To have been really put off Parkrun by this

[rookiemere]

I'll start by saying I love parkrun. I've done over 130 of them and it's a real treat to discover a new one when we're away on holiday.

Everyone there is lovely and welcoming and it's such a great way to start Saturdays with a 5km run.

I am also older, fat and slow, but this is fine as I'm not there to win it.

So last Saturday headed to one of my usual parkruns with a friend. There was a traffic incident so many people didn't make it. This meant that rather than being in the back 10 or so I ended up being the last person bar the tail runner. Again all fine and someone has to be there.

However for the last km or so as I went past people who were dispersing made a big point of clapping loudly and shouting on encouragement. Obviously meant to be supportive, but I've run so many of the damn things and I just like to be invisible rather than the obviously last, slow ploddy person who people want to help.

I'm actually really nervous about going again, it upset me so much. I could go to one with more runners and then I should be less likely to be right at the back, but its a further drive and the whole thing has knocked my confidence and I don't know what to do.

[Doingprettywellthanks]

I run on my own, early in the morning op. Why don’t you try that?

[AssumethePerpendicular]

I’m sorry you had a bad experience. I volunteer most weeks as I’m recovering from injury so now have nearly 50 volunteer to my 49 parkruns! I usually Marshall and cheer for everyone who comes past, from the 18 minutes to the 60 minutes. The Marshalls then all gather at the end to cheer in the tail walker and last runners. I hope the runners feel encouraged because that is the intention, it doesn’t matter what time you are doing it in, the point is you are doing it. I’m never going to be a sub 30 runner, even when at my best but it’s the taking part in parkrun I enjoy.
if you feel up to it try again, you’ve done so many it would be a shame if one bad week puts you off from enjoying your hobby

[unkownone]

I always shout encouragement even to the super fast runners and a few hi fives with friends and get the same done to me. Most of my friends are so fast and so is hubby where I feel me legs are going the same speed but clearly not 🤣🤣 I’m a bit an encouragement tart haha I’ll take encouragement from anyone 🤣

[AnnPerkins]

@MasterBeth

This is why I will never do Parkrun. Couldn't think of anything worse. It reeks of forced fun and everyone congratulating themselves on how supportive and caring they are while desperately trying to inch their way up the field. Real "Come on, Tim!" Daily Mail energy, with self-important wannabe midle-managers in hi-vis coralling others with megaphones to do their bidding. Passive aggressive pretentious lower-case "p" in all the marketing. And great hordes of "all the gear, no idea" runners imposing themselves on all the local parks on Saturday mornings with no regard for anyone else.

WTF's the Daily Mail got to do with it??

[LovelyLovelyWarmCoffee]

My 8yo DS told me after sports day that he doesn’t mind finishing last (always does) as the last one gets extra cheers.
So he disagrees with you OP!

[Doingprettywellthanks]

@MasterBeth

This is why I will never do Parkrun. Couldn't think of anything worse. It reeks of forced fun and everyone congratulating themselves on how supportive and caring they are while desperately trying to inch their way up the field. Real "Come on, Tim!" Daily Mail energy, with self-important wannabe midle-managers in hi-vis coralling others with megaphones to do their bidding. Passive aggressive pretentious lower-case "p" in all the marketing. And great hordes of "all the gear, no idea" runners imposing themselves on all the local parks on Saturday mornings with no regard for anyone else.

Oh come on

you just can’t be arsed, can you? 😂

[Leftbutcameback]

I get why you didn't like it OP. I'm so slow and unfit I'm at the back of everything I do. But I really admire you for doing it, and hope it doesn't put you off next time. Agree with the earphones suggestion.

[DonttouchthatLarry]

A woman was all over the internet when she was last in the London marathon and they had removed all the aid stations and marshals and were taking the course markers down. She felt undervalued and humiliated so would probably have been glad of such support as you received - you may have been glad of the anonymity and lack of fanfare when you finished. Someone's not going to like it whichever way it happens but I'm guessing the majority would prefer support and recognition for their achievement - most who hate that would run alone rather than in an organised event.

[10HailMarys]

Yeah, I'd hate this too. I know that it's really well-meant, and it is absolutely all part of the whole ethos of Parkrun events so it's to be expected - the 'come on, you can do it, yay, it doesn't matter if you're slow, well done, we're all runners together' vibe is really key to the whole thing, isn't it? And I'm sure it's genuine and sincere. But I personally would be cringing. I basically don't want to be acknowledged by anyone at all when I'm running, which is why I don't do communal running events.

[Delabruche]

Do people clap runners doing Park run? That's put me right off.

[MasterBeth]

@AnnPerkins

WTF's the Daily Mail got to do with it??

It's the self-congratulatory, middle England tone of the whole thing overlaid with the petty dictatorial, uniformed, hi-viz figures of the marshals, armed with megaphones, coralling people into lanes and columns like they're running the fucking Olympics. It's the entitled middle-class assumption that it's just fine for hundreds of people to take over a public space, not once a year like a marathon or festival, but every bloody week at the same time, preventing everyone else from enjoying it as they would like. It's very Daily Mail.

[givemushypeasachance]

As a volunteer and sometimes run director at my local - we gather the finish volunteers and clap people on as they go past on lap one, before everyone gets in their places to do timing and scanning etc. From the speedy sub 17 minute people to the final walker, we say things like well done, great running, go buggy pusher go, shout out names for people we know, yay well done tiny dog and so on - it's meant as enthusiasm and support, and we don't aim to make anyone uncomfortable.

