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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to back out of park run

154 replies

Davepartyof3 · 10/02/2023 18:08

AIBU to back out of park run because I’ve realised how far it is and I’m super unfit.
I am fairly slim but my fitness is that I could run to the end of the road. Will I be the only person who is basically walking it?!

OP posts:
Patchworksack · 10/02/2023 19:03

Go along, Parkrun is great. I am a plodder and get lapped every time, it’s fine. I often do it with my 8 yr old in tow which involves a lot of chatting, everyone is very friendly.

Tupperwarelid · 10/02/2023 19:05

I was parkwalker at my local parkrun last week as I’ve got a dodgy knee and I’m not allowed to run. Started walking with a lady who was only going to do one lap but persuaded her to keep going to the end. Please go, it really doesn’t matter if you walk it all.

megletthesecond · 10/02/2023 19:06

Why would a volunteer care about adding park walkers? It doesn't bother me one bit. The more that walk the more chatting opportunities there are.

Ireadthenewstodayohboy · 10/02/2023 19:09

I would actually check your local group's stats, as people generally don't walk my local one, and their finish times are quite fast. Mine is in a city in an area with a large young / student population though, but even the older people seem to be proper runners. Which is one reason why I don't go, the other being I'm not a morning person especially on weekends🙃

QueSyrahSyrah · 10/02/2023 19:10

Loads of people walk! Don't back out OP, you'll be so proud of yourself for having done it (and then you can relax for the rest of the day).

LizziesTwin · 10/02/2023 19:11

My local park run has people on crutches walking round as well as people with other visible disabilities. There’s also a regular blind runner who has a guide. We have one regular who is 90 who shared a birthday with a man who was 86. They are both faster than one of my friends who walks round.

I help tidy up at the end and don’t care how long someone takes to finish; if I was in a rush I wouldn’t have offered to help.

YoBeaches · 10/02/2023 19:12

Loads of people walk it. And stop start on jogging as they build up. It's a really nice event, and in reality, you can bake out at any time you don't have to finish.

Just go along for a look.

QueSyrahSyrah · 10/02/2023 19:13

megletthesecond · 10/02/2023 18:45

against nothing is unfair to volunteers. We are genuinely happy to wait for everyone for as long as they take.

Seconding this! Christ. Why do these people volunteer at all if it's such a hardship? It's not for our local team.

Againstmachine · 10/02/2023 19:13

Nimbostratus100 · 10/02/2023 18:55

I respectfully suggest you are not the right person to volunteer

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I have probably volunteered more than you but over a hour you need to be doing on your own.

BIWI · 10/02/2023 19:14

JFC I think you should stop volunteering then.

Nimbostratus100 · 10/02/2023 19:16

Againstmachine · 10/02/2023 19:13

I have probably volunteered more than you but over a hour you need to be doing on your own.

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you probably haven't and absolutely no you dont, and with that attitude you would not be welcome to volunteer at any of the events I have been to, and you really should find a different outlet for you community spirit, as it is damaging and harmful to park run

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 10/02/2023 19:16

Againstmachine · 10/02/2023 19:13

I have probably volunteered more than you but over a hour you need to be doing on your own.

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Don't be silly.

Maybe you should stop volunteering if it's such a huge inconvenience to you Hmm

Againstmachine · 10/02/2023 19:17

saraclara · 10/02/2023 18:55

Why are you trying to put people off?

If volunteers don't want to do this, then they can stop volunteering. Or only volunteer with the runners. I have a couple of friends who are volunteers and they are passionate about getting people like me to come along. They'd be infuriated by your posts.

Putting the likes of me off getting into a good, social exercise routine is pretty shit of you, frankly.

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I'm not trying to put people off. I'm asking people to show respect for volunteers and anything over a hour you need to be doing it yourself.

And if people stop volunteering then your park run doesn't run, mine has suffered for volunteers since the changes to park walk early last year.

Nimbostratus100 · 10/02/2023 19:18

OP, ignore this one person negating the whole ethos of park run. Of course, thousands and thousands of people are involved, and no one can guarantee the fundamental suitability and decency of all of them, but if by any remote chance you do come across this attitude in real life ( extremely unlikely) then just complain, and that person wont be volunteering again

Againstmachine · 10/02/2023 19:19

Nimbostratus100 · 10/02/2023 19:16

you probably haven't and absolutely no you dont, and with that attitude you would not be welcome to volunteer at any of the events I have been to, and you really should find a different outlet for you community spirit, as it is damaging and harmful to park run

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Except I have done tail walker and many other roles so you think someone should take two hours to get round no that's disrespectful to all volunteers.

The encouragement to walkers is very recent.

Againstmachine · 10/02/2023 19:20

Nimbostratus100 · 10/02/2023 19:18

OP, ignore this one person negating the whole ethos of park run. Of course, thousands and thousands of people are involved, and no one can guarantee the fundamental suitability and decency of all of them, but if by any remote chance you do come across this attitude in real life ( extremely unlikely) then just complain, and that person wont be volunteering again

Imagine having an opinion that's so offensive to you because they don't agree.

the OP can ignore who they want.

sabs22 · 10/02/2023 19:21

No give it a go! I’ve been going for years, started as a walk/slow jogger and have built up but there has been a recent drive to encourage more walkers and certainly at my local one I’d say it’s about 50/50 runners and walkers.

Paperexcelandpens · 10/02/2023 19:21

Check the results for the one you want to go to. Mine has the second from last person at 42 minutes then the last person at over an hour. Some people wouldn't like that much of a gap.

Nimbostratus100 · 10/02/2023 19:22

I may attend tomorrow, if I am awake, depending on what sort of night I have

If I go in my current state of health I will take well over an hour

I will expect, and receive, kindness and support, as I have given in healthier times as a volunteer myself

Under no circumstances would I consider not going because of my speed, or accept anything less than 100% from the volunteers.

I dont expect to ever meet @Againstmachine in person, which is slightly disappointing, as believe me, they would be dealt with

ThePoshUns · 10/02/2023 19:23

You can run/ walk or even walk the whole thing. There are always tail walkers so you will never be last. Give it a try you might surprise yourself.

BIWI · 10/02/2023 19:23

And yet again @Againstmachine I post this, from parkrun's own website

parkrun is positive, welcoming and inclusive, there is no time limit and no one finishes last. Everyone is welcome to come along.

Perhaps you should have a word with the organisers of parkrun to tell them that you're single-handedly changing how things run?

Or better still, stop with the mean-spirited attitude. Stop volunteering if it's becoming too much of an irritation for you if people take longer than you think it should.

Crafty09 · 10/02/2023 19:23

I haven’t done it for a while but am always last or last but one. It is a bit stressful to be honest but the people are lovely and several stay to clap in the last one home

eurochick · 10/02/2023 19:24

It depends on the run. My local one was pretty punchy, with lots of club runners participating . At 35 mins ish I was one of the last and getting the sympathy encouragement from the volunteers, which I did not enjoy. I did it a couple of times and went back to running by myself.

MordredsOrrery · 10/02/2023 19:25

I'm a slow (and fat) parkrunner but it's OK. I've been to five different venues and everyone has always been lovely. When I started it was hard because I hadn't exercised since before the kids, but eventually I got the running bug and can now run half marathon distances (still very slowly). It's definitely worth a try 🙂

Ireadthenewstodayohboy · 10/02/2023 19:25

eurochick · 10/02/2023 19:24

It depends on the run. My local one was pretty punchy, with lots of club runners participating . At 35 mins ish I was one of the last and getting the sympathy encouragement from the volunteers, which I did not enjoy. I did it a couple of times and went back to running by myself.

Yep your one sounds like mine!