“Parkrun World Record” is this another way to say “hobbyjogger WR”?

5k is the perfect distance. Short enough that any person can finish (even walkable in an hour). Most healthy people can run one in around ~30 min which is the daily recommended amount of exercise. Its run by volunteers, so people who aren't getting paid aren'd going to stick around every weekend for much more than an hour, so it can't really be any longer. And its also a nice round distance. I don't know why you would think any other distance would be better than a 5k.

When I think about it, could it be shortened to a 3K and still have the same appeal and success? Things that you said about volunteers strucked me. Most parkruns struggle constantly with volunteers. A 3K will shorten even more the time volunteers have to commit and the short distance will require less volunteers too. The shorter distance will require smaller spaces, you can pick routes that avoid crowded areas or uneven, badly maintained pathways.

3K parkruns would be ideal because 3K isn't popular road running event so a 3K parkrun will not steal short road races' participants the way parkruns currently do. My last statement could be controversial, but I know a lot of people who don't race short distances because parkruns scratch that itch for them.

Junior parkrun is 3k.

I have seen a buggy runner finish parkrun in 16 minutes.

Some events attract 30 or 40 sub 16 runners.

Agreed, and by the way, social media fake stars will hijack anything - Park Run included - to try to get clicks/likes.

Depends on your definition of faster I guess. The 'winning' time at my local parkrun is usually 15:xx most weeks and the majority of decent club runners that I know run parkrun on at least a semi regular basis. So I don't think it's accurate to say its something that only slower runners do.

Parkrun is good for the sport. Running you-tubers grow the reach of distance running and mass participation encourages shoe companies to continue to develop and market products. And, while most will not, some percentage of those running for exercise and personal achievement will gain an interest in the competitive scene as fans.

My guess is you're American. They all live under rocks as far as everything outside America goes.

Just when I think this twitchy forum can't get any more absurd, multiple posters come in and argue that [checks notes] free weekly community 5k "fun runs" you can enjoy in cities around the world are a "scam" that "waters down the sport."

Attempting to rebut all that in a single sentence:

Providing a low barrier of entry to a sport actually increases participation in the sport, which increases the chances of people becoming more interested that sport, which increases the chances of great performances in that sport (see: Little Leagues to Major Leagues, etc.).

Arguing otherwise is the running equivalent of a record-store snobs trying to pull up the cultural ladder behind them. Running is the people's sport. Relax and have another Maurten gel.

This is so, so true. This forum is full of hate for "hobby joggers' but then every second post is someone getting excited over some HS or College kid running a nothing race in Hicksville, USA

Again, so many posts on here bemoaning the fact there isn't enough exposure to running yet when something like Park Run is around and gains new runners, or YouTubers open the door for people who wouldn't normally run they're mocked for "letting in the wrong kind"

"we want running to be popular, but not like this"

My strange and wretched sense of humour does not translate well here. 😂

I love it if people run!!!

Don't worry OP, there's still loads of overpriced road 5ks. They're kind of the same thing only with more ads, but the hobbyjoggers there take themselves way more seriously- you'll even get a participation medal to prove you're a real runner!

Parkrun in the uk was a massive success, probably saved several old running clubs in north london to attract new members and discovered some talented runners who joined the clubs after they did a park run and showed their talent.

The park run i used to go to when living in the uk, had two former olympians attending regularly, dont hate what you dont understand.

And yet the most stacked road race in at least one English county last year was a 5k race.

https://results.eventchiptiming.com/results.aspx?CId=16202&RId=5235&EId=1

I always wondered why Parkrun hasn't taken off in the US, then I see threads like this which makes the reason very clear.

Parkrun is f'ing awesome, basically everyone in my country (Australia) is aware of it and I've known numerous people who would otherwise have had no exposure to running get right into it and improve both their health (both physical and mental) and fitness.

But..... and this is a big but, it relies on the goodwill of volunteers to make it happen. This is obviously to be a roadblock when you come across large swathes of "what's in it for me" and "this thing that has absolutely no effect on me is bad and shouldn't exist" types.

My local Parkrun attracts tourists from all over the world, many from the US. At the start of every race we get asked if there are any tourists (the term they use for anyone who isn't racing at their local) and where they are from and it's great being able to welcome people from all over the world, offer them some local hospitality and have a chat about their homelands. It's just a really cool event.

We even have numerous local politicians who come down and run and have a chat to their constituents. Nothing overtly political at all, just a 'hey Dave, the roof over the BBQ area at the 2k mark is looking a bit rough, have a look when you go past and let me know what you think'. Nothing that will change the world, but little things that improve our community.

I have literally never, as in not once, heard anything negative about it.

"The running community" is 90-95% people that want to run a bit for exercise and hanging with their friends. We don't care about fast times or what professional athletes do. The thousands of hobby joggers that finish hours after the winner are much more inspiring to us than some nameless Ethiopian that we couldn't pick out of a lineup or some skeleton that looks like a blustery day would turn into a kite.

How did you hear about Letsrun?

Post of the day!

The OP seems a little bitter. It's not like there is a WorldAthlectics record for Parkrun.

Overall, Parkrun has been a net positive in the UK. It's getting people who normally would not run to lace up some shoes and do something pro-social.

However, if any park runners are reading this, I do have some suggestions. Please do not assume the park is yours and shout at non-running park users. Also, Parkrun, please ban people running with dogs, pushchairs, or both - it's a hazard.