Tbh it would be a bit strange if all the volunteers stood around just watching silently or talking amongst themselves as the runners went past, and most people do seem to appreciate it and will shout thanks marshals and so on back at us. We're mostly busy during the finish (400+ runner event), but it's quiet towards the end and we would probably say well done to the final few runners/walkers coming in. That could be the first 5k someone has ever walked, or they're new to parkrun and were scared at first and we want to say well done for doing it. And again it would be a bit uncomfortable to have 8-10 volunteers stood around just watching silently as someone finishes their run and comes through the funnel, without a word of acknowledgment.

I do get where you're coming from as I hate attention and wouldn't want to be singled out most of the time - on my own I tend to run early in the morning to avoid as many people seeing me as possible! But part of the thing of parkrun, and races, is that there are organisers, volunteers, spectators and other runners who are all there and may do a bit of "well done!" "keep going!" esque commentary along the way. I try to take it in the spirit it's intended, even if I now struggle to run a mile without stopping having previously run a 4 hour marathon, and I'm a bit sad about that. That's my own personal thing to work on, and well dones to new C25K runners are just as valid and well-intended as to people setting a new course record.

[DiddlyDoris]

@EatingWormsMichael

I get this when I'm out jogging, I'm slow and steady, I get dog walkers telling me "come on, you'll get there in the end love, stick at it" etc

I'm not trying to be Paula Ratcliffe ffs. So I totally understand the desire to be invisible. I sometimes change my route to avoid patronising cheerers but appreciate you can't do that at park run!

I'd never do my local park run cos they seem to post lots of runners with thumbs up photos, no doubt I would be huffing along like a beetroot.

Absolutely hate this. I find it tends to be overweight middle/older-aged men and find it so patronising.

I love the claps and support in a formal event. I've not partook in a parkrun before. But out minding my own business shouldnt have to feel self conscious from silly comments from strangers.

[RubyRoss]

Cheering on laggards is common in athletics. I've seen it at all ages. The idea is to encourage people to finish when they might be struggling to find motivation. I can see why you might not like it but it's a nice tradition or trait of the athletics community I think.

[Woolftown]

It's tricky because sometimes tail runners complain if they feel the focus is only on the faster runners. I would embrace the moment and not worry about it - I'm sure it came from a good place.

[Youtubedrivel]

You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Ignore the tail runners - people will moan. Cheer them on - people will moan. The community spirit is part of why people do park runs. Take it for what it was, a bit of encouragement.

[Doingprettywellthanks]

@MasterBeth

It's the self-congratulatory, middle England tone of the whole thing overlaid with the petty dictatorial, uniformed, hi-viz figures of the marshals, armed with megaphones, coralling people into lanes and columns like they're running the fucking Olympics. It's the entitled middle-class assumption that it's just fine for hundreds of people to take over a public space, not once a year like a marathon or festival, but every bloody week at the same time, preventing everyone else from enjoying it as they would like. It's very Daily Mail.

You can’t be bothered to exercise let alone run let me guess?

[CapMarvel]

@MasterBeth

It's the self-congratulatory, middle England tone of the whole thing overlaid with the petty dictatorial, uniformed, hi-viz figures of the marshals, armed with megaphones, coralling people into lanes and columns like they're running the fucking Olympics. It's the entitled middle-class assumption that it's just fine for hundreds of people to take over a public space, not once a year like a marathon or festival, but every bloody week at the same time, preventing everyone else from enjoying it as they would like. It's very Daily Mail.

Get a grip.

[Rosehugger]

I think maybe wear headphones/earphones. I don't want to hear any daft comments when I run and just smile and carry on.

[MasterBeth]

@Doingprettywellthanks

You can’t be bothered to exercise let alone run let me guess?

No, I like running. I just don't need some self-appointed scoutmaster shouting at me down a megaphone telling me when and where to run, and that I have to carry a barcode to do it and go down this route not that route, and it pisses me off that running on Saturday mornings - probably the easiest time to run for those of us with Monday-Friday jobs - at several of my local parks is now out of bounds because it's full of this self-appointed happy-clappy nonsense.

[TheYearOfSmallThings]

Can you find a parkrun with a more mixed attendance?

I think that although it is meant to be truly inclusive, many parkruns function as social events for Running People. This is fair enough because they tend to be the ones who volunteer and keep them ticking over, but it is disheartening for those of us who are slow runners and just motivating ourselves to be a bit more active. A big run with kids, pensioners, dogs etc is probably a safe bet.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

@MasterBeth

It's the self-congratulatory, middle England tone of the whole thing overlaid with the petty dictatorial, uniformed, hi-viz figures of the marshals, armed with megaphones, coralling people into lanes and columns like they're running the fucking Olympics. It's the entitled middle-class assumption that it's just fine for hundreds of people to take over a public space, not once a year like a marathon or festival, but every bloody week at the same time, preventing everyone else from enjoying it as they would like. It's very Daily Mail.

The council or park owner has to give permission for parkrun. If you feel your extremely negative views about it are widely shared, complain. However, in my experience most park users have no issue with it, especially junior parkrun, and councils see it as a cheap accessible event that will help with public health and fitness targets. The high vis etc is for safety so people know who to go to for help. Do you object to council and utilities workers wearing it?

[Sunnysideup999]

This is why I run alone where no one else can see my efforts .
i’d feel like a kid coming last in sports day ! Shudder.

[beguilingeyes]

Wow...you really do need to get a grip. I've done Parkrun in a lot of parks and none of them are out of bounds to anyone.
I'm a very slow runner (my 5k pb is just under 40 minutes) and I love Parkrun. They do vary a lot in atmosphere. Some of them are pretty competitive and full of serious runners, but my regular one is Valentine's Park in Ilford and it's a really diverse crowd including a lot of walkers so I'm never right at the back and so don't feel the 'pressure'.

[Rosehugger]

I know how you feel though OP. I've been lapped in races I'm just trying to get round by speedy club runners and they are very encouraging as they pass by, but it can feel patronising and I feel like tripping them up!