Parkrunners anonymous keep on running

[OhOneOhTwoOhThree]

As the last thread was filling up, here's a nice new one for parkrunners old and new

All parkrunners are welcome here!

An RD would be a Race Director at any other event but parkrun isn't a race, it's a social run, so we have Run Directors instead. Our last runners at MK come in late 40/early 50 minutes. Everyone is cheered over the line no matter how long they take. It really isn't supposed to be competitive.

Thanks Kristina, my nearest pr is Graves but I could also drive easily to Hallam, Rother Valley or Hilsborough. Im already sub 40 mins - I ran 5k in about 34 minutes on Friday .

What's a tail runner, please?

Ooh I've only just spotted this thread! I did my first Parkrun today and I'm still quite excited . My local one is Hackney Marshes. I did it in 32:45 which was not too bad considering I have only ever once done 5k in less than 30 mins.

My brother did Rother Valley today. He said it was good.

A tail runner runs at the back and makes sure everyone gets back OK.

A tail runner is a volunteer who runs at parkrun at the back of the field to make sure no one is left behind and also to let the marshals know that there are no other runners. We don't always have one as we're a small parkrun and don't always have lots of volunteers but I assume bigger parkruns have one most weeks.

X-posts blatherskite!

Tailrunning is my favourite volunteering role

Oh that sounds good! I'll see if my local one has a tail runner.

We have 500+ runners most weeks so we always have a tail runner.

My favourite job is barcode scanning :)

Mine is timekeeper :)

Noooo, far too much responsibility!

Why did I become and RD again?

With that many runners I can see but we are usually under 60 and there's always 2 timekeepers. I did tokens today as I didn't have enough volunteers ds2 insisted on helping so I passed each one to him and he gave it to the runner along with lovely comments like 'what he called mummy', 'what her called' some I know others I don't and then finally 'he an old one mummy' which made me only very slightly

Well kitty you are sorted !

Please do one of your local parkruns next week and Report back here

I hate timekeeper and number checker as too much responsibility < wimp>

I Like tail runner, set up, finish tokens, token sorting, funnel manager, marshall and scanning ( As long as scanners work ) .

Would l never dream of doing volunteer co coordinator or RD -I don't have enought experience .

And kitty, you won't see the tail runner if you are doing Parkrun in 34 mins.

It took months for 2 of the other RDs to talk me into it Kristina :)

You are obviously Very Responsible

I think the term they used was 'Bossy' Kristina

LOL

"Bossy" people run most voluntary organisations in this country.

Trouble is, the 5k route I usually run is relatively flat whereas from what i can see, my nearest parkrun has some rough and hilly bits. I might go and run the route this week at some point to see what my time might be. I can't see anything about a tail runner on there but they had 130 odd runners and the last time recorded is just under 45 mins. Hmm, maybe I'd be ok...

Look at volunteer roster not results to see if the tail runner position is filled, it's under volunteer at the top and then future roster :)

I don't think I'm bossy just happy to help and not good at saying no.

Thanks Cinnamon, tail runner is on there but no-one has that role for next week. I'll see how my running goes this week, I think, before making a decision.

Another way to spot the tail runner is that although they are last on that day they usually have a sub30 PB and often have a club t shirt ( little box with red 50 or black 100 next to their name )

Or if you click on their name, their athlete history comes up and you can see they usually run much faster than 45 mins

But I wouldn't worry. A hilly course might add 2-3 mins to your time, it's not going to add 10mins. My home Parkrun is one of the hilliest in the uk and it's supposed to be 40 secs slower than a nearby flat one. Although I'm 60 secs slower on it [ blush]

So apparently there were 8 complaints about dogs at parkruns over the weekend :( I really hope they don't ban dogs but I've been unable to find the complaints to read or comment, is there a forum?

Two dogs had a bit of a scrap at the one i went to, it was over in about 30 seconds but it might have alarmed some people I guess.

IME the proper Canicross people are very good and don't bother anyone. Their dogs are used to running, the owners know how to control them and they are in running harnesses . The dogs can bark a bit with excitement but they run at the back so you stay away from them if it makes you nervous .

The real danger are the dog walkers who decide they will walk their dog around a Parkrun. I once tripped on one of those thin retractable ( nearly invisible ) leads -the dog was on one side of the path and the owner on the other .i didn't complian of course, it wasn't parkruns fault