Does anyone know why there isn't a parkrun in Spain?

[Jogger22]

Does anyone know why there isn't a parkrun in Spain? Is it because all participants have to produce a medical certificate for every event?

[RunaroundSue Graduate10]

When we are in Lanzarote we run with Lanza Road Runners at 9am on Saturdays (they used to run on Wednesday evenings as well but recently stopped meeting).They have looked into starting a parkrun but there are a few obstacles. The first is that parkrun would require a parkrun on each of the Canary Islands to create a sub-region.

But more importantly in my opinion would be the lack of volunteers. They are a small group of residents with a lot of regular and one-off visitors to the island.

It is probably fair to say that most visitors would expect to run, not volunteer (we go for 2 weeks so I would be happy to run once and volunteer once each year). So should the club members give up their Saturday run to volunteer every week?

In fact, don't get me started on the difficulty of getting parkrun volunteers every week 😡

[RunaroundSue Graduate10]

I meant to add that we haven't had to produce a medical certificate but it is a fun run. People run or walk as far along the promenade as they want then turn back. The walkers typically do about 3km, most of the runners turn back at the airport fence and do 5km, although I believe there are other longer routes back to the coffee kiosk.5km is quite enough for me against the wind in the heat.

[Jogger22 Graduate10 in reply to RunaroundSue]

thanks RunaroundSue so you may not have parkrun in the Canary islands but at least you have some kind of community run in Lanzarote if you want it.

[RunaroundSue Graduate10 in reply to Jogger22]

Yes, they also do longer races, including the Iron Man events. The man who started them comes along to the coffee kiosk, although he doesn't run himself anymore

[51mc Graduate10]

It certainly isn't for the want of trying, or interest! I think that it is all the red tape etc. Where we live I know people were trying to start one up before covid times, but I haven't heard anything since!!

[Jogger22 Graduate10 in reply to 51mc]

thanks 51mc do you know what exactly all the red tape was and whereabouts in Spain to you live?

[Cmoi Graduate10]

I don't know about Spain Jogger22 . However I understand that parkrun remains suspended in France at present because of medical certificate issues, insurance cover and liability under French law.

As someone who left the UK almost 17 years ago to live in a very rural, non-anglophone part of France, and who has never done parkrun, I have to say that the impression I get is that it wouldn't be a natural fit for people round here. It's not just legal differences, there are also cultural and geographic factors, from topography to population density: there are 13 people per square km in my commune, which has a total population of 159!

There are numerous volunteer-run clubs and associations in my area covering a variety of sporting, cultural, social and community support activities, they just don't necessarily reflect anglophone models.

[Jogger22 Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks Cmoi I just had a look at past parkrun events throughout France and it doesn't look any of them averaged many participants so you probably have got a point. Still as long as there is an alternative where you can run in a group on a regular basis if you want to.

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to Jogger22]

Running in a group isn't my thing, but if it were, there are running clubs and associations round here that I could join. Some are more serious, some are more social. Admittedly I'd have to drive 20km to get to the nearest one, but that's down to geography again.

Fwiw I've done various types of voluntary work for over 40 years, and in both the UK and France, there are those who do, and those who don't.

[Sybilw Graduate10]

I was once told by a Spanish visitor to our Parkrun that many countries in Europe struggle to set up Parkrun’s because they don’t have a culture of volunteering. 🤷‍♀️ He suggested many that do run are set up by ex-pats. Shout out to all who braved the cold this weekend to encourage runners. First really cold one for me.

[Jogger22 Graduate10 in reply to Sybilw]

Thanks Sybilw I didn't know that other European countries don't have a culture of volunteering although I was expecting any parkruns to be set up by ex pats usually but if there are expats living in Spain it still doesn't explain why they don't have any parkruns there. It would be interesting to hear directly from any expats living in Spain who have actually tried to set up a parkun and what the issue was.

[Sybilw Graduate10 in reply to Jogger22]

Yes, I can’t say that’s the reason - it was just a comment by a Spanish runner at out parkrun.

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to Sybilw]

No culture of volunteering? That might be true of Spain, I don't know. But to suggest it applies to all Europe is an extremely sweeping statement, and wrong in my opinion.

As I said in my previous post, there's definitely plenty of volunteering where I live in France, but it's not necessarily the same model as in the UK or indeed other countries.

[51mc Graduate10]

As far as I can remember, one of the problems here was an "organised" event taking place on pubic footpaths round the lake , which might inconvenience other users! This is Banyoles,, Girona so it might be different in other areas.

[Jogger22 Graduate10 in reply to 51mc]

thanks 51mc how interesting. I've just looked up Banyoles in Wikipedia and it looks like it has a history of sport - hosting the national Spanish triathlon championships every year. do you ever watch it?!

[51mc Graduate10 in reply to Jogger22]

Good researching! Yes, the lake is the “centre” of the town! The rowing for the Barcelona olympics was held there, as well as triathlons every year and yes, we do go and watch a few!