Oxford Parkrun again today. Quite pleased with the run, though I'm looking to get faster. At the finish, my Garmin said I hadn't quite done 5K, so I grabbed my finish token and ran on a short way until it registered the 5K. My time per Garmin was 30:08. When my official time came through, they'd clocked me at 29:54.
My conscience says I havent yet run under 30 minutes at a Parkrun. What would you do?
My run - connect.garmin.com/modern/a...
I would say go with parkrun , thought the courses were measured and confirmed 5K's ?
Definitely go with the official parkrun - if that's what they clocked you at.
Realistically speaking, if you can run 30.08, you can run 29.54 so I'd accept the official time - it's not like they've clocked you at 18 minutes or anything. Well done!
Thanks 
I have actually run 29:49 over one of my own courses, so I know I'm just about there.
I always take whichever is faster for my races. Chip time or Garmin, either could be off for various reasons. So I err on the side of happy speediness.
It's your run... Take the best time!
I'd say you have...well done :0
Thank you, everyone!
I always use my parkrun time as my "official" 5k time, even though I have clocked a good 20 secs off using other tracking. I use Runkeeper on my phone and my GPS watch for nearly every run and they very rarely give exactly the same results and sometimes vary quite considerably, even though both have appeared to give a good solid track. If you run the same parkrun, then that will give you an idea of your progress over time, so long as they start and finish at the same spot.
I guess it's true that as long as you can see that the Parkrun is consistent in start and finish lines, it's a pretty reliable indication of progress. It's a bit frustrating that you can't have 100% confidence in what one's GPS watch tells you!
A definite sub-30 minute run. You will also have stopped the watch after your finish thereby losing (valuable) seconds. Go with what the Parkrun team say.
I have that trouble with my parkruns - for the last few my Garmin hasn't had me anywhere near 5K at the end.
But if I look at the track of the run on Garmin Connect it shows corners being cut and sometimes randomness when under trees. So I think its a fault (maybe foible would be better) of the technology.
My Garmin (Forerunner 220 and most of the mid-low end ones) only record gps readings every 4-7 seconds, in which time you could have gone round a bend which the Garmin will miss so "straight-line" you to the next point it records.
I go with the "the parkrun course has been measured, and is damn near the same every week so that'll do me" school of thought.
Congradulations Steve its a great time I have had differences with times at Parkrun my garmin watch even though I didnt stop it until I had my token clocked me at finishing at 39.48 and my official Parkrun time was 40.56. I am new to Parkrun and am not sure how accurate it can be as there seems to be a waiting period on getting the token and the nxt volunteer scanning it. That probably makes no difference but if I was you I would definately take the faster time. Congradulations 🏃♀️🏃♀️
A Strava estimated best effort and a parkrun PB are different things. Parkrun does measure its courses with a measuring wheel but not to competitive athletics standards of accuracy. Strava relies on GPS which is not 100% accurate either. However, the difference between the two times is less than 1% so both times are better than 99% accurate. That's close enough for non-competitive running. One thing though is 100% sure: you ran the parkrun course in under half an hour, that's an objective fact. Enjoy that success.
Happy New 5k PB to start the year..!
New PB at this mornings Parkrun.
Beeston Parkrun - my own personal race....
Highbury Fields or Finsbury Park for my first Parkrun?
