Discussion
I heard a rumour that VLM will only be for runners who can prove sub 3 hours, no idea if this is true. Also read somewhere that parkrun had said that they would only start again if the existing format could be retained, again not idea if true!
I read today that the Boston Marathon (Lincs!) is going ahead. I time running races, I have 4 on the books for this year. Run the Claydons Oxon, St Clares Hospice Harlow, Hatfield House Half/10K, and Thurlow 5/10 in Suffolk. We must have timed nearly 40 events last year, that will make 5 in total for 2020.
I read today that the Boston Marathon (Lincs!) is going ahead. I time running races, I have 4 on the books for this year. Run the Claydons Oxon, St Clares Hospice Harlow, Hatfield House Half/10K, and Thurlow 5/10 in Suffolk. We must have timed nearly 40 events last year, that will make 5 in total for 2020.
lost in espace said:
I heard a rumour that VLM will only be for runners who can prove sub 3 hours, no idea if this is true. Also read somewhere that parkrun had said that they would only start again if the existing format could be retained, again not idea if true!
I read today that the Boston Marathon (Lincs!) is going ahead. I time running races, I have 4 on the books for this year. Run the Claydons Oxon, St Clares Hospice Harlow, Hatfield House Half/10K, and Thurlow 5/10 in Suffolk. We must have timed nearly 40 events last year, that will make 5 in total for 2020.
Parkrun's stance has been that they will only return under the original format since the outset, they have been on record saying as such. Whether that will change the longer this carries on is anyone's guess though.I read today that the Boston Marathon (Lincs!) is going ahead. I time running races, I have 4 on the books for this year. Run the Claydons Oxon, St Clares Hospice Harlow, Hatfield House Half/10K, and Thurlow 5/10 in Suffolk. We must have timed nearly 40 events last year, that will make 5 in total for 2020.
towser44 said:
London Marathon to be for elite runners only on a shortened 1.5 mile course lapped many times. The 2021 event to take place in October rather than April also.
No there option really, just surprised it's taken this long to decide. I expect Brighton will be called off as well now that London have cancelled the mass event.towser44 said:
London Marathon to be for elite runners only on a shortened 1.5 mile course lapped many times. The 2021 event to take place in October rather than April also.
Thanks for the update. 17 laps of a loop sounds rather dull! Not quite the spectacular showdown between Kipchoge and Bekele we were all expecting.I'm now wondering if I'll race at all in 2020. Training with no race in sight is pretty dismal. If it's next autumn when we race again winter especially is going to take some motivation. The gutting thing for athletes on the brink of elite qualification is that there aren't any races in which to certify yourself and haven't been for six months or more. There must be plenty of elite entries to the London Marathon that can't be made because they've only done the pace in training....
All sensible stuff but I don't see how bigger parkruns can maintain any form of social distancing at and before the start. My usual UK one has 500-600 people and I'd usually be within a meter or less of someone for most of the first lap of a 2 lap course.
My new parkrun would probably only be 20 or so people to begin with (our inaugural was supposed to be the week after they all got canned) so would be easy to do, but we couldn't guarantee not to get swamped by tourists the first week.
My new parkrun would probably only be 20 or so people to begin with (our inaugural was supposed to be the week after they all got canned) so would be easy to do, but we couldn't guarantee not to get swamped by tourists the first week.
RizzoTheRat said:
All sensible stuff but I don't see how bigger parkruns can maintain any form of social distancing at and before the start. My usual UK one has 500-600 people and I'd usually be within a meter or less of someone for most of the first lap of a 2 lap course.
My new parkrun would probably only be 20 or so people to begin with (our inaugural was supposed to be the week after they all got canned) so would be easy to do, but we couldn't guarantee not to get swamped by tourists the first week.
Yes, I think this plays into an increasing Parkrun problem. Our local one was over 700 people pretty much every week. That's a problem because it takes place in a public park, and it's a little unfair on dog walkers etc to have 700 people turning up every week. Now of course there are obvious Covid concerns with that volume of people, which inevitably leads to a density of people.My new parkrun would probably only be 20 or so people to begin with (our inaugural was supposed to be the week after they all got canned) so would be easy to do, but we couldn't guarantee not to get swamped by tourists the first week.
