Parkrun Kilkenny

sillymoo

I was watching Nationwide this evening and a piece on the Parkrun movement was on and they showed the Parkrun in Marley Pk. It looked like an excellent idea. I wasn't onto the Parkrun website (www.parkrun.ie) and it said that there had been interest in Kilkenny. Anyone know anything about this? Would be brilliant if it could get up and running for the summer.

Cabaal

Would definitely be good to see one start in kilkenny , anything that gets more people out and about is very much a good thing

I've not heard any news of one starting though

Amigaman

I agree Kilkenny Castle would make a stunning backdrop to a weekly parkrun - mail Matt Shields - matt@parkrun.com - he is the county coordinator for parkrun and he would be only too delighted to put you in touch with like minded individuals - also there was a shout out on the parkrun FB page back in Jan for those with an interest in a kilkenny parkrun to make themselves known a Grainne Kelly mentions that all queries be directed to her - https://www.facebook.com/parkrunEire?fref=ts - check it out its from the 22nd of Jan - good luck :-)

Cabaal

Not involved in the organisation of this, but was hoping one might start in Kilkenny at some stage.

PARKRUN KILKENNY - CASTLE PARK -VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!! Meeting Thurs 12th June 7:30pm

KRSP will host an information meeting on the establishment of Parkrun Kilkenny to be held at the Castle Park on Saturday mornings at 9:30am.

Parkrun organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in. We would like to see this become an option for Kilkenny.

Please come along on the evening and spread the word!

Guest Speaker will be Mr Matt Sheilds from Park run; Meeting details:

Date: Thurs 12th June 2014
Venue: St. Patricks Parish Centre
Time: 7:30pm

If you want to find out more about Parkrun before hand take a look at http://www.parkrun.ie/

nootroc

About 12 people turned up, all fitter than me.

It is aimed mainly at recreational runners & walkers.

All going well it should be up and running by September.

sillymoo

I'd be interested in volunteering for this. I messaged somebody on Facebook about this ages ago but got no reply. Only saw this post now! Anyone know who to contact?

nootroc

Sent PM

Cabaal

Didn't manage to make the meeting on Thursday and something came up
curious, what sort of volunteering are they looking for btw?

nootroc

Volunteering doesn't seem to strenuous. Maybe six people to run each event.

Person to register participants, someone to put out direction signs, 2 people to take the time of finishers and someone to do health & safety at start. Timing is done by uploading to laptop and results can be uploaded to parkrun site afterwards.

Rega

Did this get off the ground at all?

nootroc

First run is on Saturday September 13 at 9.30am

Rega

nootroc wrote: »

First run is on Saturday September 13 at 9.30am

That's brilliant. Thanks for the reply.

Laois_Man

I've heard this is starting in September

Does anyone know anything about it? Where the course is?

Edit: Sorry - just noticed there's a more recent thread about this

Laois_Man

nootroc wrote: »

First run is on Saturday September 13 at 9.30am

Where is it being done?

Good course?

nootroc

The course is in the Castle Park. There's to be a review of the course on Wednesday evening. Caters for all levels.

sillymoo

Laois_Man wrote: »

I've heard this is starting in September

Does anyone know anything about it? Where the course is?

Edit: Sorry - just noticed there's a more recent thread about this

There is a Facebook page also with utd info - just search Kilkenny parkrun

nootroc

NOTICE - Parkrun have just confirmed that Kilkenny parkrun won't be going 'live' till Sat October 11th 2014 due to a back log on Parkrun set ups globally.
They have rescheduled the training workshop to Friday 10th October. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.
Please Like & Share this notice

Dymo

Here is the website page, doesn't seem to have an access link from the main site yet

http://www.parkrun.ie/kilkenny/

Course details http://www.parkrun.ie/kilkenny/

Amigaman

Hotel booked - looking forward to the start of this parkrun

Cabaal

Looking forward to this, after doing other distances this will actually be my first 5km race

Amigaman

84 registrations so far this week - really great numbers

Dymo

That's great numbers, so at least I hope there's someone as unfit as me there.

Rega

Dymo wrote: »

That's great numbers, so at least I hope there's someone as unfit as me there.

