Discussion
I think it helps if there's an accessible course near a hard one. Pittville is accessible so having a tough one nearby is ok. Same with Llyn Lech Owain and Llanelli Coast, or Stroud and Stonehouse (Stroud is very new).
I'm planning on a buggy run next, over the old Severn Bridge. My eldest will love it. If windy, I'll f
king hate it, in one direction anyway.
I'm planning on a buggy run next, over the old Severn Bridge. My eldest will love it. If windy, I'll f
king hate it, in one direction anyway. 
The great thing about a rainy, windy Parkrun is that the difficulty ranking will be high so you'll get a better score for your Run Britain handicap!
Chasewater Parkrun had a flooded course last week, so the difficulty ranking did wonders for my handicap. I've got similar hopes for this week. I'm tempted to now only run a UKA registered event if the conditions are unfavourable
Chasewater Parkrun had a flooded course last week, so the difficulty ranking did wonders for my handicap. I've got similar hopes for this week. I'm tempted to now only run a UKA registered event if the conditions are unfavourable
john2443 said:
Have booked a parkrun / roadtrip 
Florida in November for the extra one at Thanksgiving (Clermont), plus the Saturdays either side (Depot Park and Weedon Reserve)
Would be nice to do the road bit in something more PH appropriate, but it'll be whatever standard box Alamo decide to give me.
I did scroll down to Mustang convertible, which wasn't stupidly expensive to hire but I chickened out when I thought about the mpg!
I did Clermont last August, it's a nice out and back path along the edge of the lake and it was very welcoming but the heat & humidity was a bit of a killer. Should be better on November though.Florida in November for the extra one at Thanksgiving (Clermont), plus the Saturdays either side (Depot Park and Weedon Reserve)
Would be nice to do the road bit in something more PH appropriate, but it'll be whatever standard box Alamo decide to give me.
I did scroll down to Mustang convertible, which wasn't stupidly expensive to hire but I chickened out when I thought about the mpg!
GreenDog said:
I did Clermont last August, it's a nice out and back path along the edge of the lake and it was very welcoming but the heat & humidity was a bit of a killer. Should be better on November though.
I wouldn't try it in summer - definitely too hot and humid. I'm very much aclimatised to UK temps and don't get on well with heat! hoping it's going to be mid 20s so warm but not stupidly hot!Gilhooligan said:
Has anyone done the Delaware and Rariton Canal parkrun? It’s the nearest one to New York. We are booked up for a holiday next year and tempted to get a US parkrun ‘badge’. Looks like a bit of a ballache to get to.
I looked at that when I was over there earlier this year, but decided that i couldn't be arsed with the journey to get there. I did a 10 miler around Central Park instead, which was excellent - so many other runners around it may as well have been a parkrun!smn159 said:
I looked at that when I was over there earlier this year, but decided that i couldn't be arsed with the journey to get there. I did a 10 miler around Central Park instead, which was excellent - so many other runners around it may as well have been a parkrun!
Thanks I was thinking similar and will probably end up running Central Park instead. Would be interesting to see if a parkrun event is feasible in that park. D&RC as I understand it you get the train form New York, ask on their facebook if you can have a lift and one of their people who comes past the station will pick you up.
Last weekend as it was NY marathon, someone chartered a bus to take people from NY.
Central park has been discussed and found to be a non starter because the owners (NY City??) charge load of dosh for any event there and there are lots of events which would mean cancellations and something about New York Roadrunners being in charge of most running events in the city and without them on side there's no chance!
Edit - Danny's report from D&RC in this episode, from 50 mins if you don't want to listen to all of it! http://withmenow.libsyn.com/with-me-now-rory-parkr...
Last weekend as it was NY marathon, someone chartered a bus to take people from NY.
Central park has been discussed and found to be a non starter because the owners (NY City??) charge load of dosh for any event there and there are lots of events which would mean cancellations and something about New York Roadrunners being in charge of most running events in the city and without them on side there's no chance!
