Quote Originally Posted by The General View Post
This is correct Witton - parkrun gets its insurance cover for free whilst we the clubs have to chip up. Also Local Government is putting up the costs and reducing the assistance it offers to us the affiliated clubs (who in many cases develop youth athletics) whilst giving subsidies to Park Run. It's not a level playing field and to be honest it's p*ssing me off :angry:

General - from what I can make of it, it seems that Local Councils are under pressure to show that they are promoting healthy lifestyles (there is funding involved.) Parkrun would argue that they are helping them do that, that's why they get funded.

The issue for me (and by the way, i love parkrun) is that my own club Rochdale Harriers (on every Tuesday and Thursday night) arrange training for more athletes across a much wider age range than any of the individual Greater Manchester Park Runs and unlike parkrun our members get structured training and specialist coaching. Parkrun however is free because it is subsidised by the council yet our members have to pay subs to cover the costs that the Council ask from us. How can that be fair and equitable?