Quote Originally Posted by Witton Park View Post
I am on your side Natty.

As a race organiser, I am not YET directly affected by Park Run - in fact Park Run would say they will help me by stimulating interest in athletics and road races in particular.

However, our 2 road races take 6 months each at least to organise, incur road closure / traffic management costs running in to several thousands each, use around 50 marshalls, first aid cover, permit etc etc etc.

For the more regular club race that aims to race a few hundred quid for the club, that generally will go in to subsidising youth athletics, it must be difficult.

I am against park runs in general, they are getting out of control, and will starve funding to grass roots athletics for what? To get a few joggers out and interested.

Scrap them for me.
i must disagree as i started off doing the parkruns and later moved onto joining a club therefore putting money back into grassroots.. i have also recruited other atheletes at parkrun to my club, who not of had the courage to come join if it wasnt for the expierience of parkruns which is very laid back with no pressure . as for doing a free time trial every once in a while for free im all for it, i dont think it will be too destructive at all to club runs as i know club runners with a more serious attitude would much prefer the prestige of doing this type of run... be all, and end all its nice to see more people getting off there backsides and giving it a go...............its fun and free where is the complaint????