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Jun 2018
2:08pm, 19 Jun 2018
144 posts
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philip_m_jones
When I pace I get a tick for volunteering and a tick for running so two ticks in one week. If the "totals" were based on volunteer plus run then my total would advance twice as fast as others. Same for many other volunteer activities so tail walker and course set-up and take-down. I have even got a tick for running around (circa 18 minutes) and then helping out in the funnel.
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Jun 2018
3:19pm, 19 Jun 2018
6,257 posts
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The_Saint
Why don't we solve the obesity/inactivity crisis by getting people to stand with a barcode scanner for 35 minutes ? I can see GPs prescribing this as the low-intensity workout that gives you the same cardio benefit as running 5K as fast as you can.
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Jun 2018
4:05pm, 19 Jun 2018
5,075 posts
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larkim
"Not wanting to join a parkrun because people say they are intimidated by faster runners? Can't see that myself."
Absolutely I can - the terror I felt at taking part in a race, even one I knew would have people in fancy dress and plod around, I can still recall. Even my wife wouldn't go to a parkrun (despite me doing them regularly) until she was happy that she would be fast enough to take part as she was intimidated by the concept.
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Jun 2018
4:10pm, 19 Jun 2018
163 posts
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Spideog
I'm entered in a track 5000m this weekend and am scared of coming last at that, but it's an event specifically marketed as being for people to run fast around the track for fast people and compared to them I'm old and slow.
There won't be any olympians there, but I'd be getting lapped a couple of times by the winner of the fastest heats.
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Jun 2018
4:12pm, 19 Jun 2018
7,102 posts
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Markymarkmark
Mrs MMM still regularly stresses she'll be at the back, even now she *knows* from experience there are people she can beat, sorry, run faster than for longer, and the tail gunner is 15 minutes behind her at least.
@TheSaint - thank you. A genuine LOL!
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Jun 2018
4:16pm, 19 Jun 2018
538 posts
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Dibble
It was me who originally put the question for Tom about wanting my 250 T-shirt for my 200 runs and 80 volunteer times. It wasn't something I seriously expected them to do, so I was pleasantly surprised by his comment that they might have considered it if they were starting afresh. The point behind my comment was more to highlight my disagreement with the volunteering being as much a physical activity as running and I am glad Fetch got that through even if Tom did not concede the point.
Personally I do enjoy volunteering, particularly being a Run Director and being RD on Xmas Day cannot be beaten. However I still prefer to run and hence I can't escape the feeling that, for me, there is always an element of 'giving something up' to volunteer.
The question of encouraging/cajoling/shaming more people to volunteer is interesting, but can be done positively. A few weeks ago i was RD during National Volunteering Week. In the briefing, instead of asking everyone to just thank today's volunteers, I simply asked everyone who had ever volunteered to put their hand up (it was about half of those present) and asked them all to be applauded. Highlighting how many do actually volunteer certainly seemed to send out a positive message as we were inundated with requests to volunteer the following week!
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Jun 2018
4:27pm, 19 Jun 2018
192 posts
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BexleyKev
Nice idea Dibble, using the occasion to thank all who have volunteered in a positive way without casting any negativity onto those who haven't.
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Jun 2018
4:31pm, 19 Jun 2018
544 posts
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Nessie
But would she have been more or less intimidated if the first finisher finished in 17 minutes rather than 15? Unless it's just going to be a walk, there will always be runners, who will (mostly) be faster than run/walkers or walkers.
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Jun 2018
4:37pm, 19 Jun 2018
4,492 posts
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Metro_Nome
Spideog I was once very last at a track 5,000m. i had put a predicted time of 24 minutes or something (I ran 23:45 in the end), and they only allowed 20 minutes for the race. I therefore delayed the whole event. It was still ace though!
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Jun 2018
4:46pm, 19 Jun 2018
193 posts
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BexleyKev
I recall being lapped by Paul Martelletti at Dulwich once - before I had even completed a lap ( one mile ) so, thought I better try harder the next time - and was lapped even earlier by a guy in a wheelchair. Both great athletes and inspiring to see fly past. Was watching a film on the Mt Fuji Ultra the other night and amazed at the elation and joy being expressed by runners competing in the shorter distance event ( which had started a few hours before the longer run ) when they were passed by the leaders of the full Ultra.
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parkrun Café
Feb 2025