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Apr 2019
2:11pm, 24 Apr 2019
26,447 posts
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LazyDaisy
I'm on 147 runs and 95 volunteer stints, whatever ratio that is. Like Badger, I've a fair few unrecorded volunteering stints too (mainly PECD or token sorting.)
I do think many parkrun venues have a maximum capacity and I wonder how that is going to be incorporated into the 'turn up and run' ethos of parkrun.
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Apr 2019
2:19pm, 24 Apr 2019
758 posts
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Nessie
I'm on 9 official volunteers and 82 runs, but have chaperoned my daughters on barcode scanning (they get a bit flustered if something goes wrong) abd will help token sort if I'm sitting next to whoever is doing it in the cafe.
When I started at parkrun, it felt like the volunteers were the same every week, and it was a wee bit closed shop. It wasn't that way really, but it was a barrier to me taking that step. Then one week they had a volunteer with a clipboard going down the scanning queue and I got the opportunity to ask some questions about some of the roles, which made it a lot easier.
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Apr 2019
2:20pm, 24 Apr 2019
2,647 posts
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Goofee
And that is a perfectly valid viewpoint CumbriAndy, it's a personal thing, I just feel less like it's real volunteering if I get to run too! 
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Apr 2019
2:45pm, 24 Apr 2019
1,460 posts
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CumbriAndy
Fair enough Goofee - your viewpoint is perfectly valid too - as I said, it takes all sorts
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Apr 2019
3:00pm, 24 Apr 2019
28,164 posts
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Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs)
SarahWoo - I recall being a stand in Mrs Doyle one time, most favourite volunteer role, everyone loves Mrs D!
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Apr 2019
3:49pm, 24 Apr 2019
1,043 posts
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bonners
Same things keep coming up dont they, yet, for all our concerns, parkrun keeps on growing.
The biggest one for me is the impact of other park users, as events that used to have 1-200 now can have 400 and the impact is greater, plus more wear and tear to the facilities, especially if grass or un-tarmaced paths. At some point more parkruns are going to be asked questions similar to the Little Stoke controversy, and I really do see the other side. How can races at the same venues have strict number limits (which I presume are on H&S grounds?) to obtain a licence, yet parkrun is allowed to keep on growing? With the ever increasing financial pressures on councils/charities/other venues, surely these type of 'wear and tear' type issues are only going to grow? Yet I dont see them being addressed? Is everybody just hopeful that the 'mob' opinion is on their side?
The other thing is time. When parkrun was all packed up and gone within the hour there was never an issue with time. Looking at three of my local runs, last weekend they had last finishers of 1:01, 1:05, 1:15!!! That is just getting crazy.
It also means that when you are volunteering you have to accept that it takes a minimum of two hours out of your day once you include setting up and packing away. I still volunteer, but I have to pick the Saturday's I'm not working as I cant volunteer and work any more with any guarantee of getting away.
The other point raised up there is altercations between runners; well I have seen more in the last six months than I've ever seen as venues get busier.
All these things are not insurmountable obstacles, but I do sometimes wonder how it can keep on growing.
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Apr 2019
4:39pm, 24 Apr 2019
20,199 posts
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Meglet
Each venue must have a natural limit depending on parking, other travel access, width of paths etc. Maybe it’s self-limiting for many places, so that once it gets too busy or people can’t park they go elsewhere?
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Apr 2019
4:41pm, 24 Apr 2019
27,406 posts
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LindsD
I think the risk assessments sometimes state a max figure. That was the issue with Kingston recently iirc. Can't remember if ours does. Should know, really.
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Apr 2019
4:43pm, 24 Apr 2019
2,648 posts
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Goofee
We have to inform the council if we expect more than 2000 in any week. Our current record attendance is 293...
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Apr 2019
4:47pm, 24 Apr 2019
6,484 posts
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chunkywizard
Goofee, funny to hear about your DoEs. We have 5 at the moment which is capacity and one on a wait list, it's same with Woodley Juniors! Maybe contact the local schools? They are invaluable to reduce the new volunteers you need to attract each week.
It's funny what you say about volunteering and running, and I know what you mean with token sorting for example (although it still needs doing and takes some time), but set-up, which you and I both do, it's a big commitment (45 mins early arrival for me), and you shouldn't see that as less of commitment than a role which means you can't run in my opinion. And besides you know as well as I do, your commitment is more than just Saturday with stuff to sort during the week as well.
We are currently trying to get more volunteers to learn set up (our course setup is complicated like yours and so you can't just turn up) but not so many people are willing to invest the time.
In terms for volunteering ratio, I'm 'all in' volunteering pretty much every week (and when I'm RD at Juniors sometimes twice a week) but on Saturday's I'm usually on set-up/ close down so I can run as well, unless I'm RD.
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