To think Parkrun shouldn't take priority over the rest of the public?

[MaryRoze]

9.30am every Saturday, our biggest park is inundated with Parkrunners. There are hundreds of them.

They take up the 3 biggest car parks (including the one at the start of the dog walking trail), meaning I need to park at the furthest away one. Not a problem except I can't get to the furthest away one because volunteers stop the traffic to let the runners go past.

Once I get parked, I'm pushed to the side of all the main paths because they're running 3 or 4 abreast. I try to go down the muddier gravel paths, but they're down there too. An older couple today got a "fuck sake" because they couldn't move out of one runners way quick enough.

Parents are being stopped from crossing the path between car park and playground with their kids because the runners are passing by.

I get that Parkrun is fantastic for people's physical health and mental health, and it's clearly very popular but AIBU to think they need to be courteous of other park users too?

Get a barcode and you and pup can join in. Parkrun is open to walkers too!

If this is the message in other Parkrun groups then that's fantastic. A little consideration for others is all that's needed. I might get in touch with our local organisers then.

If you did that to me, I’d push you over.

If the park really is big enough that they could do it without using all the paths, then I think it's fine to contact the organisers and suggest they put some limits on it.

Yes they do. It's a short amount of time, usually first thing before families are down to the park anyway. It's at the same time so people can schedule around it, different times would be more disruptive. I say this as a non parkrunner, but I think it's a great thing that is worth some mild inconvenience.

At the briefing parkrunners are reminded that the paths are shared and to respect other park users. It’s a short period of time and an even shorter period of time there is a lot of runners together not just the super speedies or stragglers at the end.

The thing is, you know when and where it's happening, and the potential impact on your plans, but you still choose to go.

It's not going to change, so you either need to tweak your plans or live with it.

Parkrun events don't just happen on a whim. There is an extensive application process to the landowner, and plenty of consultation/comsideration goes into decision making. One factor will be the impact on other park users.

I'm not a parkrunner, so I have no skin in the game, but it is a great way to get people out and moving.

Maybe your park run has some disrespectful runners, but I'm not sure that's the case everywhere. I've never experienced rudeness. Maybe you could report that to the organisers. And I find it's easy enough to wait for a gap in the runners if I need to cross the path.

Would you really push someone over?

Sure you would 🤣

Sorry OP but you sound like those people who go out on a sunny bank holiday then complain there’s people everywhere! You know it’s going to busy but choose to go anyway then moan about it, there must be plenty of other options for a walk if it has to be at that time of the day. Park runners are also members of “the public” and have just as much right as you do to enjoy the facilities.

The average finish time at our Parkrun is 29 minutes. Runners start arriving at 8.45am and are largely gone by 9.45am. One hour per week in a public space.

It's a totally free and inclusive physical and mental health initiative that anyone can take part in. That includes dogs at many Parkruns, so if you can't beat them; maybe join them?

If the route really bothers you then perhaps put in a complaint to that particular Parkrun organisers. Their email address should be [That Parkrun Name]@parkrun.com

YABU about everything except individual runners being rude to other park users, that's not on at all but sadly the organisation itself has no control over twats being twats.

I have no issue with parkrun, ours is very well-organised, but on other days of the week I get fed up of runners coming up behind me and passing so close. The paths in the park are very wide and they have ample room, but for some reason they will very often be practically (or actually, on a few occasions) touching me as they go past. Last week one brushed past me and coughed in my ear. I don’t get it.

You'd assault someone for inconveniencing you in public? For not respecting your self-appointed right of way?

Briefing always includes give way to other park users - but in reality, it's not even an hour as vast majority are done then - you know the time, I'd just avoid it until 9:45 when a lot will be finished!

Then I'd report you for assault.

Well aren’t you the charmer.

If a man said that to a woman I bet you’d rip him to shreds.

Physical violence is never ok.

It’s one hour a week. Get a grip!

Interesting. Almost every post says the OP is BU but the vote swings the other way.

Maybe the voters ALSO know they’re BU 😅

Can you walk your dog somewhere starting from home?

Why choose to walk the dog in that specific time frame? You’ve got the rest of the day, the week! Bizarre

Should park runs be allowed- yes.

Should the runners assume right of way and be rude - no.

Join in, it's free and dogs are often welcome. You don't have to run, you can even walk. Life is too short for this sort of misery.

It's far more convenient than those stupid runs they do through city centres where half the streets have to be closed, public transport stops, and businesses suffer. I remember waiting half an hour to cross a bloody road once!!

Good for you on getting up at 9:30am, I couldn't get up that early on a Saturday to go to a park.

Running is not a cult.