To think Parkrun should have an hour cut-off

[SummerAsh]

200+ participants, all but two completed in under 54 minutes… but the last two women ambled around chatting and took over 1 hour 10 minutes.

I appreciate that Parkrun should be inclusive, but that’s taking the piss, and unfair on the 20 or so volunteers who give up the first part of their Saturday mornings…. It’s hard enough getting volunteers as it is, without expecting everyone to be saintly martyrs with endless patience.

To complete in an hour requires a pace of 3.1 mph (I.e 5km = 3.1 miles)… According to Google, that’s a casual walking pace.

AIBU to think that if you can’t or won’t complete a park”run” at even a casual walking pace, then parkrun isn’t for you. I think that an hour cut off is more than accommodating enough, and an appropriate line to draw.

Otherwise, what is reasonable? Is it reasonable to accommodate a 90-year old taking 3 hours with their zimmer? If not, where the line if not an hour.

It also depends on the course. I could easily walk my home course in an hour. It's taken me longer to walk other, tougher courses

Ok, the six I’ve been to have all been pretty flat, but any mountainous ones might need a bit longer.

My old home parkrun is one of the hardest in the UK. I don't think I've taken an hour but it's easy to see how people could take that long

That's far too slow, I can swim 5km faster than that.

No.

You can't decide what other people should do. It's an inclusive event, all welcome. If you're not happy, stop volunteering.

Why?

But it's not actually an amble at that speed on some courses. I struggle to walk 5k in an hour. I do have arthritis and painful knees but I'm working hard and putting a lot of effort in. Our local course has some hills and uneven paths which make it hard work. I was there this morning as my son was running, but I've never dared try the course officially because I know I'll be over an hour and I've seen too many posts on here complaining about slow walkers. So I don't sign up and just walk a bit of the route on my own instead.

I have a 5k walking loop from my front door which takes me 1hr 10 mins. The fastest my fitter, long legged husband has walked the same route is 50 mins and he walks very quickly.

And so what if they have health issues - isn't the point of park run supposed to be that it's inclusive. Some people have health issues. Some are significant.

I have a physical disability. I can (and need to) exercise, but I'm slow. I can't run for long, but I can walk fast and jog. I always wondered if I'd be welcome at park run. Would be horrified to have made the effort and overcome the fear of being shamed to go, only to find out that I am in fact being shamed.

Yes well there's a whole other debate to be had about parkrun and "females".

And a slower runner will finish in 45ish minutes - parkrun's own cut-off for deciding who ran it and who walked it is 50 minutes. Obviously a lot of people do a mix of both. So well under an hour.

Well, quite.

And I also wonder if a cut-off might mean that more venues could support a parkrun as they'd know 90% of people would be gone within the hour and they could use it after that.

Or, parkruns might not have to cancel as often (although it's usually for weather or parking reasons, rather than space in the actual park).

Honestly I think parkrun is a load of shite anyway, and it's quite something that people need something organised to go and walk or run 5k.

But its meant to be inclusive, and in that spirit I don't think anyone should be implementing an hour cut off.

Frankly, if you can't volunteer in the spirit of the event then just fucking don't.

I agree, if those stats are accurate. A lot of people don't know about the impact on volunteers so maybe it just needs awareness raising.

It's a social thing.. jesus christ. Like saying it's sad you need a team to complete a pub quiz. Can just do it alone. Why raise a family, just donate sperm/eggs and f off to live your life while kids are raised in groups on a farm and inserted into jobs. Bit grey your world.

The parkrun will close if it doesn’t get enough volunteers, and many people don’t volunteer because so many people take the piss.

I have started couch to 5k with the aim of completing a park run at the end. I am now totally put off attempting the park run unless I am able to run in an acceptable time. You said all volunteers think this is the elephant in the room , if that’s the case I just people were upfront about it @SummerAsh

You must know that puts you in an elite category. How is that at all relevant to this thread.

Edited to add you actually said faster than that didn't you - if you can do a 55 min 5k that's Olympic level isn't it? Are you just making it up?

I suggest at the end of couch to 5k you jog the parkrun course at a time in the week when it’s not on, and then you’ll understand OP’s point!

No I thought it was a 5km friendly walk/run. I think you can take dogs & buggies to some of them but bikes aren't allowed unless it's a mobility aid.

This was one spicy chat ! Don’t be put off @Mrsbirdwatcher, parkrun is a fab thing and you can come before the end of couch to 5k.

I’ve been all speeds. 25 min PB but also walked parkrun for 2 years when injured, been over the hour. The vast majority of volunteers are fabulous and encouraging, don’t be put off by the rogue thoughts on this thread. My mum only volunteers (never does the 5k) and says she is most impressed by those challenging themselves towards the back of the pack and always double ls down on encouragement. She’s proud to help

Our local Parkrun allows one dog per runner and does allow buggies: I think I mentioned upthread that two dads pushing double buggies lapped me at one point.

Yes I will do. It would appear that there is a view that park runs aren’t so encouraging as I had thought,given what is being said here. I am glad I have read this thread as I would have hated to have taken part and been moaned about if I was too slow and causing a problem.

Thank you - it must depend on the specific park run, your mum sounds lovely

If you’re doing couch to 5k then you’d finish in way under an hour! As i said, you have to stroll around to be over an hour!

There's regularly a young person at one of our local parkruns with cerebral palsy, can't wait til next Saturday to tell them they're not welcome 🫠 (and yes I do volunteer as well as run 🙃)