RobM77 said:
RizzoTheRat said:
All sensible stuff but I don't see how bigger parkruns can maintain any form of social distancing at and before the start. My usual UK one has 500-600 people and I'd usually be within a meter or less of someone for most of the first lap of a 2 lap course.
My new parkrun would probably only be 20 or so people to begin with (our inaugural was supposed to be the week after they all got canned) so would be easy to do, but we couldn't guarantee not to get swamped by tourists the first week.
Yes, I think this plays into an increasing Parkrun problem. Our local one was over 700 people pretty much every week. That's a problem because it takes place in a public park, and it's a little unfair on dog walkers etc to have 700 people turning up every week. Now of course there are obvious Covid concerns with that volume of people, which inevitably leads to a density of people.My new parkrun would probably only be 20 or so people to begin with (our inaugural was supposed to be the week after they all got canned) so would be easy to do, but we couldn't guarantee not to get swamped by tourists the first week.
Steve vRS said:
My club is trialing training sessions and club runs again. Hopefully normality is returning.
Mine started back 8 weeks ago. 6 groups of 6 people, setting off at 5 minute time slots, first come first served. I've not been as it's been well over subscribed due to the number of new joiners who have started running in lock-down and want to join now and if I get on the reserve list it's too short notice for me to get there in time and sometimes I also don't know until late on if I can make it due to work. Unlikely I'll go back until it's as normal (if it ever is of course).Edited by towser44 on Friday 7th August 17:58
Steve vRS said:
I’ve just answered a survey sent by Parkrun on my attitude to the risks of CV19 and my willingness to take part in Parkrun events.
I answered in a positive way. Anyone else completed the survey?
Hadn't seen it, but I've seen they have reconsidered their original plan to open Parkrun's in entire countries only, to now looking sub-nationally. They say the Falklands and Northern Territory Austrialia will be the first to re-start due to their remote locations and difficulty of travelling to.I answered in a positive way. Anyone else completed the survey?
towser44 said:
Steve vRS said:
I’ve just answered a survey sent by Parkrun on my attitude to the risks of CV19 and my willingness to take part in Parkrun events.
I answered in a positive way. Anyone else completed the survey?
Hadn't seen it, but I've seen they have reconsidered their original plan to open Parkrun's in entire countries only, to now looking sub-nationally. They say the Falklands and Northern Territory Austrialia will be the first to re-start due to their remote locations and difficulty of travelling to.I answered in a positive way. Anyone else completed the survey?
I've got my first race tomorrow since this all started. I've no idea how well it'll all work, but we've got to form a socially distanced queue and get waved off at 15 second intervals. The formal structures and space of a race allow for this of course in a way that Parkrun doesn't really. Our local Parkrun is 700 people, so obviously if we followed the 15 second guide the start would take nearly three hours, which is too much time for a casual meetup on a Saturday morning around a public park that others are trying to use for walking dogs etc.
Northern territory in Oz confirmed starting 19 Sept, I haven't seen confirmation of Falklands starting, but their roster doesn't show as cancelled on 19th whereas everywhere else does.
parkrun HQ always say that the only way we'll restart is in the normal format - everyone starts together at the normal time - it's too difficult and too much work for an event team to do anything else.
The survey gets sent to a random group of people each week, so if you haven't had it it's not because you missed seeing the email, it's just that you haven't been selected yet. About 75& of people who respond say they would go back if it restarted soon.
parkrun HQ always say that the only way we'll restart is in the normal format - everyone starts together at the normal time - it's too difficult and too much work for an event team to do anything else.
The survey gets sent to a random group of people each week, so if you haven't had it it's not because you missed seeing the email, it's just that you haven't been selected yet. About 75& of people who respond say they would go back if it restarted soon.
Co-incidentally a summary of the stats from the would you come back has been published today. https://blog.parkrun.com/uk/2020/09/07/19839/
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