Missing link

[Hericus]

An essential tip for would-be Parkrunners.

Use a scanner app on your smartphone to check that your barcode is OK before you attend.

I finished my first Parkrun in 32.06 today, an improvement of three minutes over my best 5k training time.

However, my barcode wouldn't scan, and nor would a second copy that I had with me.

The marshal noted my finishing position and kept one of my barcode prints, but the results show that in my first Parkrun, I will forever be "188 Unknown".

I had a great experience though, and I'm very much looking forward to doing my second/first Parkrun next week, complete with a newly-printed, verified barcode.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

That is a good tip.

The plastic barcode tags that are available via the parkrun site are highly recommended by me, especially if you run in the wet.

[davelinks Graduate]

I laminated my barcode, of course after knowing it scanned OK, some Parkruns will laminate them as well..

[Soz22 Graduate]

Yay!! I did my first one today as well...congrats xx

[Jay66UK Graduate]

Really good tip. Just checked mine. Thanks!

[pianoteacher Graduate]

Well Done - great time!

I had a similar experience first time (it's been fine since) but I did come up on the results. It might be worth getting in contact with them - if they took your barcode number and finish position you should get an official result x

[Hericus Graduate in reply to pianoteacher]

No, it's not there, unfortunately. I also hoped that as they had my barcode, it could be entered. I'm just down as "unknown".

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Hericus]

Oh nevermind you know it's you and whatever you do next week you're guaranteed a PB

[Tasha99 Graduate]

They should be able to sort it out I think

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Get in touch and tell them what your time was and they will sort it for you.

[Hericus Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Actually I emailed immediately the results went on line but I've heard nothing, so I've resigned myself to being a 1st timer again next week.

Bit of a downer, but it can't be helped.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Hericus]

It might take a bit longer. I had a parkrun that threw me up as an unknown, but I knew my time and it was soon sorted.

[Hericus Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Those wonderful folk at the Parkrun took the trouble to sort it out, and I'm no longer "Unknown". I now have a newly-printed full A4 sheet of barcodes that I have checked with my smartphone app, AND I've ordered some tags. On Saturday, I shall be carrying so many spare barcodes that it will probably add a couple of minutes to my finish time.