parkrun

[ukaskew]

How does being a pacer work, out of interest? Do you log a run and as a volunteer, or one or the other?

We had 23 pacers on Saturday (field was 345).

[john2443]

Halb said:

ED209 said:

One of the fastest at my local run has done 130 odd park runs and not volunteered once. Really annoys me.

How do you know?

The core team, tend to get to know because we see people every week and remember that they haven't volunteered, but you can see for anyone - link to my profile is below, you can get to this for anyone by clicking their name in the results the View Stats for all parkruns for this athlete, scroll down for volunteering record.

You can see yours by changing the URL to have your athlete number instead of mine.

http://www.parkrun.org.uk/results/athleteresultshi...

There are some people, probably quite a small group, but we have to bear them in mind, who have a personal issue, could be mental health or caring for someone, and the hour on Saturday morning is their time out and volunteering might be too much for them - we have someone recovering for drug abuse who uses us as a steadying regular event and we're quite happy if they don't help, in time they might but at the moment we're doing something for them.

Of course, there are also the selfish lazy tts who don't see why they should bother helping, but we find that getting stressed about them isn't worth it!

[KTF]

ukaskew said:

How does being a pacer work, out of interest? Do you log a run and as a volunteer, or one or the other?

We had 23 pacers on Saturday (field was 345).

You run but are also put on the volunteer list as a pacer. You get the volunteer points (100) instead of your run points when the results are processed (you dont get both).

[Smitters]

Touristed this weekend at another local parkrun. Had the odd experience of the group being told off like children by the RD for talking during the briefing... we were all "very rude"...

This is a busy run, so they have a rule of run on the right, overtake on the left. Fair enough, but then I got to enjoy the lead running coming though the pack on his lap three while we were on lap two, yelling at people to move right.

Might not visit that one again for a while.

[Halb]

Smitters said:

Touristed this weekend at another local parkrun. Had the odd experience of the group being told off like children by the RD for talking during the briefing... we were all "very rude"...

This is a busy run, so they have a rule of run on the right, overtake on the left. Fair enough, but then I got to enjoy the lead running coming though the pack on his lap three while we were on lap two, yelling at people to move right.

Might not visit that one again for a while.

The tone is set by the people who run the run. MY regular one is brilliant, because it's run by a chilled easy going guy and crew who all understand what Parkrun is about.

[Foliage]

Halb said:

The tone is set by the people who run the run. MY regular one is brilliant, because it's run by a chilled easy going guy and crew who all understand what Parkrun is about.

run the run lol confused me for a second there..

I tourist'ed a run with laps, horrid being lapped, I was lapped just starting the 2nd lap of 4.3laps or something weird.

But it was easier than my usual park run which has stairs... So I could have had a new PB if I hadn't have been trying to drag our lass along. I'm still recovering from a sprained ankle too...

[Cybertronian]

Halb said:

Smitters said:

Touristed this weekend at another local parkrun. Had the odd experience of the group being told off like children by the RD for talking during the briefing... we were all "very rude"...

This is a busy run, so they have a rule of run on the right, overtake on the left. Fair enough, but then I got to enjoy the lead running coming though the pack on his lap three while we were on lap two, yelling at people to move right.

Might not visit that one again for a while.

The tone is set by the people who run the run. MY regular one is brilliant, because it's run by a chilled easy going guy and crew who all understand what Parkrun is about.

Totally. My local can and does come across as a bit cold for a large city event; purely down to the numbers involved, where the organisers need to take a more authoritarian approach to be able to manage it all. A complete contrast to when I visit smaller events and people proactively come over to speak, not recognising me as a local. Pomphrey Hill is probably my favourite for the most-welcoming event I've been to.

[RizzoTheRat]

Agree on multiple laps. Most of my local ones tend to be 2 laps and I'm fine with that but I've done a few with more whcih I'm not so keen on, eg. Brockenhurst is 4 laps and while it's nice be able to see other people a bit more it's a bit demoralising when you pass the finish for the 3rd time and still have a lap to go.

I did one (possibly Dorchester?) that had a <1km loop and then an out and back, on a cold day passing the start finish that soon was quite nice as it meant starting with a long sleeve top on and stopping it off after a km

Saturday was a 3 lapper but the first 2 laps were so foggy it hardly felt like I was covering the same ground

[KTF]

Smitters said:

This is a busy run, so they have a rule of run on the right, overtake on the left. Fair enough, but then I got to enjoy the lead running coming though the pack on his lap three while we were on lap two, yelling at people to move right.

