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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:
PickupperPenguin · 10/02/2023 19:56

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 10/02/2023 19:53

Could you run in a banana outfit?
Then no one will know who you are...

... unless you are actually a banana.

We had someone at our local one run it in one of those costumes where it looks like you’re riding a velociraptor, that was fun 😄

I also went to one as a visitor where the tailwalkers did actually wear tails, I enjoyed that too 😄 this is what the volunteers are really like, they just want to help the event go smoothly and for everyone to have a fun time of a Saturday morning. Sometimes we have a man who plays the bagpipes at ours, though that might be more offputting than encouraging, depending on your preference!

Bigbadmama · 10/02/2023 19:56

@PickupperPenguin Run Director here. I just hope the emergency contact person for your Father in Law knows what fake "name" he is using on his barcode. Could cause a lot of problems if not......

PickupperPenguin · 10/02/2023 19:59

@Bigbadmama yes, don’t worry, we all stick together and know he runs under that name. Thanks for checking though, it’s a good point 😊

user1473878824 · 10/02/2023 19:59

Well this went WILD!

OP, go for it.

rainyskylight · 10/02/2023 20:00

If I was the tailwalker after a cancer patient who was dragging themselves out of bed that day, I’d feel like that was the best thing I’d done for someone in months.

Nimbostratus100 · 10/02/2023 20:01

Againstmachine · 10/02/2023 19:54

Nope you made a threat I would be dealt with stop pratting about.

And as to the cancer patient this strawman rubbish and you know it.

Show quote history

it isnt strawman rubbish, it is my current situation, and the situation of many others

and no, it wasnt a threat

and no, you still have not given any answer

come on, tell me - I am at your park run tomorrow, you are back marking, what is your attitude to me? 6 weeks after major surgery, 3 days after most recent round of chemo, regular park run attendee at all stages, as advised by my oncology consultant, sometimes under 40 minutes, sometimes well over an hour, depending on whereabout I am in treatment

If I go tomorrow, I will be well over an hour.

WHat are you going to say to me?

"sod off I cant be bothered with you"?

yes?? or what?

lieselotte · 10/02/2023 20:02

I have volunteered nearly 100 times but I tend to do roles which mean I don't have to hang around.

The people who choose to do tail walking etc don't mind hanging around.

I've never been to a parkrun where the slowest time was 35 minutes! Are some of you overseas where they can be very small events?

ThePenIsBlue · 10/02/2023 20:03

Emanresu9 · 10/02/2023 18:14

If you Google your specific park run and results then you’ll be able to view last weeks results and times. I think if you power walked it would take about 50-55 mins to do 5km. So have a look at the results and you’ll see if you’d be last.

you won’t be. There will definitely be many walkers and slow joggers unless it’s a very small field of runners where you are.

I quickly scanned forward to see if anyone had replied to this and couldn’t see it so apologies if I’m repeating, but WHAT? There is no WAY a power walk 5km can be done in 50-55 min! You’d have to be running at 10km an hour (have you ever done this on a treadmill?!) to do in an hour. 12km to run it in 55 min. Running at 12 km/hour is absurdly quick 😂

SouthCountryGirl · 10/02/2023 20:04

lieselotte · 10/02/2023 20:02

I have volunteered nearly 100 times but I tend to do roles which mean I don't have to hang around.

The people who choose to do tail walking etc don't mind hanging around.

I've never been to a parkrun where the slowest time was 35 minutes! Are some of you overseas where they can be very small events?

I've seen the odd sub 40 tail walker. But it seems to be rare. My two local parkruns seem to be nearer 50-1hour.

ThePenIsBlue · 10/02/2023 20:05

And I have literally just realised I am thinking of 10km not 5km….

as you were 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

Againstmachine · 10/02/2023 20:05

Nimbostratus100 · 10/02/2023 20:01

it isnt strawman rubbish, it is my current situation, and the situation of many others

and no, it wasnt a threat

and no, you still have not given any answer

come on, tell me - I am at your park run tomorrow, you are back marking, what is your attitude to me? 6 weeks after major surgery, 3 days after most recent round of chemo, regular park run attendee at all stages, as advised by my oncology consultant, sometimes under 40 minutes, sometimes well over an hour, depending on whereabout I am in treatment

If I go tomorrow, I will be well over an hour.

WHat are you going to say to me?

"sod off I cant be bothered with you"?

yes?? or what?

Show quote history

Nope of course not but stop with the bullshit you threatened to deal with someone that's a threat.

Oh by the way I don't owe you any answers so wind your bloody neck in.

ThePenIsBlue · 10/02/2023 20:06

I blame the 2 glasses of 🍷 I’ve had 🤣

Nimbostratus100 · 10/02/2023 20:06

rainyskylight · 10/02/2023 20:00

If I was the tailwalker after a cancer patient who was dragging themselves out of bed that day, I’d feel like that was the best thing I’d done for someone in months.

thank you, and I always make sure the tail markers know how much I appreciate them and what a difference they make xx

saraclara · 10/02/2023 20:06

I think being the tail walker must be the most rewarding job, to be honest. That person who's risked being that last person in is probably the most worthy person there, and if that tail walker has encouraged them in finishing, they've done the most important job.

