Discussion
KTF said:
Evanivitch said:
According to Radio 4's more or less, the hardest Parkrun in the UK is 5laps of a muddy school playing field in the Lake District. That sounds equally mentally challenging as it is physical!
Our backup route is 5 and a bit laps round a cricket pitch. It’s a ‘marmite’ course as it’s 5 and a bit laps but it’s also pancake flat.When we use it, all the speed merchants roll up to nail the PB so they don’t dislike it that much
t.
Smitters said:
We had a tourist vote our parkrun worst in the UK on a parkrun tourists facebook group after running it once in 2017, because we were on a modified five lap course due to building work. It was probably a good thing you have to have been a tourist at 20 locations to be eligible to post in the group or naughty words would have been used. I did feel that less time travelling to parkruns and a bit more time volunteering on his part might alter his opinion -is run/hiviz ratio was pretty st.
Most are. t.s.Halb said:
Smitters said:
We had a tourist vote our parkrun worst in the UK on a parkrun tourists facebook group after running it once in 2017, because we were on a modified five lap course due to building work. It was probably a good thing you have to have been a tourist at 20 locations to be eligible to post in the group or naughty words would have been used. I did feel that less time travelling to parkruns and a bit more time volunteering on his part might alter his opinion -is run/hiviz ratio was pretty st.
Most are. t.s.Tail Walking for the first time tomorrow. OH is knackered, so taking the boy for his first taste of hi-viz too while she gets some chillout time.
Mum did 39:56 today, she's 70 and it's her first parkrun.
To give more back ground, she has really bad eyesight and as a little 'un, she thought people had 2 eyes to make your face symmetrical. Because this this, she could never catch or hit a ball and was thus not given much motivation to do PE and actively avoided exercise her whole life. About 4 years ago I started Pilates and showed mum and dad some exercises which hey liked and took up classes. They shortly after started going to my brothers indoor rowing classes too. Then dad had a heart attack, which stopped him rowing and pilates for a bit, but mum kept it up. Then dad decided he wanted to take his 70 year old knackered knees for a run around Lake Vyrnwy and mum decided she'd have a go at a parkrun.
She's struggled with motivation to get on with the training, probably talking herself out of it mostly. One problem she had when she started rowing was she didn't know what it feels like to have her heart pumping. Being a nurse her whole working life, she thought she was having some terminal heart issue, which my brother assured she wasn't and to row harder.
Anyway, she's done it at 70, so anyone reading this and thinking they can't, if my mum can, you probably can too.
As you were.
To give more back ground, she has really bad eyesight and as a little 'un, she thought people had 2 eyes to make your face symmetrical. Because this this, she could never catch or hit a ball and was thus not given much motivation to do PE and actively avoided exercise her whole life. About 4 years ago I started Pilates and showed mum and dad some exercises which hey liked and took up classes. They shortly after started going to my brothers indoor rowing classes too. Then dad had a heart attack, which stopped him rowing and pilates for a bit, but mum kept it up. Then dad decided he wanted to take his 70 year old knackered knees for a run around Lake Vyrnwy and mum decided she'd have a go at a parkrun.
She's struggled with motivation to get on with the training, probably talking herself out of it mostly. One problem she had when she started rowing was she didn't know what it feels like to have her heart pumping. Being a nurse her whole working life, she thought she was having some terminal heart issue, which my brother assured she wasn't and to row harder.
Anyway, she's done it at 70, so anyone reading this and thinking they can't, if my mum can, you probably can too.
As you were.
Well done Mrs Willy Nilly Snr! It's always good to hear how parkrun's having an effect outside the fast/club runners.
Co-incidentally I was talking to someone as I ran (was having an easy day due to a cold!) who said her mum started parkrun when she was 79 because she wanted some exercise and was lonely after her husband died, she now looks forward to Saturday mornings, it gets her out of bed and outside and she's met loads of people. Not what the original idea of Bushy was, but an excellent unintended side effect!
Co-incidentally I was talking to someone as I ran (was having an easy day due to a cold!) who said her mum started parkrun when she was 79 because she wanted some exercise and was lonely after her husband died, she now looks forward to Saturday mornings, it gets her out of bed and outside and she's met loads of people. Not what the original idea of Bushy was, but an excellent unintended side effect!
Sounds like a top weekend of parkrunning.
I had a mare - I tailwalked, having made some assumptions:
1) There would be some walkers, which there usually are.
2) My boy would want to walk and run some of it.
So, I wore a down jacket, wellies and jeans because of the mud and the cold, and I didn't dress the boy in his full arctic gear, assuming he'd create some body-heat.
There were no walkers. Crap. If I walked slowly, I'd be leaving our volunteers out for ten minutes extra just for me in minus 2. And the boy refused to put his feet on the ground (turns out it was the start of a cold and he barely moved all Sunday, poor kid). So I went as fast as possible, in wellies, with a 15kg child either on my shoulders, or in my arms. Come the end, I had two 50p sized blisters on my heels, a frozen and unhappy child and I my jeans were sodden with sweat. Not lush.