My local one is also a three lap with a keep right rule as it is narrow in places.

I am guilty as well at (rarely) shouting 'keep right' from the front of the pack when I see the traffic coming up and they are in their own little world, running 4 abreast or whatever. I do say thanks when I go past them and it is not meant to be taken in a negative way as most of the time they dont realise you are coming up behind them at speed.

99% of the time, people do stick to the right but I can see why it is a grey area and can be taken both ways - the front runners don't want to be baulked on their way round but as the same time the people being lapped don't want to be 'harassed'.

[ukaskew]

KTF said:

You run but are also put on the volunteer list as a pacer. You get the volunteer points (100) instead of your run points when the results are processed (you dont get both).

I'm not fussed about points, but does it still count towards your total number of runs (i.e. do you effectively double up for the week, adding a volunteer and run to your total?)

KTF said:

I am guilty as well at (rarely) shouting 'keep right' from the front of the pack when I see the traffic coming up and they are in their own little world, running 4 abreast or whatever. I do say thanks when I go past them and it is not meant to be taken in a negative way as most of the time they dont realise you are coming up behind them at speed.

I wouldn't feel guilty about it, it's just good manners in my opinion. I'm no longer lapped but when I was I always appreciated knowing somebody quicker was coming up behind. We're told to run on the left, let faster guys pass on the right, but always give priority to the general public (it's 3 laps). It may be more of an accepted thing at my local though because we have a popular canal on our doorstep, so most people locally will be well used to cyclists/runners politely shouting 'coming through on your right' on the towpath when out for walks.

[RizzoTheRat]

ukaskew said:

I'm not fussed about points, but does it still count towards your total number of runs (i.e. do you effectively double up for the week, adding a volunteer and run to your total?)

Yes, they're done completely separately, getting your barcode and finish token scanned get your run logged, while the volunteers are logged by the core team separately. Quite a few roles like pacing, tail runner, token sorting, setup/takedown, and even scanning if you're a quick runner mean you can log both a run and a volunteer.

[KTF]

ukaskew said:

KTF said:

You run but are also put on the volunteer list as a pacer. You get the volunteer points (100) instead of your run points when the results are processed (you dont get both).

I'm not fussed about points, but does it still count towards your total number of runs (i.e. do you effectively double up for the week, adding a volunteer and run to your total?)

KTF said:

I am guilty as well at (rarely) shouting 'keep right' from the front of the pack when I see the traffic coming up and they are in their own little world, running 4 abreast or whatever. I do say thanks when I go past them and it is not meant to be taken in a negative way as most of the time they dont realise you are coming up behind them at speed.

I wouldn't feel guilty about it, it's just good manners in my opinion. I'm no longer lapped but when I was I always appreciated knowing somebody quicker was coming up behind. We're told to run on the left, let faster guys pass on the right, but always give priority to the general public (it's 3 laps). It may be more of an accepted thing at my local though because we have a popular canal on our doorstep, so most people locally will be well used to cyclists/runners politely shouting 'coming through on your right' on the towpath when out for walks.

Yes, your run total goes up by 1 and also your volunteer total goes up by 1. This can be seen on the male points table option under the results drop down.

Some of the parkrun get a bit 'funny' about you shouting keep left/right to the slower runners. Our parkrun is OK with is and the regulars are used to it. Other parkrun see this as against the spirit of parkrun as its a run not a race. On 1 lap courses its not an issue.

[Smitters]

Cybertronian said:

Halb said:

Smitters said:

Touristed this weekend at another local parkrun. Had the odd experience of the group being told off like children by the RD for talking during the briefing... we were all "very rude"...

This is a busy run, so they have a rule of run on the right, overtake on the left. Fair enough, but then I got to enjoy the lead running coming though the pack on his lap three while we were on lap two, yelling at people to move right.

Might not visit that one again for a while.

The tone is set by the people who run the run. MY regular one is brilliant, because it's run by a chilled easy going guy and crew who all understand what Parkrun is about.

Totally. My local can and does come across as a bit cold for a large city event; purely down to the numbers involved, where the organisers need to take a more authoritarian approach to be able to manage it all. A complete contrast to when I visit smaller events and people proactively come over to speak, not recognising me as a local. Pomphrey Hill is probably my favourite for the most-welcoming event I've been to.

I'm all for an organised approach when required. Clinical and efficient when 400+ people are milling about before haring off round a public park is fine by me. Being treated like and spoken to like a primary school child isn't really that endearing.

