Thread resurrection
Just interested to know if those who originally thought parkrun was detrimental are still finding that to be true? Has parkrun taken people away from races or drawn people in?
We don't have fell races down south, but do have trail races on the Downs, locally the situation is that club membership has gone up and races (club, charity and business organised) rarely don't fill the start list.
I'm not saying that this is due to parkrun, it may have happened anyway, but parkrun hasn't stopped people joining / entering.
You can tell there's a race weekend from parkrun webpage because there are more serious runners on the volunteer roster and less in the results, most club runners parkrun when it fits with their races/training and many parkrun joggers enter races, so it works both ways.
I don't see many (if any) 5k races, but I don't know if there ever were many.
Nope,
On a diversion, I have done tees barrage parkrun a couple of times now due to my son training on the canoe slalom course there. It is an odd one, 100% hard surface and just so many right angle turns and 180% turns, plus a suspension bridge that turns the legs to jelly. Not a fast one by any stretch of the imagination.
i would think that if you take park run in the round (not just any one particular park run on its own) surely the positives outweigh the negative impact they may have. any use of a park for leisure purposes is likely to have some degree of negative impact in some people's (but not necessarily everyone's) view. i can think of much more negative uses (or abuse) of parks and common areas, e.g. anti-social behaviour and littering. whereas park run possibly leaves a degree of footprint (traffic, surface wear and tear, etc.) i would think this is probably low level, in return for the hugely positive impact it has in terms of participation in running - particularly making it accessible to people who might otherwise not take up running.
Nice ressurection.
Wot JMJ and Benshep said.
Approaching 10 years of enjoying parkrun myself which was a catalyst for joining a club. In last 3 years my club's membership has approximately doubled, not coincidentally helped by the start up of our local parkrun 3 years ago, at which I am one of 6 run directors, as well as a fell RO. This afternoon there is the Cross keys fell and road relays not far from here. Several keen racers from my club actively voluntering at this morning's parkrun before doing the relays after lunch, where I think we will have several teams, and maybe win a prize or two😀. Others off to do the Lantern Pike fell race threatening to bring up the rear😀.
I like many other club runners use parkrun in a complementary and complimentary 😉 manner as part of training and socialising, not as an alternative to fell racing or cross country or whatever.
As Dr.P says it's a useful training arena when visiting different parts of the country and indeed the world. Running with my siblings and our children around the lake at Albert Park Melbourne parkrun a few years ago being very memorable.
Nuff said .....
...except to add JMJ that I was never in the 'club' that thought parkrun is detrimental. Where are they...would be interested in their views like you.
Come on WP et al 😉
Last edited by OB1; 15-09-2018 at 02:07 PM.
Oh, and I notice another forumite getting his parkrun leg loosener in this morning at Woodbank followed by a near PB at Lantern Pike fell race this afternoon.
Well done Britnick, nice double dipping there. Reminds me of the time I ran Woodbank then dashed over to Hayfield to race Mount Famine an hour later.
It was the first park run in Keighley this morning.
Exciting times. 454 people turned out.
Supposedly it’s the fifth hilliest Park Run in the country.
Nice also to to bump into an old forum friend - Tussock
Oh dear! Does that spell the end of the Woodentop races then!? 🤔
Shame😉