Upside, I checked my Volunteer to Run ration and I'm 1:3, which is pretty good. I can;'t remember what the suggested ratio is, but I think I'm doing OK!
I had a mare - I tailwalked, having made some assumptions:
1) There would be some walkers, which there usually are.
2) My boy would want to walk and run some of it.
So, I wore a down jacket, wellies and jeans because of the mud and the cold, and I didn't dress the boy in his full arctic gear, assuming he'd create some body-heat.
There were no walkers. Crap. If I walked slowly, I'd be leaving our volunteers out for ten minutes extra just for me in minus 2. And the boy refused to put his feet on the ground (turns out it was the start of a cold and he barely moved all Sunday, poor kid). So I went as fast as possible, in wellies, with a 15kg child either on my shoulders, or in my arms. Come the end, I had two 50p sized blisters on my heels, a frozen and unhappy child and I my jeans were sodden with sweat. Not lush.
Upside, I checked my Volunteer to Run ration and I'm 1:3, which is pretty good. I can;'t remember what the suggested ratio is, but I think I'm doing OK!
Smitters said:
Upside, I checked my Volunteer to Run ration and I'm 1:3, which is pretty good. I can;'t remember what the suggested ratio is, but I think I'm doing OK!
1:3 is very good if you aren't a core team member. There's not a suggested ratio these days, it used to be 3 times a year, so about 1:17 but I think that as numbers of runners has gone up that's become irrelevant.We need a minimum of about 15 non running vols per week so 15*50= 750 per year and we've averaged 2000 different people per year so if they all volunteered they'd only need to do it once every 2.6 years! Unfortunately lots of people don't vol and fortunately some do lots!
My ratio is about 1:1 and I don't really bother to record lots of them - that's probably typical for core team who do something most weeks. If I recorded everything it would be closer to 2:1
I do make a point of recording them when I do something like digging the mud out of the drains so we don't get puddles, I don't mind token sorting or admin as a freebee but I want the mark for the s
tty jobs!john2443 said:
There's not a suggested ratio these days, it used to be 3 times a year, so about 1:17 but I think that as numbers of runners has gone up that's become irrelevant.
John, are you aware of why they did away with the volunteer recommendation? Many events struggle to get the minimum number together and will need to send out a cry for help on Thursday or Friday. Whilst events regularly ask people to consider volunteering during the briefing, it's long forgotten after they've finished running and have gone home, whereas I felt it was more effective when it was mentioned in the weekly email that went out before that week's run, but still with enough time for people to action upon it immediately if wanted.john2443 said:
We need a minimum of about 15 non running vols per week so 15*50= 750 per year and we've averaged 2000 different people per year so if they all volunteered they'd only need to do it once every 2.6 years! Unfortunately lots of people don't vol and fortunately some do lots!
My local, Cannon Hill, makes a rod for its own back by insisting that some volunteer spots are non-running only out of 30-40 or so volunteers needed. As a regular sub-20 runner, I've more than a few times suggested that I be added as the second or third barcode scanner, which I can jump on immediately after I finish. One non-running barcode scanner is enough to handle the 30-40 sub-20 runners that trickle through, and then I and another sub-20 runner could pick up the slack etc.Yes, at our event many of the 20(ish) minute finishers then become a barcode scanner, finish token or manual barcode volunteer if we are short on the day.
We have also introduced 'mobile marshals' who run around in a high viz to cover the course (its lapped) when we don't have enough static ones on the day. There is never any shortage of people wanting to do that as they get a run and volunteer point.
At the end of the day you cannot force people to volunteer. If numbers are low then I will pull people off scanning as standing in a queue for a few minutes does no harm and if they complain it is suggested that they volunteer themselves.
We have also introduced 'mobile marshals' who run around in a high viz to cover the course (its lapped) when we don't have enough static ones on the day. There is never any shortage of people wanting to do that as they get a run and volunteer point.
At the end of the day you cannot force people to volunteer. If numbers are low then I will pull people off scanning as standing in a queue for a few minutes does no harm and if they complain it is suggested that they volunteer themselves.
Smitters said:
Sounds like a top weekend of parkrunning.
I had a mare - I tailwalked, having made some assumptions:
1) There would be some walkers, which there usually are.
2) My boy would want to walk and run some of it.
So, I wore a down jacket, wellies and jeans because of the mud and the cold, and I didn't dress the boy in his full arctic gear, assuming he'd create some body-heat.