Edit - Danny's report from D&RC in this episode, from 50 mins if you don't want to listen to all of it! http://withmenow.libsyn.com/with-me-now-rory-parkr...
Edited by john2443 on Friday 8th November 16:12
Not one, but two new events started up near me on Saturday in the West Midlands. Both fairly quiet, with one at under 50 runners and the other just over 180 (lightly advertised). Quite a cunning approach having two start on the same day within a reasonable distance from each other, preventing either from being completely overwhelmed.
Will visit both in the next fortnight, which should also bring the Wilson Index up to 3, if there are any other parkrun nerds that care about such matters!
Will visit both in the next fortnight, which should also bring the Wilson Index up to 3, if there are any other parkrun nerds that care about such matters!
Cybertronian said:
Not one, but two new events started up near me on Saturday in the West Midlands. Both fairly quiet, with one at under 50 runners and the other just over 180 (lightly advertised). Quite a cunning approach having two start on the same day within a reasonable distance from each other, preventing either from being completely overwhelmed.
Will visit both in the next fortnight, which should also bring the Wilson Index up to 3, if there are any other parkrun nerds that care about such matters!
Has there actually been issues with inaugural’s being ‘overwhelmed’? I hear a lot of chat with people getting angry if someone posts about a new parkrun event. I’ve been to one inaugural which had over 300 people in attendance. Event went very well with no issues. These events tend have extra support from other event teams too. So are surely well equipped to deal with any problems. Will visit both in the next fortnight, which should also bring the Wilson Index up to 3, if there are any other parkrun nerds that care about such matters!
Gilhooligan said:
Has there actually been issues with inaugural’s being ‘overwhelmed’? I hear a lot of chat with people getting angry if someone posts about a new parkrun event. I’ve been to one inaugural which had over 300 people in attendance. Event went very well with no issues. These events tend have extra support from other event teams too. So are surely well equipped to deal with any problems.
I don't believe inaugural event issues are widespread, but I do know they exist.One local event to me, Wythall parkrun, lasted only one single run before it was canned. The park is privately owned, and the owners and local residents saw enough to cancel it indefinitely. The event team and a local councillor even went into extended consultation to try and plea with the powers that be, but with no positive effect. Numbers were in the 300-400 range (I didn't attend!), mostly made up of local runners from three large neighbouring events (Cannon Hill, Brueton and Arrow Valley). Cars were dumped everywhere and the grass sections of the course took a proper beating.
I remain curious what the organising team had proposed to be typical numbers, as that number could easily have been reached organically after a couple of years , such is the density of runners and lack of parkrun provision here in the West Midlands.
As far as I know, Wythall is the only event to have only have 1 run and then be canned due to over attendance but if a lid isn't kept on inaugs there's a risk of more having problems.
There are 3 possible problems.
1 - Normal numbers would be 100 and landowners get a fright when 400 turn up week 1, if they were brave enough to wait and see it settle at 100 all would be well, but it's too late by then.
2 - Course isn't wide enough, pinch points, queuing etc. Would be OK on a normal week but not with double numbers.
3 - A new event team being overwhelmed at finish. For everyone who posts on FB to say don't go to a inaugurals there's 1 who says I went to xxx,inaugural, there were 500 and it was fine. It may have been fine, but for a new team 500 is tough, the team would be under pressure. People who haven't been RD at a big event don't understand this and it's difficult to explain. I still heave a sigh of relief when we get past max finish flow even though we're used to 500 !
If a new event is in the north of Scotland there's no danger of big numbers but in cities, there's a big risk. Concern about this when Clapham Common started meant that there was nothing on the web til after week 1 so only word of mouth and there were about 100 week 1 but it grew to 500 by week 5 and has been there or above ever since except bad weather weeks. If it had been known about they might have had 700 week 1 and if could have fallen apart. Even the wiki, which is notionally a private resource for event teams but is open to anyone who can find it, had the info removed.
