Park Run

[Happyasharryy]

Anyone else find the prospect of doing a park run really intimidating?

I really want to try but find that some of the running crowd can feel a bit elitist maybe?

For example this afternoon our local park run has posted that they've had a complaint about a runner being rude to slower runners during the "race" and that slower runners need to be more considerate and move to the side to let fast people go past.

I feel like this is really backwards for an event like park run? I understand that reminding people to stand to one side is important, but also isn't it important not to be rude/shouting at others during a weekly fun run?

I have two local Parkruns that I can do. One is fairly big, average 300 runners and unfortunately is often full of ego runners who are like you describe - “fast runner coming up, make way”. I find it really off putting and as you say, it goes against the ethos of Parkrun.

Luckily my other local one, is completely the opposite. It only has around 100 runners, and everyone is so supportive of everyone around them, especially those at the back of the pack. As a result, this one has started seeing more people come who walk the course, and more of the slower runners, or the ones who still can’t quite run the whole thing. The regulars and the Marshalls cheer everyone on, it’s so motivating.

So, all that to say… I think it can vary from Parkrun to parkrun. It shouldn’t be the case, but sadly it is.

That's interesting! This particular park run has about 450 runners every week which is huge, maybe I'll look to see if there is another one locally that has less people! Thank you

I’m lucky to have a few locally, but the one I go to the most has 450 ish runners. The faster runners start at the front and usually when finished, walk or run the course again and offer encouragement to others. I’m not saying there has never been any negatively, just that I haven’t seen/heard any.
Anything that happens though is usually picked up on quickly by the race director and mentioned in the race report.
The ethos of PR is to be inclusive, to run or walk it so no one organising it is going to tolerate anyone treating it as an elite race.
I’ve done a lot of Parkruns and have never personally come across any issues.
I would say give it a go, I don’t know anyone who has started Parkrun and regretted it.

You want to find one with the fewest loops possible, our nicest one is a straight out 2.5km, turn and come back, so no overtaking and only about 120 runners, all nice to each other.

The ones trying to squash 500 people into four 1.25km loops lend themselves to more aggression.

I find this odd.

I used to run...slowly. the only time I ever saw fast runners was on and close to the start line!

If you are a slower runner then it is the right thing to place yourself towards the back at the start. Walkers should start right at the back.

On loops, yes you keep into the side.

So I presume the "rudeness" was because as the race started they were holding them up or were not keeping to the side, mindful of others, on loops. Its likely they took, what was probably a short snappy comment, as rudeness. If you are running you cannot stop and recite war and peace.

It's also possible they were extremely rude as society has many people like that, but I don't think I ever met a rude runner in my time.

So, no it wouldn't affect me. And its part of run etiquette to be mindful of others. I would expect that in parkruns too.

My local Parkrun has over 800 runners most weeks and occasionally tops a thousand. Very, very unusual for any bad behaviour like that. The fast runners start at the front but in reality, because it’s so big, it’s just not super fast. I spend most of the run overtaking people and I tend to run it in 27-28 minutes so not particularly speedy! The race directors would clamp down immediately on any behaviour like that though so maybe that’s the issue.

@Feelingstrange2 I have 2 park runs near me - one is just one lap, and after the start you don't see the faster runners. The other has 3 laps and a narrowish track. They get you to line up at the start according to your estimated finish time, so it's actually the slower runners that might get held up at the start (it takes a little while for the whole group to move off), but faster runners will lap the slower ones so could get held up then. I don't think it's ever been an issue though, people are quite strung out by that point and faster ones just go past or round the slower ones.

My home parkrun is a 3 lap course and the slower runners are expected to keep to one side to let the faster runners past. Personally I think the responsibility should be on the faster runners to pass safely. However, though when you are trying to pass/overtake and there are slower people 3 or 4 in a line then it does become difficult. Though some people are just rude anyway, runners or not. It's not the olympics, its parkrun - a fun way to spend a Saturday morning.

If anyone fancies a parkrun, but is a bit nervous why not volunteer first? Then you can see what it's like before actually doing it.

@Happyasharryy
I would contact your PR lead and mention you’ve sensed some tension and perhaps they can introduce a solution.

I think it’s the responsibility of ‘slower’ runners not to start up the front. Likewise the responsibility of faster runners to start in the front. If fast runners turn up late and need to belt through the slower runners, then they need not get mardy about it all.

The way I see it, fast runners aren’t the only ones trying to achieve a PB. And I’m not saying slow people shouldn’t accommodate faster folk, but constantly moving here and there across the track can really break a stride, and while someone shouts ‘fast runners, move aside’ can be quite anxious making, especially when people get pissy about it.

At my local Park run we all get reminded to pass slower runners on the right and to be polite. It's known locally as being a friendly parkrun. However, when marshalling there last year, I had a go at a runner who pushed past another runner and nearly knocked her over. It's what Marshalls are for. He didn't do it again....

Park run rules state that slower runners should move aside yes, but park runs are really inclusive and friendly ime so don't let that intimidate you. Some people walk all the way round.