There were no walkers. Crap. If I walked slowly, I'd be leaving our volunteers out for ten minutes extra just for me in minus 2. And the boy refused to put his feet on the ground (turns out it was the start of a cold and he barely moved all Sunday, poor kid). So I went as fast as possible, in wellies, with a 15kg child either on my shoulders, or in my arms. Come the end, I had two 50p sized blisters on my heels, a frozen and unhappy child and I my jeans were sodden with sweat. Not lush.
Upside, I checked my Volunteer to Run ration and I'm 1:3, which is pretty good. I can;'t remember what the suggested ratio is, but I think I'm doing OK!
I had a mare - I tailwalked, having made some assumptions:
1) There would be some walkers, which there usually are.
2) My boy would want to walk and run some of it.
So, I wore a down jacket, wellies and jeans because of the mud and the cold, and I didn't dress the boy in his full arctic gear, assuming he'd create some body-heat.
There were no walkers. Crap. If I walked slowly, I'd be leaving our volunteers out for ten minutes extra just for me in minus 2. And the boy refused to put his feet on the ground (turns out it was the start of a cold and he barely moved all Sunday, poor kid). So I went as fast as possible, in wellies, with a 15kg child either on my shoulders, or in my arms. Come the end, I had two 50p sized blisters on my heels, a frozen and unhappy child and I my jeans were sodden with sweat. Not lush.
Upside, I checked my Volunteer to Run ration and I'm 1:3, which is pretty good. I can;'t remember what the suggested ratio is, but I think I'm doing OK!
KTF said:
At the end of the day you cannot force people to volunteer. If numbers are low then I will pull people off scanning as standing in a queue for a few minutes does no harm and if they complain it is suggested that they volunteer themselves.
This is my sort of thinking. Ours was nearly an un-timed run last week as we only got enough volunteers on Friday evening. Stressful for the RD, but as you say, if you're complaining, do something about it. All complaints are noted and a free run awarded for the complainant...I'm not core to our parkrun, but perpetually injured, so it's a nice way to keep in touch. That said, I'm ED of our junior event, which starts in a month, so the volunteering points will rise a bit from then. I imagine I'll have earned some sort of t-shirt by the end of the year.
Cybertronian said:
John, are you aware of why they did away with the volunteer recommendation?
Not sure, it may be because it was realised that some (probably not many, but some) people run for their mental health or because they care for someone all week and pr is their time off, they need the run and volunteering is too much for them to handle. I know that one of our regulars used to visit her terminally ill dad on Friday and Saturday's run gave her respite? recovery? That said, the majority could volunteer, some people just don't. We used to worry about it but as long as we get enough then it's fine.
Also, 3 times a year made sense when average runners was 100, with 500 it doesn't any more.
Cybertronian said:
My local, Cannon Hill, makes a rod for its own back by insisting that some volunteer spots are non-running only out of 30-40 or so volunteers needed. As a regular sub-20 runner, I've more than a few times suggested that I be added as the second or third barcode scanner, which I can jump on immediately after I finish.
It's up to the local team how they organise things, but we use faster runners to scan. We have 4 scanners and use quick runners when they offer/ we appeal for them to do it when we don't have enough. Some of our regulars just jump in and help after they've run, eg when we have bigger than usual numbers they'll just go and funnel manage. (My other event - typically 35 runners - we've done it with only the Run Director, 1 marshal and 1 timer not running - RD gives first couple of tokens out, 1 quick runner takes over and another scans! )In our early days we'd get scanners to marshal on lap 1 then when everyone was going the right way go to scan but now we get enough.
30-40 sounds like a lot to require! We have 500 runners and about 30 vols but that includes pacers, set up, break down, token sorting etc. We need about 15 non running and could just about manage with 10. I think some events lose track of how many vols they really need and also forget that the first thing to do on the roster is fill safety critical roles (eg course marshals) and then timers, scanners.
We have worked hard to get the idea into people's heads that the runners are the volunteers - briefing, facebook, whiteboard at start etc, I think some events just assume that everyone is a natural volunteer and in fact they aren't - I guess a few are selfish lazy gits, but most probably just don't think about it!
Smitters said:
Ours was nearly an un-timed run last week as we only got enough volunteers on Friday evening.
I once posted on Friday night to say we'd go ahead on Sat, please come and run, see your mates, have a coffee, positive stuff......... but we wouldn't be timing or having finish tokens...sudden rush of offers came in! I've never had to threaten it again!Smitters said:
I'm not core to our parkrun, but perpetually injured, so it's a nice way to keep in touch.
Smitters said:
That said, I'm ED of our junior event, which starts in a month, so the volunteering points will rise a bit from then.
Sometimes stressful, but satisfying when you look at a mob of people running and can think that they are doing that because of you (and the team). Good luck with it!KTF said:
Yes, at our event many of the 20(ish) minute finishers then become a barcode scanner, finish token or manual barcode volunteer if we are short on the day.
I did one near Bordeaux last summer and the quickest runner carried the stopwatch 
There were only 6 runners though and 2 of us were tourists. Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff