parkrun, lap two

A mix of decent weather and a solidarity movement after the Tullamore tragedy played a part I imagine. (The scene in Tullamore is on a Park run course which understandably was cancelled last weekend) Looked around the Facebook pages of the various Park runs, nice tributes among some of them and I believe all runs north and south held a minute reflection, either silence or applause, before setting off.

Reached the 200 milestone today

Ran Tymon Park for the 1st time on Saturday, Nice 2 lap course, Supposed to be a Tempo paced run @5.20 km pace, ended up running @ 5.09 pace :(

It's not a great route when it's mucky, but I do like the bit behind the trees. Not sure where else there is in Athlone for a parkrun, serious lack of parks and recreational areas. Not sure I'd like Burgess Park although it's a good location with parking and views of the river. New track at the sports centre seems quite narrow to me. I'd probably be bored if I was running up and down the greenway.

Bray Runners will be organising pacers at Shanganagh parkrun the 1st Saturday of each month.

Had a test run Saturday just gone and it was well received.

Time slots will be 20-22-24-26-28-30.

What's Shanganagh park like as a course? Flat? Would you expect to get a decent time there? Thanks!

It's a fair course. all on tarmac path.

1 x 1k lap of the backfield + 2 x 2k laps of the perimeter.

The 1k lap has a tight turn after 400m, and a slight drag to the high point of the course, from there the last 400m to the finish is quick.

The 2k lap is net downhill to the main gate, main challenge here is that more times than not you'll face a stiff westerly breeze for about 600m on the long straight, from there you have a slight climb until you join your first lap at about the 500m mark, so a little drag between the 2 loops. You are more sheltered in this section so never get the full benefit of the westerly.

If you are at the front of the field you will run into traffic, plenty of space to pass on the grass apart a few sections entering the different fields and you have to keep an eye out from people entering the middle field football pitches from the carpark.

Hi. Can anyone tell me is it the same barcode the kids scan for Junior parkrun as the regular Saturday parkrun? We've never been to a junior event but might get to one soon.

TIA.

A few got called off this morning, Athlone and Oranmore.

Are dogs a problem at parkrun, and in particular canicross dogs? I ask because the parkruns I run most frequently at don't have dogs at them (stipulation of the park/landowner). The rare occasion I've seen a canicross runner at parkrun, the dog and the owner's behaviour have both been fine.

Just ban dogs, Caincross are the worst, an absolute pain in the hole (should assisted running be allowed?) they fly off and then slow down, once you try and go by them there is no telling what way the dog is gonna go, i've been taken out by one on a down hill section, happened again a few weeks ago.

Numerous times on looped course had to go off course to get by path blocked dogs runners and leads taking over the complete path.

Agreed, my local is a single lap forest run, 100 runners would be a busy day. No inconvenience to anyone and thanks to running there multiple times, he knows the course too (attached the whole time).

I believe parkruns already had the ability to ban dog runners if they felt it was hazardous to the event (or buggies as well).

I know St Annes well and I don't see what sense the changes make, to be honest. This new course is much slower and will go right past the market stalls twice.

I genuinely can't understand the enthusiasm for the change. The existing course worked fine for many years.

Agreed. Anyone who has marshalled at that spot will know that it is a near-impossible task, with the volume of runners and pedestrians converging. No matter how many times, or how nicely, you try to keep runners and pedestrians apart, many of them ignore you, either deliberately or unwittingly. It just seems to be human nature. I've had people look me straight in the eye while doing the opposite to what I've just (nicely) asked them to do. I too prefer the original route but the situation at that part of the course (if that's the reason for the change, which it may or may not be) was unsustainable, IMO.