That'll be me Dymo. Haven't run in months. Starting back this evening :eek:

Is there a physio forum

Cabaal

I wouldn't worry, I'd say they'll be a good mix of runners of all levels

Cabaal

Made it along to the first Parkrun on Saturday, really enjoyed it and was great to see a good turnout of around 170?
Hope to see the event grow bigger and bigger,

Dozen Wicked Words

If it grows bigger the park should be closed for the duration, the 170 or however many taking part on Saturday made it busy enough, and not conducive for a family out walking the dog or minding their own business.

Cabaal

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

If it grows bigger the park should be closed for the duration, the 170 or however many taking part on Saturday made it busy enough, and not conducive for a family out walking the dog or minding their own business.

Didn't see how the main crowd might have impacted on people in the park myself, but depending on how bunched up it is it could be awkward on some sections down near the pond as the path gets narrow.

Any race generally thins out abit after the first 1-2km, also its on at 9.30 not 11.30 so big difference on amount of visitors in the park at that time in the morning. I'd imagine parkrun and the opw will be keeping an eye on such things one way or another.

Dymo

I didn't think there was any problem, with the crowd, sure the first 1km as a bit bunched but there wasn't any problems with other people in the park and after that it thinned out.

The main bunch of the crowd is finished after 35 minutes, so it's not as if the whole place should be closed. And at that time of the day the park is very quiet.

I thought the organisers/volunteers did a great job, so I hope the crowd even grows more

Dozen Wicked Words

I'm all in favour of the run, think it's a great idea, was merely saying a family of 5 with 4 dogs having to keep in to the side of the path, walking in single file, so runners could get by, would not be how I usually go for a walk round the park. An increase in numbers of runners might suit a well advertised in advance closed park for a couple of hours.

Cabaal

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

I'm all in favour of the run, think it's a great idea, was merely saying a family of 5 with 4 dogs having to keep in to the side of the path, walking in single file, so runners could get by, would not be how I usually go for a walk round the park. An increase in numbers of runners might suit a well advertised in advance closed park for a couple of hours.

But what you're proposing isn't really workable,
You think the park should be closed for a couple of hours every Saturday morning?

Parkrun is a free timed event of a 5km distance that is operated throughout the UK and Ireland in numerous public parks, its certainly workable in Kilkenny without any need for the castle park to be closed at all. Its not some professional paid event

The whole event is pretty short lived, people gathered for the start between 9.10 and 9.30. It started at 9.30, the vast bulk of people finished by 10.05 and the whole thing was packed up (signs down etc) and done by around 10.30.

Again, I'd imagine the OPW and Parkrun will keep an eye on such things. After all they had to agree to allow the Parkrun in the first place and I know OPW were certainly keeping an eye on things as I saw atleast two OPW people in jackets keeping an eye on the race route down by the Pond.

Anyway its early days, Saturday was only the first event so it'll be a learning process.

Dozen Wicked Words

A large growth in numbers would not be feasible in an open park in my opinion, how that's resolved would be for organisers and OPW you are quite correct.

Amigaman

@DWW - Sincerest apologies you had a less then positive experience in Kilkenny castle on Saturday, its part of the parkrun ethos that we don't have exclusive use of the parks we run in and every event briefing ( including the one on Saturday in Kilkenny ) contains the warning that parkrunners defer to other park users , all parkrun event directors do a risk assessment of their courses and volunteer marshals are positioned at areas considered to warrant them . I know the team in Kilkenny would welcome your feedback and would urge you to contact Grainne @ kilkennyoffice@parkrun.com . I myself was at Kilkenny on sat. and am always conscious of other park users defering to them when necessary and warning parkrunners behind using hand signals , however for a lot of people on sat. it was their first parkrun , and I'm sure lessons can always be learned . There were 160 finishers last sat and I would reasonably expect the average attendance to fall in the 110- 140 range for the next 8 months or so a number I believe the course can easily accommodate .The course itself presents a few unique challanges and I'm sure the the ED will be only too happy to take your feedback on board , again I would urge you to contact her.

Dozen Wicked Words

Amigaman wrote: »

@DWW - Sincerest apologies you had a less then positive experience in Kilkenny castle on Saturday.......

Thanks for that, though I don't think an apology was necessary, I'll have a think and fire off an email sometime.

Edit: email sent