Parkrun Ireland

thunderdog · 10-02-2012 7:42pm #1

I spent a while in Manchester last year and I did quite a few of these "Park Runs". These are timed 5k races every Saturday morning which are free to enter. They are organised by volunteers.

http://www.parkrun.com/home

I'm back in Dublin now but always in the back of my mind I've been thinking of how useful one of these parkruns would be in Dublin/Ireland. At the moment I'm working Saturdays but I'd be interested in setting up one of these Park Runs in Dublin in the near future.

Has anyone else done these Park Run races in Enlgand before?

Update:
parkrun Ireland is now up and running with the first event taking place weekly in Malahide. See here for more details and how to register:
http://www.parkrun.ie
http://www.facebook.com/MalahideParkrun

robinph · 10-02-2012 9:02pm

Done a handful of them myself and having now seen what they are about I'd agree that setting one up in Dublin would be a great idea. Despite my local course in the UK being one of the worst possible routes imaginable for an anyone can do it type event they are fantastic to get people out and active.

Belfast manages to host two of them so Dublin must have the population and space to put one on. Would need a handful of dedicated people to get it off the ground to start with and an agreeable park to host it.

thunderdog · 10-02-2012 10:34pm

Yeah definitley in one of the big Parks like Marlay or Bushy or even Phoenix Park.

Definitely gives you something to aim towards if you're not running with a club.

Once I get my Saturdays free again I'll get onto it!:rolleyes:

plodder · 11-02-2012 12:01am

I think insurance is the main stumbling block. In the UK, they are covered by some general scheme. For it to work here, you would need someone to cover the insurance cost. But, that could be overcome somehow. Marlay, Bushy would be great locations in South Dublin. Phoenix pk, St. Annes, Malahide Castle would be great on the North side.

Aimman · 11-02-2012 12:28am

I've heard so much about the Park Runs in the Uk and would love to have the same thing here. I hope a solution can be found, as there are so many people abandoning gyms lately and taking up running and need such events to keep the motivation going.

shels4ever · 11-02-2012 3:49pm

I think the only place in Dublin this can work would be Pheonix park, need to get some numbers out for run. Doesnt take much to get it going but need a few people with time to put into it.
Lots or people want things in the sport but you do need to give up your time and act.
I think there is one up in belfast?

plodder · 11-02-2012 5:02pm

I just emailed them to see if anyone organising anything over here. I'd be interested in helping with it if there is. Will post back here, if I hear anything.

Dsenna · 11-02-2012 11:39pm

I heard about park run from a very good podcast I listen to on my runs called Marathon Talk run by Tom Williams and Martin Yelling ' they often mention park run which now has its own podcast on iTunes anyway seems like a great idea to get people out for a 5 km race where your time is recorded on a barcode system, I would also be glad to get involved if it were possible to setup in Dublin,so will be glad to hear about the responce you get from your email

plodder wrote: »

I just emailed them to see if anyone organising anything over here. I'd be interested in helping with it if there is. Will post back here, if I hear anything.

thunderdog · 12-02-2012 12:25am

Yeah I think there would definitely be enough people interested to get this off the ground.

plodder · 13-02-2012 10:30am

I got a reply. They are saying basically, they've had plenty of enquiries but nobody has stepped up to say they will take it forward. Three things that are needed to do that.
1) a suitable off-road course
2) a small team of volunteers to start event. Post start it will generate volunteers
3) 50% of £6000 start up funding. Parkrun provide other 50% (ie £3000)
and sustain web etc for all time.

Brianderunner · 13-02-2012 10:32am

I've done them a few times too, one of them starts on my doorstep. Great setup and atmosphere every week and more importantly free

. Each runner gets their own results page which is a nice touch.

Easily the most important thing for this to happen in ireland is the initial setup costs. There would be a strong argument for it to be goverment sponsored and it could spread throughout the country.

Secondly, an enthusiastic group of volunteers is essential week in week out. 5/6 marshals out on the route (most of them are 2-3 lap courses which saves on this), and 2/3 at the finish to record times and scan barcodes.

shels4ever · 13-02-2012 10:49am

Yep, most events have their core people who have given up time over the years. Problem with online things is you'll get 10's of people saying they can step up but never really do. Would take one person to take the bull by the horns long term to get this going.

robinph · 13-02-2012 11:28am

I have vague recollections of talk about my local one being initially funded by the local council to get it off the ground with the start up money, I was only half aware of what parkrun was at that stage so didn't really know what the conversations were about that I was overhearing. There are often vouchers being handed out and monthly prizes for Sweatshop. I think that might be a national deal and the lack of any of their stores in Ireland means you probably want to sweet talk some Dublin store into getting involved.

