To think ParkRun need to consider banning racers?

[justletusrun]

My local parkrun has been overtaken by drama this week, after some men attended and basically turned the entire thing into a glorified race for themselves. They were pushing people out of the way, swearing at them and shouting at them to let them through.

I always thought the point of parkrun was to go and enjoy a 5k run and some socialising after. But it seems that across the country they’re being overtaken by people who are obsessed with “winning” it and getting the PB as a “chip time”.

i understand the sense of achievement you get from getting a PB, but I don’t think parkrun is the place to do it. Myself and many other women who have been attending for years are now considering not going again because it is so unpleasant.

AIBU to say they need to clamp down on this, before it becomes a big men’s club?

Yanbu. That person's behaviour wasn't in the spirit of the event and they should be banned.

They were pushing people out of the way, swearing at them and shouting at them to let them through.

Yet 29% of voters think you are being unreasonable, and think this is OK.

Words fail me.

Trying to ‘win’ it or get a personal best is absolutely ok if that’s what someone attends for, the behaviour of how they try get it is not ok

That’s terrible behaviour. They absolutely should be banned, which is not nice for the volunteers who have to have a potentially aggro conversation with them.

Theres plenty of track and other road races for people who want a fast run. Maybe they’re scared to enter a real one?

Not all men eh ? But always a man ruining things

I was just thinking this. I think the reason they don’t is because they know they only stand a chance amongst women and the retired community! They obviously couldn’t compete in a race so feel the need to do this instead

They need to join a running club!
Thats not a nice war to start a sunny day.

Guessing they’re the ones who go and do this sort of thing

The shoving isn't acceptable but racing and trying to get a PB is fine. I know lots of youngsters that try and better their time each week.

The poll only had a few votes at this time, so it won't be 29% when the time is up.

I do understand that to a degree but if you’re behaving like this I think it just shows a disregard for the spirit of it, and for your community.

If it was just a run with socialising why would there be any timing at all? surely the issue is is that you get a rank and so for some getting the 1st spot is very important. I’d be chuffed to have a first spot honestly (rather than the one at the bottom I would get!).

interesting reading all the debate about park runs in the last few days - why can’t it be something for everyone. Why can’t it be a competitive race for those who want it to be and just a fun run for those who don’t. They can start first and then everyone else behind? Like the London marathon does. Then you won’t get this sort of behaviour as those people are long gone?

not condoning these idiots btw but just suggesting that different people have different views about park run is and I can’t work out how they can’t be accommodated so everyone is happy.

There was a Parkrun event in my area the other week. I was actually tutted at by a few of the runners because I was in their way on a public footpath despite moving as far as I could to the side. The entitlement was outrageous, so the OP's post does not surprise me.

Well, those men need to be banned for their behaviour, but I’d guess many park runners are aiming for PBs and have a bit of friendly competition.

My son tries to improve his time each week and he loves it when he’s faster than members of his running club.

In my mind the way to do it is let all the men with tiny penises show up half an hour before everyone else, race each other, and then let everyone else do it.

I think different runs have different cultures- some, the slower runners start at the back and the front runner’s position themselves to allow overtaking- or not.

Others, it’s more of a community jog than a race. When people start touring to collect parkruns, the cultures clash.

it’s fine to go for a PB, that’s why it’s timed after all. The way these men went about it is the issue and is unacceptable. You should contact the park run organisers for that event and tell them about the pushing, swearing and shouting, if you haven’t already.

I run races and this behaviour is also unacceptable in a race. It would not be tolerated.

Parkrun is a bit strange as it claims not to be a race yet is set up as a race ( measured course, start and finish, chip times). There are a minority of people looking to win or for PBs in Parkrun, but then that is the same as in a race. Most people enter races for the fun of the course, not to win or even PB.

So it’s their behaviour that is the issue, not that they regard it as a race as their behaviour is not acceptable in a race either.

This is true, in the park runs with large numbers of runners, or where the paths are narrow, you are often directed to place yourself before the start based on your anticipated speed ( sometimes there are ‘pacer’ volunteers to help with this). Same as in a race. The runners running to win, are placed at the front.

They can't be very fast if they are having to push the socialising fun runners out of the way. It sounds like you have some inconsiderate rude people in your park run. Most racers aren't like that.

This behaviour is frustrating (and I don’t condone swearing or pushing at all) but there are some people who don’t help this situation. For example, if you know you will be walking by km 2, start near the back. If you want to jog slowly chatting with two friends, again, start near the back. Likewise, if you are a human gazelle, get up near the front.

As mentioned upthread, bigger races have time based pens so you start with people who will complete the race about the same time as you so no one gets in anyone’s way.

Park Run absolutely can allow everyone to achieve their goals but people need to be more considerate and take into account how their actions might impact others too. Yes, a fast runner can join a ‘proper’ race but so too can the slow plodder take themself off round the park by themselves at a different time.

Despite Parkrun’s mantra of ‘it’s a run, not a race’ lots of adults & children do treat it as a race in terms of wanting to get a PB. That’s fair enough and at our local Parkrun it doesn’t seem to cause any issues.
The individual at your Parkrun behaved terribly- shouting, swearing and pushing people is absolutely not in the spirit of Parkrun. If it’s a one off, I’d be inclined to forget about it and hope you never see him again. If he turns up regularly with the same attitude I’d get a group of you together and speak with the run director/committee. He should at least be spoken to and asked to stop behaving like that, or banned if he doesn’t improve.

Racing and running fast absolutely fine. Shouting keep left. Fine
Pushing and swearing absolutely not fine.
I always race at park run though it is usually against somebody who like me has been toddling along and finishes at the 30 minute mark!

In my experience it’s not the ones touring (for example collecting the A-Z) who behave badly, but then the runners I know who do that are women. They use it as a way to see different bits of the country and are also people who volunteer at Park Run which is part of the ethos. I bet these men don’t have many volunteer hours!