I go to a fairly large one and it is the least elitist and friendliest thing! I have only started recently and went to watch before I decided to run. It is a 2 lap course and therefore there is a bit when there is a "move aside, fast runner coming" as he thunders past me, but that's fine. You get told the etiquette of the course in the pre race talk.

I go to a lot of different parkruns and 99% of the time, whatever the size of the course, people are friendly and the ethos is inclusive.

The overtaking issue is only really problematic on several-lapped courses where you have a lot of people trying to fit into the same bit of path. In those circumstances it's not rude to tell slower runners to keep left and let people pass on the right; it's for safety - especially when dogs and buggies are also thrown into the mix.

I've run parkrun as a very slow runner and as a fast one and you do see it a bit differently. As a slow runner you tend to see quick people zooming past you and think "can they not give me more space".. but as a fast runner you're only running at your natural speed, same as the slower ones are. Difference is that you might have groups of 3, 4, 5 slower runners all side by side taking up the path and there can be nowhere to go to get around them. There is never any excuse to be rude, but a polite "on your right" is sensible.

Usually the faster runners are very friendly with slower runners, though. I mean, almost all of us were slower runners once!

Parkruns do vary a lot. My nearest one is literally at the top of my road, but has few walkers (and no dogs, I love the dogs) and I find quite intimidating so I don't go there but go to a park a few miles away which has many walkers, plus dogs and pushchairs etc.
The ones I don't like are the finishers who hang around the finish while some of us have still got a lap to go and get in the way.

I've done quite a few different parkruns as part of the alphabet challenge and not come across any that haven't been friendly and inclusive. I'm not a fast runner and go to a lot on my own and never had any problems or felt intimidated. Maybe just unlucky with that one.

I’m a parkrun addict

this is very unusual. We have several hundred at my “home”
run and loads of people are slow. Always some every week that walk literally all the way

everyone is welcome. Nothing elitist about the vast majority of parkruns.
if you went along just to watch you’d be hugely reassured

I tend to check the times if going to a new one, to make sure there are some slowies like me. I haven’t noticed any bad behaviour generally, but I do hate it when other runners clap and cheer when I get near the end - I find it a bit galling as we’re all running/waddling the same distance.

I think the only time it didn’t quite work for me was at one I went to where they had a guest of some famous long distance runner or something and he was giving a vest as a prize to the fastest runner. I wish he had thought to educate himself beforehand on the parkrun ethos as there should be no winners as that means there are losers.

But that’s a small grumble and not even parkruns fault. It’s amazing and I love doing them on holiday and then rushing back to a hotel buffet breakfast! Mind you I am worried that I am so slow these days that it will get embarrassing.

My regular one has 650 or so runners and is two laps. The start is wide open (in a park) so it doesn't matter too much if slower people don't start at the back, it all sorts itself out very quickly and easily. However most of the route is only about 1.5m wide with some stretches only 1m wide (with trees to the sides) so it is essential that slower participants keep in single file and to the left. I have never seen a hint of aggravation, and as a slow runner who gets lapped I am constantly amazed by how many fast ones take a moment to encourage me. When you go along, there is always an intro talk for first timers and newcomers to that event, you will find friendly faces there.

Also, by the second lap the overtaking has finished by and large so it is fine to be two abreast so long as you keep
one ear open for the odd person wanting to pass and I quite often find myself having a chat with other people who are about my speed (45 mins run/walk intervals). Which is lovely. Honestly, I only started a year ago, am
middle aged, overweight and still not massively fit but I feel like an equal to everyone else at Parkrun.

I like being cheered on by the fast runners, by the finish or as they run past on their way home. It's really nice to be cheered by the super speedy as I plod round slower than a snail - like we're all in it together and all counts. I've only done it a handful of times so far and I'm addicted!

Park run has great energy and atmosphere. If you are slow start at the back and keep to the side, faster runners come through on the left. They do shout "keep to the side" at my park run which is 700+ runners, 2 laps and quite narrow in places. I don't think it's off-putting. Getting a good time is important to some people. You just do your own thing and don't get in others' way.

Ours is maybe 200 runners I think if you are steady just be aware of people coming up behind yoi and move over. It’s ok to be steady / slow / fast it’s for everyone

Parkrun has really tried to encourage people who wouldn’t run to take part walking. There’s a marshal role of the Parkwalker, who wears a blue jacket & people can walk round with him/her. It is worth checking the course of the different parkruns if you want to avoid running / walking uphill, as some can be hilly (each Parkrun has a webpage & often a FB or X account too).

I used to go to a park run in Glasgow years ago before covid that would have nearly 500 runner's every week. I'm not "fast" , have been doing the same pace for years.
It was a nightmare, some people thought it was the Olympics, not a free parkrun. Getting shouted at to get out of the way, I always kept to the left but I wasn't going to stop. Stopped going there.

Thankfully there is another one I sometimes go to which is a lot smaller and friendlier.
Although a couple of weeks ago, a man ran past me shouting keep left. I shouted back, I am left, he then shouted sorry! I don't think he was expecting an answer back! I didn't know exactly who it was or would maybe have said something to him at the end. I find it's always men who do this well!
Anyway, OP find a smaller parkrun and hopefully it will be better.