If you can get DCC on side then getting one of the parks to agree would be simpler as well.

shels4ever · 13-02-2012 11:34am

robinph wrote: »

I have vague recollections of talk about my local one being initially funded by the local council to get it off the ground with the start up money, I was only half aware of what parkrun was at that stage so didn't really know what the conversations were about that I was overhearing. There are often vouchers being handed out and monthly prizes for Sweatshop. I think that might be a national deal and the lack of any of their stores in Ireland means you probably want to sweet talk some Dublin store into getting involved.

If you can get DCC on side then getting one of the parks to agree would be simpler as well.

I heard FG have a new member that you might be able to talk to

sconhome · 13-02-2012 11:59am

Have actually been working on getting a series of Parkruns organised for Ireland. Talking to the group in the UK, yes, there is funding needed to cover insurance mainly and in the UK it is up to the local organisers to raise a certain amount then Pakrun have a fund to add to this from their sponsors.

I'll looking to use Amphibian King as a means to ease the funding pressure and hopefully using our broad base of customers to help spread the news.

Parkrun do like to have the events grow organically with little or no marketing, all word of mouth growth in popularity, which is something that would work well.

It is relatively early days but the hope will be to bring a series of runs on stream in late March early April ready for the summer. We will need help from clubs and groups in different areas and will put a call out through Facebook and our website for volunteers to assist with organising.

If anyone wants to get involved early on please feel free to email me (or PM) with suggestions. Email: sean at amphibianking dot ie.

Sprocket77 · 13-02-2012 12:28pm

Might be an idea to get onto one of the councils about this. DLRCC have always been particularly good at organising events around the county, they utilise their parks much better than any other council I've ever seen and £3,000 set up costs for them wouldn't be a big investment, even with there being less money to spend these days.

sconhome · 13-02-2012 3:26pm

Parkrun guide the set up costs as being in the region of £6,000 with half coming from sponsors such as Lucozade etc in the UK.

Irish sponsors would need to be found or the Irish based versions of the UK sponsors to make up the funding. It is a franchise (ish) type of arrangement with race timing software, chips etc being provided by Parkrun and obviously the affilliation and association with Parkrun UK.

The question is whether local authorities would have funding to help what is not a 'competitive' race in the true sense of the word. It is easier to think of it along the lines of a chip timed personal TT. More seasoned athletes are going to use the Parkrun as part of their training whereas (for example) it would be considered a goal race for Fit4Life or C25k runners.

The draw would be from each local community as opposed to say the Phoenix Park race series where people turn up from all over the country.

Lots to be working on!:)

Sprocket77 · 13-02-2012 3:46pm

amphkingwest wrote: »

The question is whether local authorities would have funding to help what is not a 'competitive' race in the true sense of the word. It is easier to think of it along the lines of a chip timed personal TT. More seasoned athletes are going to use the Parkrun as part of their training whereas (for example) it would be considered a goal race for Fit4Life or C25k runners.

The draw would be from each local community as opposed to say the Phoenix Park race series where people turn up from all over the country.

I think the local authorities would be much more likely to fund something that's community based and is going to be aimed at groups like Fit4Life or C25K. I can give you the name of the best person to speak to in DLRCC if you were looking to get this going.

sconhome · 13-02-2012 6:03pm

That'd be great Sprocket77, thanks. Can you PM info to me, please?

nerraw1111 · 13-02-2012 7:56pm

Check out Fundit.ie.

"Fund it is an Ireland-wide initiative that provides a platform for people with great ideas to attract funding from friends, fans and followers across the world."

Basically it allows you to fundraise. I.e 600 people agree to donate €10. Works out great for some projects such as the arts etc. I think the clause is that you need to get the total amount requested else you get nothing.

BeepBeep67 · 13-02-2012 8:05pm

Why not leverage the local Fit4Life runs that are already in existence, these do charge €5, but that's a nominal charge for a measured fun/competitive/threshold run with others.

wobblemouth · 14-02-2012 2:13pm

I think there is massive potential for a successful Parkrun in Dublin. I lived in London where there were plenty of Parkruns on my doorsteps. Having recently returned to Ireland I noticed a hike in the prices of race entries. The Parkruns in UK were free, with chip timings, and always with a good atmosphere. I think with a decent sponsor to kick it off, it'd be a real winner.
It's a great event, with the 5k distance offering something for every runner.

