Headphones at parkrun?

[telford_mike]

I see from the parkrun site that they discourage the use of headphones. How widely is this observed? I've never run without music!

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Everyone has headphones just about 😂

Just be aware of people overtaking you, especially the super fast people who could be lapping you - move to the side.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Discouraged isn’t the same as banned. Maybe wear one earphone so you can still hear what’s happening... unlike your normal run in a park, there could be a few hundred of you and it’s harder for other park users to get out of the way. Most of the parkrun rules and guidelines are for the benefit of other park users. Conflict between us and them could end parkrun in a park. In reality the park is pretty quiet and 99% of other people there will cheer you on. When marshalling I only had one guy who said we shouldn’t be allowed to take over. I pointed out that it’s all of our park, and if he wanted to walk down the path on our course, the runners would take to the grass and go round him without incident.

Anyway, you’ll need to hear the encouragement other runners give you, even as they lap you!

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

Hi Mike! I brought mine and worn it in one ear. I enjoyed a bit of music while chatting. I don’t think Equi thought I was being rude. I like to get a bit lost in the music rather than focus on what my body and feet are doing. It is probably just a little comfort thing, so I know what you mean. Good job I didn’t see that information for the Parkrun. Enjoy!! 😁❤️

[telford_mike Graduate in reply to Fabulous450]

Of course - you had headphones around your neck in that great pic of you and Equi!

[Fabulous450 Graduate in reply to telford_mike]

I did observe the keep to the right rule that Equi shared, so I could be lapped freely 😂 and had lots of jokes and smiles with the Marshalls and others along the way. It was fine! ❤️

[Equi-geek Graduate]

I wear them with a lower volume and stick to the side of the path the directors tell me to. Then I can hear if someone shouts out about faster runners coming through. Not everyone is as considerate and there can be groups of slow runners taking up the whole path and caught up in their own company. If I need to overtake along certain stretches and have to get into a position where the path would be blocked, I do quickly

glance over my shoulder to make sure any faster runners aren’t going to be affected. It’s only 2 laps where I go, so the fast runners all come through towards the end of the first lap. On the second lap everyone is going about the same pace and it is less of an issue.

[telford_mike Graduate in reply to Equi-geek]

Thanks. Ours is 2 laps too so fingers crossed it won’t be a problem. They usually get 500 to 600 runners at the Telford parkrun so I assume I'll be lapped several hundred times 😂

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to telford_mike]

The superstars will do a lap in about 9 minutes... but the average time there is 29 minutes, so they’ll lap in about 15. Gonna have quite a few pass you, but with that many running you may have some go off too fast types that will be doubled over or walking when you overtake them.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to telford_mike]

Just seen the age graded record there... 98% is stunning.

[telford_mike Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Wow 😱

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

Right, all this park run talk has made me register! I’m hoping to graduate at the end of next week, so I plan on doing my first one the following weekend - with one headphone in, one out judging by the comments! 🎧

Can’t believe what running has turned me into! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Graduate at the ParkRun!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

I’d love to, but I’m driving my daughter to London next Saturday, so my plan is to graduate (I hope 🤞🤞) on Friday, then spend the following week consolidating. I’m very excited! 😆🏃‍♀️

[Anggrrr Graduate]

I’m a one earbud kind of gal.

[sallenson Graduate]

Mine always fall out anyway And my earbuds as well....

[mrrun Graduate]

The only time l ran at the same time with other people during my local park run was when l decided to run the entire course clockwise, opposite all other runners. It was hilarious seeing the same people every lap but given that l didn’t register or ran in the same direction, l had my music on and nobody could object. I simply cannot/won’t/am not able/refuse to run with others which leaves me with my own set of rules.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to mrrun]

This made me laugh. It's something I would want to do but wouldn't in case I got in the way. 🤣🤣🤣

[mrrun Graduate]

There’s horse lane in that park, along the track. I ran the horse lane, occasionally waving some familiar faces.

[YamCat]

I did Telford parkrun on Saturday and lots of people were using headphones

[telford_mike Graduate in reply to YamCat]

Thanks! Still wondering whether to use them. My phone crashed half way round this morning's run and the silence didn’t bother me.

[YamCat in reply to telford_mike]

I ran with music all the way till week 8, at which point my Bluetooth headphones gave up the ghost. Having had the silence forced upon me I now find I prefer it

[telford_mike Graduate in reply to YamCat]

One more question if I may. Is there somewhere to leave a bag at Telford parkrun?

[YamCat in reply to telford_mike]

Not that I’m aware of unfortunately

[telford_mike Graduate in reply to YamCat]

Ok thanks 👍

[Crawlhome Graduate]

I wore my headphones last week at parkrun, had no idea they were discouraged and saw lots of other runners with them I rely on music for pace, focus and to help keep track of how far there is to go. I just kept the volume down.

Good luck on your parkrun, I'm sure you will really enjoy yourself.