Junior parkrun

[Tumtetum]

I've looked on the parkrun website but can't find the answer to this question. If your child does junior parkrun, are you allowed/expected/not allowed to run round with them? If not allowed to run with them, do they all go round on their own and you meet them at the end?

I'll be honest my DC are not remotely interested in doing the parkrun but running 5k is currently out of my reach and I was hoping, if parents are allowed to run with their children, that I could persuade DC to do it purely so that I could attempt the 2k.

You are allowed to go round with them; you do not have to but only a junior participant can get a time.

The junior must walk, jog or run to get a time - scooters, balance bikes, bikes all forbidden. Youngest of a family in a buggy is permitted as long as the adult is accompanying an older running child. I think the minimum age for a barcode is 4

(for clarity, I'm not a junior parkrunner or owner of a junior, but am involved with my Parkrun and it is one that has a Junior event)

I volunteer at my local park run and lots of the parents run with their dc. DP usually runs with our youngest but we can't keep up with the 8yr old . Good luck persuading them out.

Most run alone but a significant minority run with their parents and I'd say most under 5 run with a parent. That's at our local one which is great. Course record is a very speedy 7.30 but huge claps and cheers for the last child who usually comes in around 20 minutes.

To be clear I mean our local junior park run.

It really won't take you long to build up to the full 5k and lots of people run/walk it. Park runs are really friendly so do go along if you can't get the dc out. I put it off for ages but I'm glad I went.

Parents can run but it doesn't seem to be obligatory. My knees are destroyed so I can't run- children have been running alone from ages 5 and 10. Lots of volunteers and other parents and children.

You can run with them if you want but you can't go through the finishing funnel and line with them.

I run with my 4 year old as he still needs that mental support and encouragement and despite the efforts of a well placed Marshall is liable to shoot straight on and miss a bend in the course

My newly 7 year old has run it independently for some time. He streaks off at his own pace. He was about 5 or 6 when it mentally clicked for him.

Today I've counted it as a recovery run for my January streak. As PPs have said, you can run, but don't enter the funnel for a result. Parents tend to be at the back with the younger, slower children.

We have a real mix of parents running or not at ours. When the event first started there were lots of parents slowing the kids down not realising how unfit they were & thinking 2K would be a doddle 🤣. Once ours had done the course a couple of times we let them do it on their own (6yr old).

I usually tailwalk for our juniors. Sometimes we do a relatively speedy 15mins, other times 25+ mins. Usually the slower children are young/ have disabilities and are accompanied (or are my own lazy kids 🤣) but I have had unaccompanied children walk/run / chat with me. I'd recommend volunteering to do marshalling & tailwalking.

Thanks, looks like it could work then. Now got to work on the children! The 6 year old would definitely want me to go round with her although older daughter would probably do it on her own (and no doubt much faster than me ).