KTF said:

Smitters said:

This is a busy run, so they have a rule of run on the right, overtake on the left. Fair enough, but then I got to enjoy the lead running coming though the pack on his lap three while we were on lap two, yelling at people to move right.

My local one is also a three lap with a keep right rule as it is narrow in places.

I am guilty as well at (rarely) shouting 'keep right' from the front of the pack when I see the traffic coming up and they are in their own little world, running 4 abreast or whatever. I do say thanks when I go past them and it is not meant to be taken in a negative way as most of the time they dont realise you are coming up behind them at speed.

99% of the time, people do stick to the right but I can see why it is a grey area and can be taken both ways - the front runners don't want to be baulked on their way round but as the same time the people being lapped don't want to be 'harassed'.

It's a fair point from the other side of the fence. I suppose what I mean is that it's about how you say it, not what you say. Also, in this instance the it would have been helpful to be told that if you run slower than a 22, you're likely to get lapped, so to look out for the leaders on your second lap. I don't mind hushing up for useful info!

Anyway, it simply serves to highlight how good all the other events I've been to are, from very vocal fishing-sprint encouragement dished out by the timers, to nice inclusive, advice filled course-intros. One event in Devon even had a marshal with a guitar!

[ukaskew]

Smitters said:

I suppose what I mean is that it's about how you say it, not what you say.

This could apply to lapping others as well. "Passing on your left" is a pretty neutral, courteous thing frequently heard at my 3 lap parkrun, and for really narrow sections it benefits all. However I've never heard anyone shouting "move to the right", which whilst it effectively has the same meaning, sounds far more aggressive.

Marshals will often let slower runners know if they can see quick guys coming up behind them as well (or if dog walkers etc are in the vicinity), which again I think comes across as helpful rather than an order or demand.

More than anything, sticking to the left at my local is suggested at the briefing for the benefit of other park users. There are rarely many others about, but if everyone is consistent it makes life easier for everyone.

Edited by ukaskew on Monday 31st October 15:52

[Smitters]

ukaskew said:

Smitters said:

I suppose what I mean is that it's about how you say it, not what you say.

This could apply to lapping others as well. "Passing on your left" is a pretty neutral, courteous thing frequently heard at my 3 lap parkrun, and for really narrow sections it benefits all. However I've never heard anyone shouting "move to the right", which whilst it effectively has the same meaning, sounds far more aggressive.

Exactly. Without wanting to come over all huggy and hippy, I've been so impressed about parkrun's inclusiveness, I feel a bit protective about the ethos.

I shall go and listen to ten minutes of V8 engine noise to restore manliness.

[egor110]

At our parkrun you can make up a ton of tine by over taking on the grass rather than being held up by the slower runners yet also refusing to leave the path.

[john2443]

Some slower people can get a bit funny about having to leave space for faster runners to overtake (because it's a run not a race) but we have to do our best to make it good for everyone, whatever their speed.

A 30 min person would be just as peed off if a load of 40 min people held them up as a 20 min is with 30 min.

Fast people shouldn't push their way through, but equally, slow ones shouldn't be 6 abreast blocking the route and it doesn't cost you any time to leave a bit of a gap on the inside.

[egor110]

john2443 said:

Some slower people can get a bit funny about having to leave space for faster runners to overtake (because it's a run not a race) but we have to do our best to make it good for everyone, whatever their speed.

A 30 min person would be just as peed off if a load of 40 min people held them up as a 20 min is with 30 min.

Fast people shouldn't push their way through, but equally, slow ones shouldn't be 6 abreast blocking the route and it doesn't cost you any time to leave a bit of a gap on the inside.

Surely if your being timed it's a race ?

If it was just a run you'd do x amount of laps but nobody would be timed.

[smn159]

egor110 said:

Surely if your being timed it's a race ?

If it was just a run you'd do x amount of laps but nobody would be timed.

The bloke who I was in a sprint finish with last week certainly thought it was a race!

[john2443]

egor110 said:

Surely if your being timed it's a race ?

If it was just a run you'd do x amount of laps but nobody would be timed.

Ongoing argument, really a can of worms not to be opened!

But...try turning up at a race with your dog, child, buggy, grandad, having not registered and ask if it's OK to join in!

And, technically it's a time trial because the point is to get the best time you can and not to win. If it was a race, our first finisher this week wouldn't have been nearly 1 min 30 ahead of P2, he'd have just done enough to win!

It's s subtle difference though!