I'm posting as someone who didn't have the courage to risk being at the back when friends were encouraging me to go. So I know how hard it is to be brave enough to get out there when you're old and not a runner. And we're probably the people who need to do it most.

lieselotte · 10/02/2023 20:09

Wow threats to deal with me now because I disagree with you about times that is pathetic I'm sure that goes against the ethos

oh it's quite normal and a reason why a lot of longer standing parkrunners have left the parkrun discussion group on Facebook. When you've been running, jogging walking and volunteering since 2011, it gets tedious to be told to suck eggs by people who started in 2019.

The issue of cut-offs and volunteers is debated. I personally think there should be a cut-off of an hour (they actually do have this at Fountains Abbey parkrun but for other reasons). For me, parkrun is a safe space for runners, especially those who are female and/or overweight. You can go for a walk anywhere but running, not so much, without being heckled or hassled.

But at the moment it is working. As long as parkrun keep an eye on things, and as long as people are happy to hang around, that's fine.

Also I think in some cases when people know they are going to take longer, they let the team know in advance. Or they start off doing one lap if it's a two lap course etc.

To the OP - do come. It will be the start of a new Saturday morning obsession!

BIWI · 10/02/2023 20:09

Why do you volunteer for it @Againstmachine? How do you feel about/deal with those runners who are at the back, slow, take longer than the time you think they should be doing it in?

rainyskylight · 10/02/2023 20:11

No worries @Nimbostratus100 . I also think that tailwalkers know what they’re signing up to, and that they’re also pretty happy that they end up with an extra volunteering ParkRun and an actual ParkRun under their belt. Unlike the many bar code scanners, they still get some decent exercise, and stay warmer than those standing in the cold.

Excited101 · 10/02/2023 20:12

Go for it op! People walk at all parkruns, some parkruns have more walkers than others but volunteers are happy to support everyone who comes, they/we just want everyone to be willing really! Ignore all the crap about letting the volunteers get on with their day, the whole point of us is to be there.

lieselotte · 10/02/2023 20:12

You are not a suitable park run volunteer, park run is better off without you. And I repeat, yes, if I come across you in real life, you will be "dealt with" officially, and that is not threatening - you will just be removed from the rota, as you should be

How ludicrous, you don't remotely have that power.

SouthCountryGirl · 10/02/2023 20:13

"The issue of cut-offs and volunteers is debated. I personally think there should be a cut-off of an hour (they actually do have this at Fountains Abbey parkrun but for other reasons)."

Hardly inclusive.

I am one of those people who have taken just over an hour, twice. Walked one due to injury and the other due to ice.

Cocobutt · 10/02/2023 20:16

How many times have you completed it when practicing?

I personally would only do it if I had managed to run the same distance several times.

Againstmachine · 10/02/2023 20:18

lieselotte · 10/02/2023 20:09

Wow threats to deal with me now because I disagree with you about times that is pathetic I'm sure that goes against the ethos

oh it's quite normal and a reason why a lot of longer standing parkrunners have left the parkrun discussion group on Facebook. When you've been running, jogging walking and volunteering since 2011, it gets tedious to be told to suck eggs by people who started in 2019.

The issue of cut-offs and volunteers is debated. I personally think there should be a cut-off of an hour (they actually do have this at Fountains Abbey parkrun but for other reasons). For me, parkrun is a safe space for runners, especially those who are female and/or overweight. You can go for a walk anywhere but running, not so much, without being heckled or hassled.

But at the moment it is working. As long as parkrun keep an eye on things, and as long as people are happy to hang around, that's fine.

Also I think in some cases when people know they are going to take longer, they let the team know in advance. Or they start off doing one lap if it's a two lap course etc.

To the OP - do come. It will be the start of a new Saturday morning obsession!

Exactly people think going to be stood at back giving people shit, but as you said lots of people have left.

I've been doing parkrun for years but the changes aren't always good but the walkers don't appreciate that.

By the way I actually encouraged the OP in my first posts so don't pretend I'm not being inclusive.

lieselotte · 10/02/2023 20:20

There is no WAY a power walk 5km can be done in 50-55 min

Parkrun considers those finishing a parkrun in 50 minutes are walking - normal walking, not power walking. Power walking would be about 40 minutes.

Parisj · 10/02/2023 20:24

I am often last at around 52 minutes, I do run all the way usually (I occasionally Jeff) but I get overtaken by fast walkers. Don't make assumptions about the slow runners either, I realised some of the volunteers at mine when they run are the same speed as me and they are former club runners, they are just older or injured or out of practice. I have a feeling me being last might have encouraged them to give it a go again. I love the support, but it can tip into patronising assumptions or tips (I can run a marathon, I have run for decades). The Slow Runners Facebook group is a fantastic place, really supportive and you are not allowed to bitch about people's pace, whatever (or say they are not a slow runner).

stepmad · 10/02/2023 20:24

No one apart from the tail walker is last at a parkrun
They have been actively encouraging parkwalkers for more than several months.
Everyone is so friendly and encouraging what ever speed.
It's fun what ever you do and could even do a mixture of both running and walking.