It's not just about being able to handle the numbers, it's about being able to catch things when they go wrong. The RD needs to know what to do when timers/tokens/scanners screw up, and keep things moving. You only learn this from experience and need to learn it when it's quiet because with 500+ you've got to sort it quickly or you're backing up over finish.
There are 3 possible problems.
1 - Normal numbers would be 100 and landowners get a fright when 400 turn up week 1, if they were brave enough to wait and see it settle at 100 all would be well, but it's too late by then.
2 - Course isn't wide enough, pinch points, queuing etc. Would be OK on a normal week but not with double numbers.
3 - A new event team being overwhelmed at finish. For everyone who posts on FB to say don't go to a inaugurals there's 1 who says I went to xxx,inaugural, there were 500 and it was fine. It may have been fine, but for a new team 500 is tough, the team would be under pressure. People who haven't been RD at a big event don't understand this and it's difficult to explain. I still heave a sigh of relief when we get past max finish flow even though we're used to 500 !
If a new event is in the north of Scotland there's no danger of big numbers but in cities, there's a big risk. Concern about this when Clapham Common started meant that there was nothing on the web til after week 1 so only word of mouth and there were about 100 week 1 but it grew to 500 by week 5 and has been there or above ever since except bad weather weeks. If it had been known about they might have had 700 week 1 and if could have fallen apart. Even the wiki, which is notionally a private resource for event teams but is open to anyone who can find it, had the info removed.
It's not just about being able to handle the numbers, it's about being able to catch things when they go wrong. The RD needs to know what to do when timers/tokens/scanners screw up, and keep things moving. You only learn this from experience and need to learn it when it's quiet because with 500+ you've got to sort it quickly or you're backing up over finish.
Went along to the second event for Oaklands parkrun. A flat-ish 3x lapper on paved paths, making it reasonably fast when not windy.
A rather large bull mastiff dog off its lead wandered on to the course; the runner immediately in front of me was able to dodge it, though caused the dog to change direction into my path... The dog had a low centre of gravity and probably weighed more than I do, so I was knocked down by it, taking quite a hard fall in the process on to my hip and then shoulder. Stunned, only thing I knew to do was get back up and carry on running! Lost about 10 seconds, but pleased to still finish in under 20 minutes.
The dog owner was very apologetic and went over to explain the situation to the organising team at the finish. No lasting harm to me, despite being a bit sore still. The organising team shared with me that they were secretly quite relieved it happened to me and not somebody else bigger/newer to parkrun as it could have been messier!
Off to Wolverhampton's new parkrun this week for my "E" in the alphabet challenge and no.3 on the Wilson Index.
A rather large bull mastiff dog off its lead wandered on to the course; the runner immediately in front of me was able to dodge it, though caused the dog to change direction into my path... The dog had a low centre of gravity and probably weighed more than I do, so I was knocked down by it, taking quite a hard fall in the process on to my hip and then shoulder. Stunned, only thing I knew to do was get back up and carry on running! Lost about 10 seconds, but pleased to still finish in under 20 minutes.
The dog owner was very apologetic and went over to explain the situation to the organising team at the finish. No lasting harm to me, despite being a bit sore still. The organising team shared with me that they were secretly quite relieved it happened to me and not somebody else bigger/newer to parkrun as it could have been messier!
Off to Wolverhampton's new parkrun this week for my "E" in the alphabet challenge and no.3 on the Wilson Index.
Cybertronian said:
Went along to the second event for Oaklands parkrun. A flat-ish 3x lapper on paved paths, making it reasonably fast when not windy.
A rather large bull mastiff dog off its lead wandered on to the course; the runner immediately in front of me was able to dodge it, though caused the dog to change direction into my path... The dog had a low centre of gravity and probably weighed more than I do, so I was knocked down by it, taking quite a hard fall in the process on to my hip and then shoulder. Stunned, only thing I knew to do was get back up and carry on running! Lost about 10 seconds, but pleased to still finish in under 20 minutes.
