How are Park Runs a scam? They put on free 5Ks runs (not races) and get people, who otherwise wouldn’t run, to run. Sure there are people are fake stars because of they make videos about their videos, but that is less than .01% of Park Runners.
How are Park Runs a scam? They put on free 5Ks runs (not races) and get people, who otherwise wouldn’t run, to run. Sure there are people are fake stars because of they make videos about their videos, but that is less than .01% of Park Runners.
SOCIALIST CRAP!!!
I haven't participated in a sporting event since the Tour Du Trump folded!!
How are Park Runs a scam? They put on free 5Ks runs (not races) and get people, who otherwise wouldn’t run, to run. Sure there are people are fake stars because of they make videos about their videos, but that is less than .01% of Park Runners.
The real scam is that the moron who posted this thread is running multiple accounts to astroturf.
The parkrun world record was set by Nick Griggs last year who also ran 13.13, 3.35 and came second at u23 Euro Cross all at the age of 19. Doesn't seem like a hobbyjogger to me.
How are Park Runs a scam? They put on free 5Ks runs (not races) and get people, who otherwise wouldn’t run, to run. Sure there are people are fake stars because of they make videos about their videos, but that is less than .01% of Park Runners.
It's basically caused the discontinuation of every small fun run in my city; most of which were used as fundraisers for athletics clubs.
No one is willing to pay a fee to run a 5k (however small it may be), if they can simply rock up to parkrun for free every Saturday, with absolutely no commitment.
Sure, you get more people running, but most of those people don't care about athletics or have any interest in competition.
You ultimately end up with a more watered down sport, with the demographics shifted, so that every big event is more likely to cater to people that aren't serious runners and/or don't even like running.
The women's record is held by Ciara Mageean. 3:55 1500m runner, European Champ, Diamond League Brussels winner, 2nd in the 2022 Diamond League Final and 4th in the 2022 World Champs.
Parkrun has been a disaster for the sport. Running YouTubers and non athletes jumping up and down celebrating their “world record” on a short course.
these events are pathetic jokes.
when will the running community wise up to the scam?
I actually have not looked up "Parkrun" yet, nor do I want to.
This thread, and a mention on the LR frontpage, is my first time seeing "Parkrun".
Have I been living under a rock?
It's a global series of free 5ks that occurs every weekend in certain parks in certain towns. You still sign a waiver. They give out coins. Properly timed but not properly measured. If anything, it promotes hobby joggers and ppl who want to stay healthy but not pay an entry fee. Looks goofy to me.
How are Park Runs a scam? They put on free 5Ks runs (not races) and get people, who otherwise wouldn’t run, to run. Sure there are people are fake stars because of they make videos about their videos, but that is less than .01% of Park Runners.
It's basically caused the discontinuation of every small fun run in my city; most of which were used as fundraisers for athletics clubs.
No one is willing to pay a fee to run a 5k (however small it may be), if they can simply rock up to parkrun for free every Saturday, with absolutely no commitment.
Sure, you get more people running, but most of those people don't care about athletics or have any interest in competition.
You ultimately end up with a more watered down sport, with the demographics shifted, so that every big event is more likely to cater to people that aren't serious runners and/or don't even like running.
Truth. Nothing like this is ever free. Not even close.
Park Run is monetarily free, but they are only interested in your data. The greater amount of names and bios the more valuable the company is. No different to how FB etc are valued.
Besides, every Park Run requires a payment to Park Run HQ of $5,000 at first set up, (that's Australia anyway, I guess it varies) so there is no 'cost' at all to them and already a bank of $12.5M Aud. They have over 9 million registered participants that have attended at least one.
This post was edited 6 minutes after it was posted.
I actually have not looked up "Parkrun" yet, nor do I want to.
This thread, and a mention on the LR frontpage, is my first time seeing "Parkrun".
Have I been living under a rock?
It's a global series of free 5ks that occurs every weekend in certain parks in certain towns. You still sign a waiver. They give out coins. Properly timed but not properly measured. If anything, it promotes hobby joggers and ppl who want to stay healthy but not pay an entry fee. Looks goofy to me.
I don't think you could say 'properly', it is basically old school same as giving a person a position tag and someone else hits the button on the stopwatch that can perhaps print out those times....except you have a bar code that records your position. Position vs time - and you hope that sequence is right and not missing people and that's your time.
RFID chip recording is a 'last seen at start and first time seen at finish' difference. It records the chip code plus even the chip order date, plus accuracy data etc and you can see if a rogue chip is in there (from same platform/brand..usually they don't even record non brand)
This is a crazy take. In England Parkrun has been a massive success. Go to any park on a Saturday morning and you’ll see hundreds of people up and about early ready to do a bit of exercise and knock out a 5k. Women, men, children, parents pushing strollers, people running it with their dog, the atmosphere is fantastic and it’s getting people moving.
I say all this as someone who very really does Parkrun (I don’t bother because it’s obviously not targeted to faster runners), let those who just want to get out and run a social 5k without worrying about a time crack on with it