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?

The first (and only) time I went to a park run I was last - it took me 56minutes and the 2 women at the back behind me moaned that they weren’t going to be home as early as normal. I was mortified.

But it’s not a race, is it? It was never intended to be and men have changed it to be one

Surely if someone is running seriously, and aiming to improve their pace over a period of time, then they shouldn’t go to a place where they’ll be surrounded by other people? Presumably the park is still there 24-7. Why not go at a different time when it’s not so busy? Much easier to run fast when you’re not surrounded by people.

I think it depends on the PR. One I went to has 3 laps so regardless of who starts where, there is lots of overtaking. Another was only 2 laps so only one overtake and much more spread out.
However shouting, shoving and swearing is never acceptable.

Pushing and swearing is out of order, I can't do parkrun anymore due to my health but going after a PB is totally fine. It’s a race against yourself I feel.

Time based starts/pens don’t really work with Parkrun as most courses are multi-lap, so fast runners will have to navigate the crowds as they do their second (and any subsequent laps).

Absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a PB at Parkrun but people have to temper their expectations. It’s not a £50 Run Through supported race with a goody bag and medal at the end!

This is how I feel. If you genuinely want to get a PB, surely go for it on a clear road/trackv

That was kind of you to move to the side. After the first tut I'd have been right back into the middle of the path taking up as much space as possible. People moving out of runners way in a public space is a kindness being voluntarily bestowed, not a right.

I'm assuming there's two laps of this one, so when they are lapping the slower runners they shout at them to get out of the way? Other wise they'd start at the front and never be bothered by the 'slower' ones.

But surely it’s not the persoanal PB’s but the rank you want. That is why people tour the park runs- to get ranks on each one. I know people disagree but I can totally understand people wanting the official records.

What Parkrunners also need to remember, is that it isn't an organised race where a route is cleared for them - they are using public space, and other non-runners are equally entitled to be there.

absolutely appaling! YANBU

My local parkrun is lovely. The fast runners go to the start at the front and then are long gone (women in this group too) then the normal runners and me at the back.

It’s not acceptable to push and be rude but it absolutely is to race considerately. It’s for all so whatever that means for you.

These blokes just sound like twats and I am sorry you have those types at your parkrun. They aren’t at all of them.

It all sounds rather performative to me. If you want to run seriously, go on your own and time yourself. If you want to race with your friends, go another time your friends. Surely park run is for people who want a sociable low-pressure run?

Going to a park run with the expectation of getting a PB would be like trying to swim rapid lengths during an aqua aerobics class!

This is terrible PR behaviour. I haven't been for a couple of years but have done 100+ runs and the same number of volunteer sessions and no one should make comments like that. I have been last and had nothing but encouragement.
My local run had a walking backmarker for people with that sort of finish time. Perhaps try another place? (I used to look at the times from the week before to judge if I would fit in with the attendee profile,).

You often do three laps of a park to get the 5k so it’s probably that they’re on the final lap while others are on lap 2.

Our park run got closed down as it got too popular and there wasn’t space for the numbers so I don’t go anymore but when I did that behaviour would not have been acceptable and runners would have been spoken to. YANBU, the idea of park run is fun and inclusive.

Park run is for everyone and everyone can run their own “race”. Pushing, yelling, shoving and swearing is not welcome at any event and for that reason they shouldn’t be allowed back.

Just men being selfish pricks I think. I tried ParkRun a couple of times and didn’t like the sharp elbows.

Because a lot of them are laps so the fastest ones have to pass the slowest. If thats a problem for the racers they should travel to one that has a one loop course.

in that case you need to remove the timings.

I always feel for anyone who just wants to enjoy the park. Especially anyone with a disability or old. The park it seems is for the runners at that point. And nobody else.
Where I used to live had a run through the city. I had no idea it was happening. I could not get from A to B because the road I used to cross on foot was closed off. For most of the day.
Some limits are needed. I think if people start to run competitively they really do need to join a running club.

Get in touch with the run director and ask for their support. There will also be a run ambassador for the area - maybe email both of them together. The run director could lay the law down when they do their talk at the start of the race. Get yourself a cheap head cam or body cam and wear that for the race, so that you can actually turn towards these blokes so that they can be identified. If it tends to happen in particular places it might be possible to strategically place some marshalls out to keep an eye on things. Don't give up, don't let these arseholes win.

Im slow so never going to be an issue for me. But I love always thought of it as a race against yourself, but a run in a empty park, might give you a 5k PB, but it wouldn’t be recorded and be a Park Run PB so I can understand why people still want to do the official run. I think racing is fine, the behavior isn’t.

If a man swore at and shoved me (or I saw them do it someone else, especially a vulnerable person) I’d be reporting that as common assault. This shouldn’t be tolerated at all!

Parkrun already ban these things - the problem is enforcing it.

You’re ultimately asking volunteers to tackle difficult sweary people. It takes everyone to go and say to them “your behaviour was unacceptable” to help the volunteers address it.

Did you report their behaviour? It’s not too late to contact the organisers.

I RD at Junior Parkrun and have had awkward conversations with parents and it is horrible. But it has to be done otherwise it stops being an inclusive event. Having these conversations is made easier by other attendees being supportive (and in some cases providing film evidence so the parent had to concede their child WAS trying to trip people up…).