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?

They don’t commandeer the path. They mark the route as the distance is measured. Anyone can go on it.

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This. I may be feeling a little bruised after being trapped this morning on a long slow winding hill behind a Lycra clad cyclist puffing his way slowly to the top.

It's OK for 90 minutes as people can go at other times. If it was all day it would be annoying.

@OnTheShelfie I never mentioned sharing the path side by side. I said that people can't expect to cut across a path of hundreds of runners, they need to wait until the 'pack' has passed by. Just like you wait to cross the road!

@DysonSphere

I do expect it to be a park and not a group outdoor gym. A place to relax if you want

And you think that things are meant to fit with your expectations? Why? Parks are for all kinds of things, and if you don't want people exercising there, you're going to have to query the councils about their gym equipment, tennis courts, goalposts etc. Lots of exercise groups have permission to take up space in the park, lots of competitions take place there. My local park is full of kids football on Saturday mornings, with the Park run going on on the paths around.

Your expectations don't have much relevance.

It's really not that deep. Just avoid the park at that time.

Runners swearing at walkers for not moving fast enough is definitely not in the spirit of parkrun though, so I'd be cross about that.

Other than that, what do you want them to do? As a nation, our fitness levels are a disgrace and will cost us dearly in the future, and this is an entry level, community event - why not cheer them on!

If hundreds of runners are gathered on a path, for example, as a run is about to begin, they have commandeered it by default

No-one else can pass them. No-one else can get by.

We just avoid our local park between 9.30 and 10.30 on a Saturday and walk the dog elsewhere.

Other than that, what do you want them to do?

Organise their run in a way that is less inconvenient to everyone else.

I explained repeatedly that in the case of our local Parkrun - multiple complaints have been made to the local organisers, the national organisation and the owner of the park (council) about the PB thug element of it.

I contacted both the local and national organisation after the incident where DD1 was injured - national replied with a "wasn't us, contact the local lot" type reply, local did not even reply to the contact.

Local one is a nice flat course so gets a lot of attendance and runs both days (kids get the Sunday) so it's the park for most of the mornings of the weekend ruled out of action, and the route goes around the entire park area - there's literally no way to get across to the kids' play area without impinging on the run route in some way... I think it's one that really has outgrown its venue and needs reducing down in numbers/the dickhead squad banning/volunteers to grow some balls and clamp down on the dickhead squad/finding a different route.

A regular event around here (we have some great hills) - I always admire the effort and stamina but inwardly think "oh get off and push and you'll get there much faster mate"

I have no issues with the other group activities like football. You know why? Because they have a properly demarcated and set aside area away from the rest of the park. They also don't play football/cricket/rounders/basketball/ on the walking paths.

And for the last time I have no issue with lone joggers, lone dog walkers, or children playing and getting exercise.

What I have a problem with is PR which contains hundreds of runners running enmase and takes over all the paths, stops all activity and has entitled runners obsessed with their time (likely training for their marathon some of them) who have zero care for my right for a leisurely stroll if I happen to get in their way.

If were hundreds of walkers enmase demanding right of way or walk over you, I'd have an issue with that too.

Parkrun is all done by volunteers from marshals up to run directors. Maybe these affluent residential areas around places like Hyde park just dont have people who want to get involved? A lot of parkrun is building community and thats probably just not your typical Kensington or Chelsea residents cup of tea. Plus they would be heaving with tourists, people living in tourist spots arent often keen on tourists.

@DysonSphere

Well, lots of people have problems with lots of things. As I said, we all have to deal with our own issues, because people who cause us problems as individuals are allowed to do what they're doing. Society isn't designed with your specific individual needs in mind, and inconveniencing you (and some others) in this instance, is benefitting far more others.

Personally, I don't like children's story time at the library, because I like it quiet there. But the library isn't mine, and the park isn't yours. I just suck it up, about the library. What are you going to do about the park?

Bushy Park - the OG parkrun location is a Royal Park.

I doubt someone training for a marathon would do a 3 mile fun run to train for a 26 mile race! What would be the point?

But when I go with my older child to the library and there is a baby event on (by accident because I forget) we work around each other. We make space for each other; we stay quiet and don’t interrupt their singing or signing and they move so we can access the books. Thats what should be happening here; runners moving for walkers and cyclists and vice verse. Not what the OP and others have described of swearing and refusing to move and unpleasantness. It just takes everyone to be a bit smarter and kinder and everyone can use the space. All this debate about how one person deserves a space more so than another because ‘it’s only an hour a week’ or whatever isn’t necessary if people are just decent

That’s true of anywhere there are other people. Crowds take a longer time to get through.

Although I’ve been to 30+ parkruns and I’m yet to see a start that doesn’t have a way to get past. I’m not saying they don’t exist, maybe yours is more difficult.

Of course, getting through a large group of people is more challenging but fortunately this is for a very short time then the herd thins quickly.

I’m not saying that anti social behaviour is acceptable, of course, it absolutely isn’t and it ought to be reported to the organisers, but there are plenty of ways for the public to share public space and it happens without issue or incident in parks across the world for an hour a week every week.

Some people don’t like it, which is their right, but, it’s an hour a week, with maybe 10 minutes of that where paths are busy. It’s easily avoidable if it’s not your jam.

I can’t get too worked up about the herds of runners. Where I am they gather and run, after which people just give a sigh of relief and start using the rec again normally.

What makes me laugh about them is the competitive stretching and running talk.

Not nearly as bad as cyclists though (men, always men). They dress up and posture laughably. There’s a Sunday group near me who take over a cafe after each week’s Tour de Fucking Nowhere and bray about push bikes, times and how hard they’ve trained 🙄

All this debate about how one person deserves a space more so than another because ‘it’s only an hour a week’ or whatever isn’t necessary if people are just decent

Yes, and people mostly are. Some on the thread seem to think that an unpleasant majority represent all Park runners. If this was the case, Park run would have been abandoned as a project years ago. Same with having dogs. If the majority of dog owners were as rude/inconsiderate as some on here make out, dog ownership would have been banned long ago. There's always a few disrespectful people in any group, but most people get along most of the time, and there's always a few 'Disgruntled of Tunbridge Wells' types, too.

Well, lots of people have problems with lots of things

Yes they do, hence the thread title and my response.

You seem concerned that I have a problem with PR as if I shouldn't possibly have one at all, which rather counters your first statement.

As to what I am going to do about it. Wait until it reaches critical mass and then complain to the Friends.

It started with tens of runners, now it's hundreds. That said, many dog walkers have probably already complained. I predict it's one of those things that the council will eventually capitalise on.

In the meantime I shall take a leaf from your library book and suck it up the next time I'm unable to cross the paths or walk around!

I have no interest in dog ownership. Thankfully dogs aren't necessary to own, I don't enjoy the thought of various animal piss and shit being trailed through my house, the general smell or everything being covered in hair 🤮. Can't understand the appeal at all.

You seem concerned that I have a problem with PR as if I shouldn't possibly have one at all, which rather counters your first statement

No, not at all. I'm very happy for you to have as many problems as you want. Whatever makes you happy!

You can generally tell when a runner is a parkrun regular, because parkrun etiquette is that we stick to the left, to allow others to overtake on looped courses, or if we're doing an out and back so we don't collide with people going in the other direction.

As for inclusivity, I've been to parkruns where wheelchairs are being pushed, I take my physically challenged, learning disabled son to parkrun (where he is welcomed and cheered on), I've seen someone complete it on crutches, I've seen blind runners with their guide runners. It is as inclusive as it can be