parkrun, lap two

Parkrun are acquiring the 5k app

The answer from Michael Clayton, the developer, is no "for now". Parkrun official statement mentions wanting to incorporate EMS into the app, which would be a good thing IMO.

https://www.parkrun.com/blog/news/2025/09/19/5kappfaqs/

I suspect that parkrun merch advertising within the app won't be too far away. I've also seen talk of some stats moving to a subscription based part of the app, nothing definite though.

no, you don't get charged. If parkrun don't send it properly and you are charged, parkrun will refund the customs charges.

when customs charges for items from the uk were first introduced after brexit, parkrun purchases were subject to charges. Subsequently, parkrun changed their shipping to take account of the charges, the same as Amazon do, so there should be no additional customs charges. I have had things where customs charges were applied, raised it with parkrun and had them refunded

I had spotted on the new parkrun tracking X account that an Ireland parkrun had been created. Event 3740. No official page set up from what I can see.

Incidentally Event 3526 which I understand was meant to be Togher Woods outside Portlaoise is still there as a TBC.

One more recent parkrun to note, Lough Head parkrun in Fermanagh about halfway between Cavan and Enniskillen snuck in last Saturday.

They 100% shouldn’t say anything and use event 1 as a test event for locals. The parkrun junkies will be there in droves (a lot of similar names pop up).

I’m definitely a junkie too but the first event doesn’t interest me (might try and get the alphabet done though 🙂)

There are times since I stopped running that make me a bit sad- the daughter calling me from one of my favorite running parks to tell me there is a new parkrun(Swords) is definitely one of them. The linear park in Swords, pissing down though, best of luck to the organizers, will have to volunteer

River Valley and Broadmeadow are also also very different courses. Some would prefer the hillier River Valley route, some the flatter Broadmeadow. I suspect that it's proximity to Dublin airport will also make Broadmeadow appealing to parkrun day trippers from the UK. Definitely room for both.

I guess an issue with 1 lap courses is you need far more marshals, especially if (as it sounds) they would have to get creative to stretch it to one 5K lap.

I think they are mostly worried that a lot of people will go (as they like to be at first events) and it may be difficult for a new parkrun team to handle large numbers. There used to be a challenge on the 5k app that encouraged people to go to first events. I think that was removed because of this concern.

100% it's a bad thing! I had a small involvement with the parkrun in Midleton that started last Feb & 636 showed up for event #1. Totally unfair on a new group of volunteers who's nervous about their first event nevermind the issues it caused with parking, number of finish tokens available, congestion, impact on the other users on the greenway etc etc.

It now has ~140 or so every Sat which is very manageable.

Thats just someone’s opinion. You do you.

Those stairs at the end are just absolute cruelty, but they are a great group of volunteers. Knockanacree Woods is a similar type of course, proper trail running through the woods.