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Mar 2018
9:38am, 2 Mar 2018
107 posts
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BexleyKev
StuH - I don't think you or the majority of ED are being soft, there might be a few that are over cautious but with valid reasons. Countries with extreme winters have the experience to deal with what would just be a mild winters day to them - but they have this weather and worse for months along with the infastructure to deal with it. Not just a question of running conditions - Lullingstone Country Park has been closed since Wednesday as access roads are 'dangerous'. That means the car park is likely to be icy, the facilities including toilets, first aid, defib, cafe, warmth and access to our signage restricted. We help set out the course and i certainly wouldn't want to risk driving down a narrow country lane at 7.30 am on Saturday to get there in the hope that the park gates and facilities are open whilst also wondering whether it would be possible to drive back up the hill afterwards without sliding off into a field or hitting something. More than happy to run on anything - I have the gear but our car and the local infrastructure is not equipped to deal with the situation. As an aside - even on a mild winters day it can be a bit brass monkey walking the course to do set up and inspect. The sun doesn't really get over the surrounding hills until 9 am, not great for those marshal's standing out in 'cold spots' and if there is a wind coming down the valley the chill factor is quite significant. We would all have wanted to run ( and probably might do later in the day ) but the circumstances mean that it is wiser to cancel than proceed with an organised event that could potentially attract larger than normal numbers because neighbouring events are also cancelled.
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Mar 2018
9:42am, 2 Mar 2018
21,636 posts
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LazyDaisy
We're doing a course inspection at midday today; however it's not just a question of how safe is the course. Volunteers would need to stand around in sub zero temperatures (and we have a yellow warning re wind and ice). Timekeepers and token givers would find doing their tasks a toss-up between frostbitten fingers or wearing gloves which could cause problems. Our kit is stored down a hill 400m away - can we even get the trolley out of the shed? Then there's road conditions and parking - should we encourage traffic on roads which are treacherous?
In Russia the volunteers would be better used to the severe cold and I assume the roads would be safe to drive on.
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Mar 2018
9:56am, 2 Mar 2018
2,148 posts
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StuH
And as someone mentioned elsewhere, those countries don't get anything like the numbers we have at most UK parkruns.
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Mar 2018
10:04am, 2 Mar 2018
108 posts
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BexleyKev
StuH - It can work the other way - we had a lovely couple visit from Poland recently who didn't grasp what we were telling them about the different types of mud we have around the course. They usually run on hard compacted snow or normal ground/road. Mind you, once they had assessed the depth, consistency and slide value on the first lap they made very light work of it on the second - in their road shoes 
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Mar 2018
10:31am, 2 Mar 2018
415 posts
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Pothunter
Greenwich has just been cancelled. Partly relieved as I was due to marshal.
Right decision though, just too icy with no prospect of a thaw before tomorrow morning.
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Mar 2018
10:32am, 2 Mar 2018
63,334 posts
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Gobi
Bedworth is cancelled - I mention it as I saw someone say they were considering running it.
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Mar 2018
10:35am, 2 Mar 2018
1,230 posts
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CumbriAndy
Interesting that Barrow's reason for cancellation is predicted wind chill - suggesting that underfoot conditions could be OK but they're worried about the volunteers. Seems a fair call to me.
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Mar 2018
10:39am, 2 Mar 2018
1,203 posts
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TomahawkMike
Gobi.. thanks. i was one of the ones looking at bedworth. Understandable and not unexpected.
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Mar 2018
10:41am, 2 Mar 2018
7,622 posts
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becca7
Clifton and Conkers still standing, as far as I know.
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Mar 2018
11:05am, 2 Mar 2018
26,485 posts
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Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs)
Snow doesn't always stop parkrun, Gobi you will remember this well! Eastleigh 18/12/10 - 9 runners took part
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