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Thread: Are Park Runs Destructive ?

  1. #11
    Master Danbert Nocurry's Avatar
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    Re: Are Park Runs Destructive

    Quote Originally Posted by nikalas View Post
    Totally agree, the more people we can get off their sofas and running the better.... I doubt whether a lot of the Park Runners would enter a full blown race anyway so I can't see how it's impacting on race numbers and I don't think there's been a noticeable decline in entries.... stop your moaning.

    That is exactly how I felt nikalas - basically anything that gets people off their bottoms and participating in sports and activities has to be a good thing.

    but

    I have since had it pointed out to me by a number of senior figures in Greater Manchester Athletics whose opinions I greatly respect that unlike races organised by local clubs, Park Run does not have to make any financial contribution to the sport’s governing body, UK Athletics yet they are given a licence.


    As Natty says - It would appear that Park Run do not pay for a licence for each race, and do not pay the levies that the local clubs have to pay when we organise races.


    In all honesty it does appear to be the case that there is one rule for clubs and and another for Park Run.
    To the Regiment - I Wish I Was There

  2. #12
    Moderator noel's Avatar
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    Re: Are Park Runs Destructive

    Quote Originally Posted by Danbert Nocurry View Post
    In all honesty it does appear to be the case that there is one rule for clubs and and another for Park Run.
    This is kind of two points really.

    1. Are they being treated differently to running clubs? Definitely yes

    2. Is it negatively affecting running clubs? I don't think so, as stated above

  3. #13

    Re: Are Park Runs Destructive

    Quote Originally Posted by noel View Post
    This is kind of two points really.

    1. Are they being treated differently to running clubs? Definitely yes

    2. Is it negatively affecting running clubs? I don't think so, as stated above

    Clearly Park Run is having a positive influence on loads of peoples lives....which has to be a good thing but i genuinely believe it will increasingly negatively affect running clubs.

    As i said in my original post - the Salford 5K in Heaton Park (a long established race in the calendar) was definitely affected by the fact that there had been a park run that morning.

    Richard Head - I agree we do not all want to do 5Ks but what is to stop Park Run doing a free 10K every Saturday morning - This has already happened in Heaton Park by the way.

    In all seriousness there must be people at Salford Harriers wondering just what was the point in organising their 5K event in the park?
    Give us 60p's worth of chips then

  4. #14
    Master Witton Park's Avatar
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    Re: Are Park Runs Destructive

    http://www.eightlane.com/indexforum....page=forum.php
    If you have time have a look at this where variuos for and against points are made.

    My opinions were not against Park Run. They were more against the corner cutting that allowed events that were set up as informal time trials to become events with results posted in AW and rankings appearing on the Power of 10.

    I know that several athletes last winter went down to Park Run 5Ks and didn't turn out in the Red Rose XC for their clubs - they came and watched. So no matter what the organisers of PR say, they will and are having an effect on existing fixtures, no evidence that it is positive and perhaps even taking money out of the sport.

    I know that some races have disappeared from the calendar recently - Waddington 10K, Whalley Nab, Kirkham 10K, the almost legendary Chorley 4 miles. That's because generally they became tied up by Loacl Goct, Police, HSE, traffic management etc and are no loner viable.

    Park Run cuts many of those corners.

  5. #15
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    Re: Are Park Runs Destructive

    Quote Originally Posted by Witton Park View Post
    they became tied up by Local Govt, Police, HSE, traffic management etc and are no longer viable.

    Park Run cuts many of those corners.
    Which means Park Runs are rather good...?

  6. #16
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    Re: Are Park Runs Destructive

    Might be a Whitton Park run in the future:wink:

  7. #17
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    Re: Are Park Runs Destructive

    Quote Originally Posted by Mud View Post
    Which means Park Runs are rather good...?
    No it doesn't. A lot of clubs used to use races as a means of raising funds to support the activities of the club. In particular paying for young athletes events. The Police and Councils have withdawn support for the races which fund the opportunities for young athletes in their own communities. Parkrun doesn't cater for kids so that's not even an alternative.

  8. #18
    Master Witton Park's Avatar
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    Re: Are Park Runs Destructive

    Today I was at the NW Relays at Leigh.

    They couldn't even manage to close off a few of the car parks at Leigh Sports Village and we had juniors running around with cars pulling out in front of them - and the sight of drivers complaining at the marshalls that they weren't allowing the cars the right of way.

    In principal park run sounds great - but it's what the charity shops are to retail - it is unfair competition.

    If Blackburn Harriers want to use Witton Park for a race, we have to pay. That's an overhead to start with. We need a permit, we have to bring in first aid (for not less than £100 these days) to fullfill the risk assessment that we have to do.

    If Blackburn Harriers want to host the 5K again next tear, we need a £20K budget or the Council support. You can see that for 200 runners it's not viable as a race in itself unless the Borough deem it useful to promote the town.

    Strange though how a anti Afghan war demo comes along and they can close off half the town and get a police escort at no cost to those protesters.

    Maybe we should send all the 5K runners round next year with a pot of Ski and some knitting needles?

  9. #19
    Master Rob Furness's Avatar
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    Re: Are Park Runs Destructive

    Quote Originally Posted by Witton Park View Post
    In principal park run sounds great - but it's what the charity shops are to retail - it is unfair competition.

  10. #20
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    Re: Are Park Runs Destructive

    I personally think the Park Runs are a great idea, and perfect for people with families (they're early enough to not impact on your weekend).

    Club race organisers just need to be flexible and adapt - offer something that Parkrun can't. Answers on a postcard as to what that may be.

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