I'd been wondering if I'd make a fool of myself by having a wet screen/slippery finger disaster, but it was more resilient than I'd expected!

Nothing within a sensible drive was on. Compacted snow not quite washed away by rain making everything very slippery. Disappointing as I was hoping to try out a new concept in running while DH is on call. That said he got called out before start time so saved me an unnecessary trip!

Ours was cancelled due to weather. Having looked out of the window, I’m not disappointed!!

I went. It was drizzly but not cold. Fairly decent turn out but probably not the huge new year influx they were expecting. 2 seconds off a PB and I still can’t run the whole thing without having a few 10 second walking breaks!

Wimped out. Ah well, next week. Onwards and upwards!

Anyone running this morning? I'm still in bed but it's icy outside. I think it'll be cancelled but if it's going ahead I really should get up!

I'm planning to. Got to take DS to rugby anyway so I will be up and out of the house for the right time. Don't think it's icy here but haven't checked yet.

Morning! Woke up early, killing time on MN before until it's to get my running kit on

Don't forget your barcodes!

What do you do if you volunteer at PR? How does that work?

@HoliHormonalTigerlilly if you volunteer you don't run unless you're the tail runner ( not recommended I did it once and had to help a lady who had fallen over), it feels very rewarding volunteering but I've not done it for a while.

@HoliHormonalTigerlilly Marshall, barcode scan, timekeeper, funnel manager, tail-walker are the main roles. Some courses have a lead bike, if the course layout allows it. Other Parkruns will have slightly different roles unique to them.

Tail-walker is the only one that 'does' Parkrun.

We have some runners who do pre-set up or car park management and then run so get both a volunteer and a run credit, and some speedy racing snakes who run and then barcode scan.

We used to have a guy who'd do lead bike and then run, and sadly I can confirm he usually finished only very slightly after me on those occasions

@ImInStealthMode @rookiemere thanks for the info!

How do the bar codes work?

I’m on my way! First one of 2022 for me.