I started the C25K because I wanted to join Park Runs, couldn't run for longer than 5 mins and was so proud when I graduated in July and now comfortably running for 35 mins and just completed Wk1 run 3 of the 6o min magic plan. I've never done a park run before, I'm now registered and ready for them to start. So how do they work? Is it a mass start, does anyone record your time or do you do it yourself for your start and finish. How will they do it with social distancing??
Anyone on here from Lincolnshire, I'm registered for the Boston one, so would love to know how it all works?
🏃♀️😁
Written by
Hedgehogs123
Graduate10
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Parkrun are hoping to return to a park (or similar) near you by the end of October. All you need to do is register once on their site and you will then have a barcode to enable you to have your time recorded at any event worldwide on any given Saturday with additional runs on Christmas and New Year’s Day if not falling on a Saturday (though not all parkruns will be active on those days)
It’s a mass start and you are timed. When you finish you are given a token with your place on, and you take that to the barcode scanners with your own barcode. They scan both and your results will show on the webpage, usually within a couple of hours.
Social distancing requirements mean that pre run briefings and announcements are being reduced in time. There is no way to avoid you being in close proximity to others at the start... but time in that situation is also reduced, runs will start as timely as possible once you’re in the starting area. The pre race briefings will be done in more space than you’ll be in for the start itself. One side effect of the requirements is that some parkruns will be moving their starts to a place with more space... some parkruns will, therefore, be longer than 5k, but not by more that 500m. No run will be allowed to shorten their course as this could have runners setting personal bests that they won’t be able to better.
Extra barcode scanners will be available. Most runs usually have 2, but more will be required. Some of these will be fast runners who complete the course and then start scanning for others. This is to help clear the finish area quickly. There is a slight bottle neck at the point where the finish tokens are distributed... it’s important to stay in finish order until you have the token, social distancing may be possible at most runs as they will extend this finish area in length... at others it will be unavailable to be within 2m of each other at all times. I’ll be packing my face mask in my running kit for this time. One way of avoiding congestion in the finish funnel is to slow down and enjoy a longer time on the run! Peak times in the finish area tend to be around the average finish time for that park run.
High fives and hugs are normally a part of the experience... these won’t be happening.
There’s other behind the scenes changes that will have already happened before you arrive and will be done after (sanitising of finish tokens etc) but we don’t need to go into those here
While there’s going to be a covid risk from any activity we do when leaving the house, parkrun commissioned research into outdoor transmission, including at gatherings, that they have shared with U.K. athletics, the government and public health England... the risks have been reduced as much as is possible.
Thanks, I've registered and got my bar code did that just before lockdown,☹️. I'm really excited for it and I'll do the same and pack my mask for the finish area. Thanks for the clear and very informative answer, very much appreciated.🏃♀️😁
Likewise. G and I have done three freedom runs recently, not on Saturdays though.
Delamere when we were camping nearby, plus Marple and Bramhall to introduce a friend who did a lockdown C25K to the courses. A nice change from running our close to home routes but sadly missing the parkrun vibe. At least there was space in the tea shops for us so we were able to distance but be able to chat.
The post-parkrun element will be sadly missing, I think.
Ha ha, you are faster than two of us, so you could race between marshal points, then my friend would think "isn't it strange that all the marshals look the same"
They rebuilt the path down from the little car park last year... the usually small pond got quite large just as they did this. Hopefully they’ve sorted the drainage issues.
Bramhall was ok for the cafe. We could only go inside to use the toilet.
Then round the other side to order at one hut, wait to collect at a second hut.
All seating outside. OK when it is not raining. But that is a problem to be addressed by many businesses before long. Buy shares in marquee manufacturers
Thanks for your informative post - I too registered for my local park run once I had graduated during lockdown and was also wondering what happens. Now I feel more confident about the whole experience. I’m looking forward to running with others but I have to admit to be a little nervous 😟. I will go though and once I’ve done the first park run I’ll be fine - onwards we go to the next week 🏃🏼♀️🏃♂️👍
In addition to UNM’s full answer, if you are new to parkrun you will need to get there earlier to listen to the first timers briefing. When you get there, speak to any of the volunteers (pink waistcoats at ours but may be yellow) and tell them you are A first timer. They are going to ask the fastest runners to go to the front. I would start near the back for your first one, and then you won’t go faster than you normally do . Once you see where you fit in the results you can go a bit closer next time. Remember that this a run, not A race and there will be dogs, children and walkers. Everyone should look out for others.
Enjoy, and you might become a parkrun addict like me and my friends.
I'm sure I will!!! Do you also have to offer to act as volunteer for some of the events? I didn't know if that was part of the agreement that sometimes you will act as a kind of run steward along the route?
You don’t have to volunteer. I do on a regular basis because I’m a big fan of Parkrun. There is a section on the website if you want to help out. There is no minimum commitment.
At my local parkrun they ask people to volunteer once for every 10 runs. It is fair and means that there are always volunteers. I love parkrun, and I love running in them. Being a Volunteer is as much fun. And there are so many jobs. You don't have to volunteer at all if you don't want to. But it is also a lovely way of meeting people and being part of a wonderful community. Some people only run and never volunteer. Like wise some people love to Volunteer every week and never run. Oh and you can walk, jog or run. It's amazing. I'm in Ireland so will have to wait a little longer.
They do not force anyone to volunteer, it is purely choice. Because not everyone is able to do so for one reason or another. But once you’ve run a few times you might see what fun the volunteers have and want to do it too. There’s no doubt that parkrun cannot happen without the volunteers. I did it for the first time when I couldn’t run because of an injury and then before a race on a Sunday. Some tasks you can do in addition to running so double whammy.
You don't have to but it adds to the fun. parkruns could not happen without volunteers so it is good to help out. When I started it was suggested doing 3 a year.
Anyway, when you have volunteered 25 times you get a purple t-shirt. You just have to pay the postage
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