With the massive upsurge in the numbers of people running now in Ireland I could see a Parkrun being sustainable on the North and Southside of the city. Hopefully, something will come of it.

Fingers crossed.

robinph · 14-02-2012 3:10pm

parkrun's are not chip timed.

You print out your own barcode once you are registered, I laminated mine so that it survives rain/ sweat/ mud, and that is then all you need to do to run at any parkrun anywhere in the world. At the finish they have someone with the timer clicking a button as each person crosses the line and then someone else at the end of the finish chute handing out position tokens. Someone else then scans in your barcode and your finish position code and that is what links the times together for each person.

This is a video of them handing out the finish position tokens at Bushy parkrun where they have upwards of 700 people running now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuvagW6qMmY

plodder · 05-09-2012 7:54pm

Just bumping this thread. When it was posted way back I made a few enquiries about starting a Parkrun event in Malahide castle. (www.parkrun.com is the site for anyone who doesn't know about it). It's a free, weekly 5km individually timed run event, held on an accurately measured course in a public park)

The local council (Fingal) were pretty enthusiastic but didn't have the funds at the time to start it going, and it kind of stalled there.

Anyway, it turns out we have been short-listed for an award from the Coca-cola fund to get it going, and in fact this would fund the startup of more events in other parks. Part of the decision for the award is based on a public vote.

So, I'm hoping that the boardsies and A/R/Tists (or is that A/Rists now?) and their friends could help by voting (for "parkrun") at the coca-cola page below.

The link to the page is http://www.coca-cola.ie/community/thank-you-fund/thank-you-fund-voting-form.html

I'd like to say vote early and vote often

But, the link takes you to Facebook where you have to login. So, you only have one vote.

RoyMcC · 05-09-2012 8:02pm

Voted, good luck plodder but there are plenty of good causes there.

plodder · 05-09-2012 8:12pm

RoyMcC wrote: »

Voted, good luck plodder but there are plenty of good causes there.

Thanks Roy, there are indeed. I should mention there is a winner and ten runners-up. Even the runners up get a decent wad. Enough to get a few of these events going anyway.

Also, the purpose of the fund is to support "an innovative approach to the promotion of active lifestyles in Irish communities". I think it ticks the boxes.

conwap · 11-10-2012 6:56am

Hi Plodder,

How did you go with the coca cola funding? Is parkrun still a runner?

plodder · 11-10-2012 8:03pm

conwap wrote: »

Hi Plodder,

How did you go with the coca cola funding?

Conwap. The result of the coca cola funding will be announced early November as far as I know.

Is parkrun still a runner?

Stay tuned. Hope to announce something soon.

G-Money · 11-10-2012 9:24pm

I don't know if it's any use to those here, but there's a few Park Run's in the north. One of them isn't too far from where I'm from up home so I might try it out some weekend I'm home.

plodder · 24-10-2012 6:19pm

Bump..

Just to let you all know, we are starting a parkrun event at Malahide Castle, Malahide, Co. Dublin on Sat November 10th at 9:30am, and every Saturday at the same time from then on.

The parkrun.ie website isn't quite ready yet. But, we have a Facebook page Malahide parkrun which will be updated with all the details as they are ready. Hope to see some of you for the first event and maybe as regulars too. Thanks!

rom · 24-10-2012 8:00pm

Would be great if Tramore Valley Park in Cork once open could be used for one of these.

robinph · 24-10-2012 8:07pm

That is great news plodder.

I just ran in the last test run at the weekend for a new parkrun starting on my doorstep in a couple of weeks, but it's taken them a while to get to this stage.

shels4ever · 24-10-2012 8:12pm

plodder wrote: »

Bump..

Just to let you all know, we are starting a parkrun event at Malahide Castle, Malahide, Co. Dublin on Sat November 10th at 9:30am, and every Saturday at the same time from then on.

The parkrun.ie website isn't quite ready yet. But, we have a Facebook page Malahide parkrun which will be updated with all the details as they are ready. Hope to see some of you for the first event and maybe as regulars too. Thanks!

well done great news there.

