To think the National Trust should not let Park Run volunteers marshal the cars at a NT property

[ParkRunIdiots]

So rocked up a very large NT property with lots of parkland at about 9:25 today.

had gone through the payment control bit, then you drive for about another mile (no joke) to the car park. Just before the car park all traffic stopped in a traffic jam caused by two Park Run people in pink vests who would not let any cars through.

So I sat there and say there and sat there, not a single car moved through. I could see the runners approaching from the right, at times there were gaps in the runners but still no car was allowed through. After ten minutes still no car had been allowed to pass. Several cars behind me did a 20 point turn and left.

Then I realised that the runners weren’t even crossing the road as I’d originally assumed, they turned right and ran alongside the road edge, which has a massive Green verge they could run on . So in my mind no need to stop any car. Or if some risk assessment has deemed it too dangerous to have the cars beside the runners then it means there’s no access to the car park for about 45 mins, in which case the NT property needs to open later!

the runners were all strung out, no big wide bunch/crowd, so single file or in pairs.

anyway I honked at this point. One pink vest guy had obviously been waiting for this moment and charged up, ran past me and bollocked the car behind me who was mid 20 point turn and leaving. That driver grassed me up so the park run guy came and condescendingly told me “when there’s a gap” we will let a car through. I said it was ridiculous, that there had been plenty of gaps, nobody had been allowed through and the runners weren’t even on the road!

At which point he told me if I didn’t like it I could leave!

then the other marshal let some of us through, even though there were still runners running alongside the verge the same as there had been for the last ten minutes! I think they were letting cars through in groups of 5 or 6 as some had gone through just before I got stopped. Again when there were runners there! So nothing to do with gaps!

diagram for an idea.

I do feel like emailing the NT and telling them they need to have an NT person there overseeing it, and preventing the Parkrun people been rude to other users.

I may be slightly anti park run after my (on lead, walking to heel) dog was trampled on and tripped over by several park runners on the inaugural run of my local new park run on a narrow public bridleway and they shouted at me for been there with a dog (even though I’d stepped into the mud at the side). Still not forgiven them for that.

I'm beginning to sound like parkrun PR which totally isn't the case but it's existence doesn't stop anyone else having a free running club nor is there any compulsion to go along

It's not like theres a shortage of runners or hours in the week or places to go

There must be 10s of 1000s of more informal running groups around the UK

I'm beginning to sound like parkrun PR

You're certainly doing a better job than their actual PR judging by the now withdrawn post!

They provide first aid, safety check the course, manage the timing chips and ensure everyone participating is safe. It’s an official event not just a free for all or some kind of guerrilla running flash mob.

So anyone who needs to do anything on a Saturday morning should work around an optional leisure activity?

Yeah, basically, you know it’s on every week, it’s only for about an hour and perfectly avoidable. Like you wouldn’t go swimming at a public pool during the regular kids’ lesson times, for instance.

No, but I don’t need to go swimming.

If someone needs to get to work, should they have to get there an hour early because of people wanting to go jogging?

I didn't realise that Parkrun provided sponsorship and merchandise opportunities. It makes sense of the 'I'm a Very Big Cheese' vibe of the now withdrawn post.

i did not know it was a park run site.

plus I work 5 days a week, volunteer on a Sunday so Saturday is my only leisure day. But no, guess I should avoid the big local park which I pay about £70 a year to access.

The OP wasn’t going to work.

Who is going to work in a field, gardens or park on a Saturday morning? Apart from Yogi bear.

Gardeners? Farmers? Other people who work in the garden or park?

And it’s not just that park that the parkrun takes over - our local one used to (don’t know if it still does) obstruct the main pedestrian route from a large housing estate to the station. Plenty of people might be wanting to use that route to get to work.

How many jobs are there that might involve being held up in your car at a parkrun site

I'm guessing fingers and toes might be enough to count them on

Ok so now you know for next time.
The NT site doesn’t have it on their website at all?
Most people work weekdays and relax on Saturdays you’re not special. It’s baffling that you’re cross you had to wait to access a car park rather than drive your car through pedestrians crossing a road. During your leisure time.

Is the park really that small you can't park in another car park and enter through another entrance away from parkrunners?

I've never been to a parkrun (juniors and Saturdays) where the park is that small

I think the gardeners are well aware when parkrun is at the site they work in!🤣

Nothing wrong with using a pedestrian route, the pedestrians can safely cross. You just can’t drive your car into tens of joggers. Sorry 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s one hour one morning a week. It’s free and it’s a safe, organised activity for adults and children to get some exercise.

Jeez

Ah, so you think it’s fine for them to obstruct a pedestrian route as well. Not everyone works Monday to Friday.

The place I’m thinking of, the marshals wouldn’t let anyone through while the run was taking place. So no, pedestrians couldn’t just cross.

I went to Clumber Park once, not in a Saturday 😀, it's massive, it's not a city park it's a huge area

I didn't know that parkrins went on normal pavements, I do agree with you that isn't acceptable if people are trying to walk along them

Obstruct how? Runners are typically not stationary.

I don’t believe that at all - parkrun always states that runners don’t have sole use of the area and must be courteous to other users. They don’t block areas for other pedestrians or walkers in a public space.

Anyway it’s all irrelevant … The OP wasn’t going to work nor were they a pedestrian. They wanted to drive through an organised run. Try that during the London marathon see how well it goes. Plenty of people need to go to work that day too I’m sure but are able to make allowances for an organised event.

You could try reading my posts you know.

the runners were not crossing the road, they were running alongside it on a wide verge, as wide as a farm track.

I don’t think I’m special, unlike the park runners who obviously think they’re far more important than anyone else.

I don’t need to avoid it as someone on here has helpfully pointed out there is a different car park which I am allowed to access even if the NT have coned it off for some odd reason.

I never thought i should drive though anyone. But just that the marshals should have allowed cars through. Even if they thought there was a danger they could have stopped cars for a minute, then runners for a minute. You know, take turns, share. 🤷🏻‍♀️

i wouldn’t expect the runners to stop for the cars for ages. So why do they expect the same.

*Obstruct how? Runners are typically not stationary.

I don’t believe that at all - parkrun always states that runners don’t have sole use of the area and must be courteous to other users. They don’t block areas for other pedestrians or walkers in a public space. *

Paved footpath through a park, crossing another paved footpath around the outside. Parkrun started on the through path and went round the circular, 3ft wide, narrow path several times. You need to cross the path around the edge to get to the exit. The marshalls used to stand blocking you from crossing the circular path (due to fencing you couldn’t walk round).

You’d think they’d be able to plan a route which didn’t put them into contact with the one route to the main carpark then.

Have you written to anyone officially?

The takeaway for me from this thread is that big business has its finger in the Parkrun pie. And that is reflected in the attitude of people who direct the events. And that no doubt trickles down to the marshalls.

There is quite a large contingent of NT volunteers at Clumber Park - and their start time is sometimes 9:00am!

Well they'll be in trouble for being late if they ate held up whilst the run is actually in progress

You're correct, it is very large. But in recent years, the park-anywhere approach as been under "attack" - even most of the verges are off limits - and "policed" by Security of NT staff (who will also persuade to you join).
The number of vehicles parked at the edges and on places closer to Carburton entrance is indicative of the changes, and the people who don't want to pay. This is an actual highway, so the charging starts at the roads that branch off it, of which there are only two now I think.