Parkrun..

mel.b wrote: »

I had mentioned on my fb page about the run and that I got lost. At first my parents were like 'how did you get lost on a 5km run', so I tried to explain to them. Then my mum, bless her heart asked 'were you so far out in front that there was no one to follow :pac:. I sadly had to break it to her that i was so far behind there was no one to follow!!!

Blame the dog.;) People at my local park run are always very nice to me being so slow, saying the dog slows me down. I haven't had the heart yet to explain he's meant to make me go faster.

Lead bike stays ahead of the first runner and leads the way - it becomes an issue at events with low numbers. It's fair enough saying `follow the person in front' but at events in which runners are spread out quite thinly, this is not practical. Also, say a fast tourist rocks up the week you have no lead bike - how can they be expected to know the course.
At Stormont, we went over the course again and again and again and noted everywhere we thought someone might need direction - we then got enough direction arrows and marshals to make sure people would not take a wrong turn (excluding those not actually paying attention). We now have permanent signs thanks to the estate and we still marshal tricky junctions, when we can.
We still have the occasional person taking a wrong turn, and we welcome their feedback to try to ensure it doesn't happen again.

I have to say that a route that is difficult to follow would be off-putting. I know people will say follow the person in front or once you've run it once, you'll know it again. But when you are doing a new parkrun for the first time and the route isn't explained that well or is difficult to follow, it can reduce your enjoyment a little bit.

dintbo wrote: »

I did a parkrun in Scotland recently and they had a tail runner - a person who runs/walks at the very back regardless of pace making sure no one is left out there alone. I thought this was a really nice idea. Does it happen in many places?

There's one in Ballincollig most Saturdays, as other people use the park we know that we can start to take stuff down when the tail runner comes in. We use a mixture of signs & marshalls but as people say it took a few goes to get the best positions for the signs.

Must admit I've never seen a lead bike in action.

How long has Tramore Valley been missing from the map on the official site?

Wubble Wubble wrote: »

Anybody know if the Malahide pr course will need any changes due to the work commencing in the grounds?

I don't think so. The core team haven't been contacted about any potential disruption. Which work are you talking about?

eoinín wrote: »

I don't think so. The core team haven't been contacted about any potential disruption. Which work are you talking about?

This...

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/malahide-demesne-car-park-proposal-approved-1.2718076

Having since found a map of the development

https://consult.fingal.ie/en/consultation/part-viii-proposed-forest-adventure-area-multi-use-reinforced-grassed-area-malahide

I think ye might be in the clear. Malahide was my first parkrun experience, it would be a shame to lose it!

Nice one S, no doubt you'll mark it in style.

Athlone had fresh fruit from local supplier and party hats got everyone.. Local paparazzi got the photos in papers so free Advertising for the parkrun

On Saturday, a runner became the first to reach the milestone of having run 50 different parkrun events in Ireland. Same runner has done all 22 up north too.

Not bad eh?

Seannew1 wrote: »

Excellent achievement. Would love to hear his opinion on hardest, easiest, most scenic route etc.

Absolutely!

This man/woman needs to set up a blog pronto!

robinph wrote: »

The official start date, although not quite officially announced yet, for the third of the DC parkruns will be the 15th October so you'll have several to choose from then. If the date works then you could get to bag an inaugural at the same time.

Thanks for the info, I will actually be there on the 15th but as I'm staying with friends in Alexandria, the closest one to there (Roosevelt Island) will get my custom

Skid X wrote: »

Free Headphones! (this was in the Parkrun Newsletter today)

Quite funny really, an English park run has banned dogs, as they have got so many people running now, they feel they are a hazard on the narrow paths they have to use for that particular run. A lot of people have said they wish they would ban headphones, as they feel they are more dangerous than dogs.