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Apr 2019
4:08pm, 25 Apr 2019
27,776 posts
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DocMoye
( I dislike children so not necessarily everyone's view)
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Apr 2019
4:10pm, 25 Apr 2019
1,463 posts
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CumbriAndy
We also have to impose a 'no dogs' rule on our winter course - in five months, we only had one individual decide that didn't apply to them. On the contrary, I had at least one initially disgruntled dog owning visitor come to speak to me (as RD) after running to confirm that he understood the rule and felt it sensible.
Our policy is 'dogs controlled such that the trip hazard is minimised' - which people understand and comply with.
It's obviously up to individual teams how they operate their runs but I'd have thought increasing numbers would be a reason to review the risk assessment and, if the risk was deemed to have become too high, then a change in policy could be agreed and implemented.
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Apr 2019
4:21pm, 25 Apr 2019
66,765 posts
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Gobi
Like I say I have noticed in the last few years less and less of the faster dog runners
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Apr 2019
4:23pm, 25 Apr 2019
26,470 posts
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LazyDaisy
One of the main hazards we've experienced is actually off-lead dogs belonging to *other* park-users. 
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Apr 2019
4:44pm, 25 Apr 2019
232 posts
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blindcider
Gobi, I have always been a bit two-minded about dogs at parkrun, part of me thinks any well behaved/controlled dogs should be made welcome but part of me also feels that its not the right environment for them to be in with too many people around.
There's also the aspect that even the best trained dog can behave unpredictably (although so can runners generally) and change direction or stop rapidly and due to their diminutive size can suddenly become a hazard.
Too many EDs at parkruns don't think rationally though and slavishly stick to the rules but as you say its ridiculous for a fast dog to be starting at the back - We did have one divvy who used to start right in the middle of the pack which is the absolute worst thing to do IMO as the risk to the dog and other runners becomes much higher at that point. We also had one woman that let her dog wipe out the entire finish funnel because she didn't have it under control on a bungee lead.
Its all moot at my new parkrun though as the landowners decree no dogs on the sports fields which solves a lot of issues before they arise from our side
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Apr 2019
4:46pm, 25 Apr 2019
9,174 posts
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SarahWoo
We get quite a few canicross dogs and their runners so it's sensible for them to start at the front - they are VERY speedy.
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Apr 2019
4:57pm, 25 Apr 2019
7,278 posts
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larkim
Gobi - I should have clarified, I'm talking dog walkers who are 24-28 minute parkrunners. Fully agree the truly speed sub-20 dog pairings have every right to be at the front, and are safer there (so a blanket "start at the back" rule isn't helpful) - it's those mid-pack runners with dogs, starting mid-pack that cause the most potential for issues.
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Apr 2019
5:01pm, 25 Apr 2019
66,766 posts
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Gobi
I don't see them Larks
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Apr 2019
5:01pm, 25 Apr 2019
7,279 posts
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larkim
And I'm fully behind the "start in an appropriate position" message - though with the caveat that I know that people have personal goals and like PBs etc, so I can understand if someone occasionally wants to start near the front to avoid losing 20s to walk through, providing they then use their spatial awareness and positioning sensibly recognising that they might be a hazard to themselves and others if they are going slowly whilst those around are going quicker.
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Apr 2019
5:42pm, 25 Apr 2019
4,342 posts
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jda
Chip timing will help with that
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