If you're a parkrunner, would this attract or repel you?

[Janesput]

I used to be very regular at the same parkrun. For various reasons I've been doing more.tourism lately and haven't been "home" for a while.

There's a regular there who's a bit of a character and seems to have become the videographer.

They now have a sign at a certain point that says "dance for the video" and people do their funny moves as they run past.

It makes an entertaining video, but I would hate to be involved and running past and doing nothing, being "boring" would also make me very uncomfortable.

So I won't be going back until it stops, which is a shame.

Will that be impacting others or would most enjoy it?

Although COVID was the main reason I fell off the parkrun train the photos were an additional disincentive to going back

I know you can say you don't want to be photographed but I always felt uncomfortable and a bit of a killjoy doing that. I choose not to be online and I know parkrun doesn't care if I go but I did used to enjoy it

I wouldn’t be keen at all and would ignore. Would not boycott though.

My nearest parkrun is photo mad, they post 100 photos every week! Why?! There are less people than that participating! I drive further to go to the other one. This dancing video nonsense would stop me going.

I Parkrun and we often have photographers, really doesn't bother me. I look atrocious in the photos, I'm fat, hot, bright red and sweaty, couldn't care less, I'm out there doing it... The photos make me laugh, sometimes I put my thumbs up, sometimes I pretend they aren't there. I don't think I'd dance, probably because I'd likely fall over! I'd just ignore and run through, certainly wouldn't consider I was boring. The front half of the field won't be dancing, well they wouldn't at my Parkrun, they are serious about their PB's! 😂But you are within your rights to feel uncomfortable and perhaps ask the RD that it's only once a month, as a previous poster suggested. That way, everyone gets a chance at their preference.

I don't particularly object to the photos, even though I mostly look awful. It's being asked to perform that makes me uncomfortable.

I'd find it very unpleasant and offputting. I'd certainly be saying 'fuck off you absolute wanker' in my head.

I'd still participate [EDIT: participate in the run, i mean, not the effing dancing], with my head down. But I think organisers should make it clear that people filming and photoing should be less intrusive.

Ideally, I'd want them to say 'no photos/filming', but I think that ship has flown and the bird has sailed.

I understand why you don't like it. I wouldn't either.
And yes, you can ignore it, but that's not the point. The point is that some rude people are trying to instagramify not only their life but everyone else's as well, pushing the boundaries, normalising over-recording and over-sharing.

I wish people told organisers they don't like it - it is too easy to consider changes a success when noone speaks against them.

Yes it would put me off, it's annoying to not have the option to avoid.

One of my local parkruns has a jump corner. Some people jump, some people don’t. Really doesn’t matter. It’s just trying to make something a little more fun than just a 5k run. Don’t overthink. Get on with your run, finish, get scanned and go home. Perhaps even volunteer occasionally.

It would really annoy me - I hate the presumption that everyone is fine with being filmed or photographed. Feels invasive and not something people used to consider ‘normal’

I would hate this, and I don’t think it’s right that strangers can film you running to put on there social media. I’d tell them to stop filming me.

Ooh sarky. I volunteer loads.

Having thought about it a bit more, I don't mind the photographers. It's being told to smile that gives me the rage.

Parkrun photos are literally the only time my photo is taken (my family doesn't take photos much to my annoyance). If I go missing it's going to be a frowny photo of me running shown on the news.

Just run past with a thumbs up or wave if you really want to carry on and don’t want to be seen as boring.

But why should she have to? Why does one persons desire to make everyone dance in front of the camera whilst already running a 5k because it apparently helps them with their anxiety trump someone else's right to be left alone and not filmed while running a 5k.

Most people are just running aren’t they? Surely only a tiny minority participate.

I do a lot of different parkruns and I would avoid one doing this. Our local one has a photographer there every week and I dont like that as they share the photos to the local community pages as well so its not just people following the parkrun page that get them every week.

I know I can just keep running and ignore but the whole thing makes me feel uncomfortable, so I prefer to go elsewhere. I was wondering if it would have the same impact on others.

The thing is, these things are being done with the best intention, which is to make it more fun and encourage people, everyone involved is volunteering. There are one or two things that marshals at my regular runs do that grate on me a bit but I just smile and wave or say thank you, because they are giving up their free time to try and do a nice thing and encourage people, even if it doesn't always land quite right with me. I've never been videoed I don't think , but one of my regulars does post thousands of photos, I really have no objection, I'm in a public place so that's the chance I take.

I am very unlikely to dance. Maybe wave and smile on a good day but more likely wear a cap and look down. I am not fast but at parkrun I’m usually going as hard as I can and have no energy to waste.
But I cannot imagine being bothered enough by the suggestion that I’d drive to another location.
If you really think it’s bothering people maybe just say to the ED that the event needs a way for folk to opt out.

Don't ignore it, say something.

It's ridiculous and not part of park run.

If no one ever speaks up all the idiots get their own way.

Speak. Up.

While I don't think the organisers always get it right, it is a challenge for park run to be all things to all people within their funding constraints - they are predominantly funded to get people who otherwise wouldn't run running, not to get Paul's 5k time down from 17:35 to 17:15 but the constantly high attendance numbers (also monitored by funders) depend on more competitive runners having a reason to come. Parkrun are continually having to be super inclusive and "fun" whilst also facilitating the fast runners who mainly do park run to improve their already excellent to good 5k time. This constant tension was shown in the debate about whether times would be published anymore- in the end they retreated from that as became apparent it would lose more people than it gained. Plus, it's volunteer run and the leader probably just doesn't have the headspace to tell this slightly awkward person that they can't do their videos anymore because it will probably lead to other volunteers taking sides and millions of whatsapps and snarky FB posts which Parkrun leader probably doesnt want to spend their whole weekend dealing with.

I'd be giving the camera the finger as I went past to ensure I wasnt included!

Yes, I'm not suggesting they should change anything. There's a core who clearly enjoy performing for the camera. I don't and feel uncomfortable when asked to, so I shall quietly go elsewhere.

I was just interested to know how many others would feel that way, or whether the majority think it's fun.

It's not being included that bothers me, I dont mind being in pictures or normal videos, although I wont go out of my way to look at them, it's the performance for the camera bit that makes me squirm. And of course, I know I don't have to, but I'm uncomfortable ignoring them too.