New parkrun World Record

Cardiffdaffs said:
Putting into a timeline context Buchart beats Vladimir Kuts world 5000m WR he set in 1955. But I agree with the decision to end records. It’s not a race.
Click to expand...
In a similar, but unrelated context, I was watching a junior swimming meet before Christmas. A 15 year old lad did 50m breaststroke in 27:10 (short course). That would have been an adult world record in 1991!!

Just shows how much swim training kids do these days. (And that the lad who did it has talent too)!
 
I’m with Pierre on this one, doesn’t this totally fly in the face of a “Fun Run” encouraging people of all ages shapes and sizes to get involved when big headed gets like him are doing things like this.
 
WoodallServices said:
I’m with Pierre on this one, doesn’t this totally fly in the face of a “Fun Run” encouraging people of all ages shapes and sizes to get involved when big headed gets like him are doing things like this.
Click to expand...
There are no records any more. ParkRun removed them all last month.
I don't see why it can't be a fun run for those that want a fun run, and something a bit more competitive for those who enjoy that.
No one is forced to look at the stats, but by removing them ParkRun has taken away the option. Personally I think it's a bit daft.
 
Yeah it's a while since I went to parkrun, but I enjoyed it mostly for the stats and seeing times etc, I know you can track it in apps and the like but having an official time was cool. I wonder if they were doing it to cut costs and reduce the amount of volunteers they needed.

I seem to recall quite a large backlash when they stopped allowing running with dogs with those waistbands and a lot of the prowl saying they would stop going were regular volunteers
 
ThatFragranceGuy said:
Yeah it's a while since I went to parkrun, but I enjoyed it mostly for the stats and seeing times etc, I know you can track it in apps and the like but having an official time was cool. I wonder if they were doing it to cut costs and reduce the amount of volunteers they needed.

I seem to recall quite a large backlash when they stopped allowing running with dogs with those waistbands and a lot of the prowl saying they would stop going were regular volunteers
Click to expand...
It's alleged to be due to them coming under pressure to introduce a 'female at birth' category, after some trans athletes had broken women's course records in a few places. (I suppose by having no records or stats, it gets them out of the bother of that).

ParkRun's official line was that the stats put off newcomers, as it made it seem too competitive. (Although there was no real evidence for that. Numbers continued to grow healthily). There's a change.org petition to bring back the stats with 25,000+ signatures. I doubt that will do anything though.
 
ThatFragranceGuy said:
Yeah it's a while since I went to parkrun, but I enjoyed it mostly for the stats and seeing times etc, I know you can track it in apps and the like but having an official time was cool. I wonder if they were doing it to cut costs and reduce the amount of volunteers they needed.

I seem to recall quite a large backlash when they stopped allowing running with dogs with those waistbands and a lot of the prowl saying they would stop going were regular volunteers
Click to expand...
They still list everyone's times and stats just not course records. There are full results published from every run and every stat can be compared across all runs worldwde.
 
Cuthbert said:
There are no records any more. ParkRun removed them all last month.
I don't see why it can't be a fun run for those that want a fun run, and something a bit more competitive for those who enjoy that.
No one is forced to look at the stats, but by removing them ParkRun has taken away the option. Personally I think it's a bit daft.
Click to expand...
Personally I think a Park Run is for amateurs, even good amateurs not really a place for record breaking…..apart from your own. I’m sure people would be delighted to see professional athletes on their fun run but let’s face it a professional athlete doing light training would probably still be the fastest around by a long way. Fair play to the ParkRun organisers for nipping it in the bud.
 
WoodallServices said:
Personally I think a Park Run is for amateurs, even good amateurs not really a place for record breaking…..apart from your own. I’m sure people would be delighted to see professional athletes on their fun run but let’s face it a professional athlete doing light training would probably still be the fastest around by a long way. Fair play to the ParkRun organisers for nipping it in the bud.
Click to expand...
They haven't exactly 'nipped it in the bud', since ParkRun has been going since 2004, and they've had stats and records for much of that time. There were various pros who held course records around the country for many years, but also plenty of amateurs. (Andy Buchart beat Andy Baddeley's all time Park run record. One GB vest beat another).

Getting rid of the records is likely more to do with the trans issue. To be fair to ParkRun (and me) I can see both sides. ParkRun wants it to be inclusive, for slow runners, trans runners etc. If they were starting to get grief about 'female at birth' course records, they probably felt it was easier to delete the whole lot. I can totally see why. (I just would have preferred they hadn't from a personal perspective).
 
Cuthbert said:
There are no records any more. ParkRun removed them all last month.
I don't see why it can't be a fun run for those that want a fun run, and something a bit more competitive for those who enjoy that.
No one is forced to look at the stats, but by removing them ParkRun has taken away the option. Personally I think it's a bit daft.
Click to expand...
Yep rather like the London Marathon. The serious runners at the front and the fun runners behind. Where I have a beef with Park Run racers is if the course is a 2 or 3 lap one and then you get the racers shouting "move out of the way" on subsequent laps making the fun part of it for most of us rather unpleasant. Hate that with a passion.
 
Cardiffdaffs said:
Yep rather like the London Marathon. The serious runners at the front and the fun runners behind. Where I have a beef with Park Run racers is if the course is a 2 or 3 lap one and then you get the racers shouting "move out of the way" on subsequent laps making the fun part of it for most of us rather unpleasant. Hate that with a passion.
Click to expand...
Yeah I’ve been at park runs where people have literally pushed others out the way.

You still get a time and you can still see other people’s times, unless your in the small bracket of people genuinely trying to run course records (I for one would be nowhere near) nothing has changed.

I don’t think most runners take parkrun that seriously, there’s plenty of chipped 5k events that people can enter to get a more accurate time and race.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top