Krusty_Clown · 24-10-2012 9:02pm

Hats off to you plodder. Great to see the initiative. Best of luck with it. Hopefully make it over soon.

wobblemouth · 24-10-2012 9:45pm

That's great news. I'll be there for the first one.

Did a couple of Parkruns in London, and they were great.

Well done & Good Luck Plodder!

G-Money · 24-10-2012 10:02pm

Great news Plodder, well done.

plodder · 24-10-2012 10:34pm

Thanks for the good wishes folks. Hopefully it lives up to expectations. One good thing about the format is, if we mess up one week, it's only seven days before we get to fix things and try again.

Also, just want to acknowledge the input (and help going forward) from boards' own Peckham.

Thanks!
Plodder (Michael)

Peckham · 25-10-2012 8:13am

Would be great to see lots of boardsies at this inaugural Parkrun event in Ireland. I'm very confident that it will spread to other locations around Ireland, but will need other people like Michael with the determination to drive it through.

EauRouge79 · 25-10-2012 9:05am

As far as I Know the organisers of the Clonakilty Marathon are looking to organise a similar event for west cork in the coming months.

robinph · 25-10-2012 9:21am

When they turn on the .ie domain for you create a signature image and make it link back to the event page. Might get a few boardsies from other non-AR(T) realms noticing as well.

TownBound · 25-10-2012 9:33am

plodder wrote: »

Bump..

Just to let you all know, we are starting a parkrun event at Malahide Castle, Malahide, Co. Dublin on Sat November 10th at 9:30am, and every Saturday at the same time from then on.

The parkrun.ie website isn't quite ready yet. But, we have a Facebook page Malahide parkrun which will be updated with all the details as they are ready. Hope to see some of you for the first event and maybe as regulars too. Thanks!

Thats brilliant news! I'll be there on the 10th November..

pistol_75 · 25-10-2012 10:17am

Looking forward to this. All about spreading the word to help it be a success. I have shared the page with my Club which is about 20 minutes away so should be a bit of an uptake from them.

MisterDrak · 25-10-2012 4:51pm

Good Job Plodder... Ill be there...

Peckham · 25-10-2012 5:47pm

If anyone can offer some help with volunteering on the first day or first few days, these offers would be gratefully received. So if you're thinking that 10th November is too soon after DCM to race a 5k, then we can find something for you to do!

Parkrun has a neat little system in terms of volunteering (details on their site), but we need a few people to get it off the ground.

PMs to Plodder or myself.

zefer · 25-10-2012 5:47pm

Thats fantastic, well done. Have shared on my club page, we are only a short jog away. Will try get the local leisure centre to share also

robinph · 25-10-2012 7:25pm

parkrun FAQ for those who haven't found it yet:

http://support.parkrun.com/home

liamo66 · 28-10-2012 4:11pm

Congrats Plodder on getting this up and running. I run the ECOS parkrun in the North when I am at home, it is a great event. I am convinced that once the first Parkrun starts in Dublin they will spread quickly to other parks in the city. Anyone out there interested in setting a Parkrun up in Marley Park?

kilbrook · 30-10-2012 3:30pm

plodder wrote: »

Bump..

Just to let you all know, we are starting a parkrun event at Malahide Castle, Malahide, Co. Dublin on Sat November 10th at 9:30am, and every Saturday at the same time from then on.

The parkrun.ie website isn't quite ready yet. But, we have a Facebook page Malahide parkrun which will be updated with all the details as they are ready. Hope to see some of you for the first event and maybe as regulars too. Thanks!

This is great news. Will be there.

parkrun ireland · 30-10-2012 3:37pm

rom wrote: »

Would be great if Tramore Valley Park in Cork once open could be used for one of these.

St Finbars are considering an event in Cork.

Woddle · 30-10-2012 9:30pm

liamo66 wrote: »

Congrats Plodder on getting this up and running. I run the ECOS parkrun in the North when I am at home, it is a great event. I am convinced that once the first Parkrun starts in Dublin they will spread quickly to other parks in the city. Anyone out there interested in setting a Parkrun up in Marley Park?

I could help out with this if someone else was taking the lead (my hands are fairly full at the moment).

robinph · 03-11-2012 4:20pm

The parkrun website is now live and ready for the new Malahide run which starts next week:

http://www.parkrun.ie/malahide/

Get yourselves registered and print out your barcodes so you are then ready to run next week.

Parkrun Ireland

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