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Things the council spend their money on!!! http://www.victoriawestaway.co.uk/index.php/art-gallery/the-running-man
I agree Millsy.
as I said Cardiff council tried to stop theirs as there was a complaint from a few dog walkers that there were too many runners.....only after an uproar they backed down....dog Lakers have free range the whole week.surely if all those runners disturb your walk then its only an hour a week and the park is plenty big enough to find quite places
I think for Bristol.the problem was probably not enough parking for the football and the runners.....and so they really do not want the parkrun as it doesnt bring in revenue.which they seem to like
I read some council minutes yesterday evening - not the ones from Tuesday but some earlier ones. They were very interesting. Quite a few local residents saying that parkrun should pay, that the park wasn't just for runners (er 2 hours a week just for runners, really? What about all the other days/hours?)
And there was developer funding, but they chose to use it for football facilities.
I don't think it was anything to do with money. I suspect there was a change of personnel on the council last year and someone's spouse had their nose put out of joint because 300 runners were getting in the way of them walking their dog in peace (and clearly they couldn't have gone at 8.30 or 9.30, it HAD to be 9am!)
Just seen your post seren - maybe that had a role to play as well especially as they used the developer funding on football.
Quite a bit on my local news about this yesterday.
One lady jogger was distraught, in tears, asking where she would run now.
Alarmed, I popped outside and it was a great relief to see the pavements, footpaths, forest tracks and trails hadn't disappered after all.
I err on the side of the park runners and we should be wary of tarring all councils with the same brush. Judging by the admittedly sketchy reports, a number of locals voiced their concerns to the council, and as the Times did point out they too have a budget to balance. Personally they should raise this through other means (car parks as has been suggested, being just one avenue).
If they do pay, then they should have exclusive use for the hour or so they need it (rather than telling other park users to get out of the way).
i did a park run at the weekend, the last runner in completed it in 55mins or so. she was a large lady who was clearly not a natural athlete. yet the effort and willpower of getting over the last 50m was inspiring in its way. she barely made the line. she was cheered over the line like Mo at 2012 and recieved far more plaudits than i did for finishing first by nearly 2 minutes clear of second. (and quite rightly so)
she would have had positve comments all the way round from spectators and other runners. so parkrun provides a positive experience for some people who if they went out in to the street or park would get abuse & negative comments from public. its not as easy for a lady like this to go for a run without the comments from passers by. yet at parkrun she is treated as a hero and supported. She needs parkrun. its different for her.
I saw an interview with one of the councillors on the tv this morning. His argument that they charge £60 for football pitches so parkrun should pay something as well is nonesense. When I ran a football club we would expect nothing less than: well cared for grass; lines painted; goalposts; nets (without holes in them); changing rooms; toilets; showers (with hot water) and suitable parking.
What would the parkrun expect for a levy of £200 per week?
Totally agree with this point
Massages. With happy endings, presumably.
you would also expect exclusive use of the pitch...noone else would be allowed to share the pitch for a kick around or to walk their dog...would they shut the park paths to all other users whilst parkrun was on
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The amusing thing is that my local library is saving money by cutting staff and using community volunteers and Stoke Gifford had cut an event that costs them nothing. That is as Tory as it gets.
I have never witnessed over sized people get abuse on public ways. It is over the top to suggest these need the park run. Also in my experience the over sized majority do not stick to it so I would hardly say they need it any more than others.
Our parkrun stated a year ago...I am amazed at the people I have seen there that I have met at sometime over the last 25 years....these are people I would never have associated with exercising. .and they are there week after week..
Just listening to this week's MarathonTALK and Tom Williams ha been strangely busy this week so isn't able to co-host the show (recorded Wednesday I think), so they've got Steve Way on instead.
I don't need parkrun. But having spoken to a coach of a club that "specialises" in getting these over sizes types out and about he says that parkrun is one of the best, safest, motivational events. That for many that is there only exercise due to the motivational element. You can see that many stick with it because parkrun results show how many run they have done. Also we have had many threads about people getting comments/abuse shouted at them from passing cars, young lads etc it's not that hard to imagine these over sized runners would get much much more insults.
agree Dean
A jumped up officer at my local authority once said people needed written permission from him to run down the road - this was during a Stop Anything Good (sorry Safety Advisory Group) meeting when I tried to organise a little charity run. I asked him to provide me the reference to any legislation he was empowering himself to intervene so could share it with athletics bodies and he went quiet.
I took the opportunity to tell him that the local running groups organise their evening runs so they know that he wont be around to check.
Absolute prat.
I think some oversized people do get abuse if they just go out for a run around their local area. It's utterly ridiculous - there they are, out running and trying to get fitter and they get ridiculed. It's clearly better for them to sit on the sofa at home eating cake. Idiots! So yes I agree that parkrun is a safe place for them to run.
In fact I remember someone commenting on me once. I wasn't oversized but I was wearing a pink oversized event t-shirt (occupational hazard for XS women when the only t-shirt left is a unisex M). I heard someone call me a running marshmallow. I didn't wear that t-shirt again! Fortunately a lot of events size their t-shirts a bit better now.
I have to suppress the urge to cheer or run with someone, when I see overweight but determined runner making a steady pace down the road. My motives are pure, it's very "you GO", as obviously I know how rewarding it can be.. but it'd be weird or intrusive, or worse yet, look sarcastic.
However, parkrun neatly negates all of this- applauding someone over the line in such a friendly, supportive environment can be taken at face value. Often it's the slower people crossing the line with gritted teeth who get the biggest cheers. That's why it's awesome. Inclusive grass-roots sport, which makes it enjoyable to form a healthy habit, has done vastly more good than the bloody Olympics "legacy" ever did.
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It's all just a bit pathetic really. How sad that people would moan that 'their' park is taken over - for one hour only mind - by runners!! Ridiculous. You have 5 or 6 other days in the week when you can walk on every part of the park without fear of a stampede of runners!!!!! I mean really, get a fucking grip!
As for the oversized bit - I am a shrinking oversizer and I have had comments shouted at me when in the past when running or cycling - it's not very nice. Parkrun is so important as it encourages people of all ages, shapes, sizes, colour and creed to run without judging them. Perhaps the local Dr's surgery will get a bit busier dealing with obesity now that this looks like its going to stop! Where will they get the extra funding for that then?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Idiots!
Good for you, Beth. The ballbags who shout "witty" comments at you are the ones missing out. You'll end up fitter, healthier and stronger, physically and mentally- despite the odd bout of shin splints.
I can see how regular parkruns can be good for morale, if you're used to such witty repartee in the week, though!
I would of thought that any negative comments one might come by from any child minded individual would clearly come second in ones desire to live an extended and healthy life. Free from diseases or disabilities.
We all hear every day the squabbles from all four corners about our incapable and overstretched NHS.
So people do give a dam when it comes down to it
Did anyone hear the Giles Coren interview? Pillock!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spUqwaTDAcM