The dog owner was very apologetic and went over to explain the situation to the organising team at the finish. No lasting harm to me, despite being a bit sore still. The organising team shared with me that they were secretly quite relieved it happened to me and not somebody else bigger/newer to parkrun as it could have been messier!
Off to Wolverhampton's new parkrun this week for my "E" in the alphabet challenge and no.3 on the Wilson Index.
Crumbs - you could have easily broken a bone. I broke my arm falling when running when I was a teenager. A rather large bull mastiff dog off its lead wandered on to the course; the runner immediately in front of me was able to dodge it, though caused the dog to change direction into my path... The dog had a low centre of gravity and probably weighed more than I do, so I was knocked down by it, taking quite a hard fall in the process on to my hip and then shoulder. Stunned, only thing I knew to do was get back up and carry on running! Lost about 10 seconds, but pleased to still finish in under 20 minutes.
The dog owner was very apologetic and went over to explain the situation to the organising team at the finish. No lasting harm to me, despite being a bit sore still. The organising team shared with me that they were secretly quite relieved it happened to me and not somebody else bigger/newer to parkrun as it could have been messier!
Off to Wolverhampton's new parkrun this week for my "E" in the alphabet challenge and no.3 on the Wilson Index.
I do love dogs, but I have to admit I find them a bit of a hazard on many of the paths I run on. Most dogs don't seem to be able to judge speed and bound up to me for a stroke as if I'm walking, when actually I'm running.
Cybertronian said:
Gilhooligan said:
Has there actually been issues with inaugural’s being ‘overwhelmed’? I hear a lot of chat with people getting angry if someone posts about a new parkrun event. I’ve been to one inaugural which had over 300 people in attendance. Event went very well with no issues. These events tend have extra support from other event teams too. So are surely well equipped to deal with any problems.
I don't believe inaugural event issues are widespread, but I do know they exist.
Glad you're okay!
Thing with Parkrun is they do tend to make it quite clear that you're running in a shared space and that other park users should take precedence if they need to, the PB can wait for another week. We do get the odd walker, dog, cyclist, or kid who's escaped the parents on ours so have to be ready to expect the unexpected.
Thing with Parkrun is they do tend to make it quite clear that you're running in a shared space and that other park users should take precedence if they need to, the PB can wait for another week. We do get the odd walker, dog, cyclist, or kid who's escaped the parents on ours so have to be ready to expect the unexpected.
RobM77 said:
Crumbs - you could have easily broken a bone. I broke my arm falling when running when I was a teenager.
I do love dogs, but I have to admit I find them a bit of a hazard on many of the paths I run on. Most dogs don't seem to be able to judge speed and bound up to me for a stroke as if I'm walking, when actually I'm running.
I do love dogs, but I have to admit I find them a bit of a hazard on many of the paths I run on. Most dogs don't seem to be able to judge speed and bound up to me for a stroke as if I'm walking, when actually I'm running.
C0ffin D0dger said:
Glad you're okay!
Thing with Parkrun is they do tend to make it quite clear that you're running in a shared space and that other park users should take precedence if they need to, the PB can wait for another week. We do get the odd walker, dog, cyclist, or kid who's escaped the parents on ours so have to be ready to expect the unexpected.
Only the second time I've fallen whilst running in almost 10 years of running.Thing with Parkrun is they do tend to make it quite clear that you're running in a shared space and that other park users should take precedence if they need to, the PB can wait for another week. We do get the odd walker, dog, cyclist, or kid who's escaped the parents on ours so have to be ready to expect the unexpected.
As C0ffin says above, I've chalked it down to bad luck. Can't be upset with the owner as he was such a gent about it afterwards, whereas the norm in my experience is for the dog owner to take the holier than thou approach.
I asked the organising team to add a warning to the next run briefing to give dogs on the course a wide berth; with the event being as new as it is, many dog walkers won't necessarily be aware of the 100-200 runners at 09:00 disrupting theirs and their dog's normal Saturday routine.
Edited by Cybertronian on Monday 18th November 16:03
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