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parkrun thread

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kstuart May 2021 10:08am, 13 May 2021 4,081 posts	Quote Pin kstuart I never take my phone to park run cos why would i being its 2 miles to the start point then i run back towards home anyway. I don't have pocket space for it anyway depending on what shorts i am wearing. I also dont run with my phone anyway routinely as again no were to put it. I laminated my barcodes at work so they are in good condition and if i need to replace i'll do some more.
Spideog May 2021 10:13am, 13 May 2021 970 posts	Quote Pin Spideog Have my supermarket points card on my phone, in both the official app and Google Pay. Still takes a relatively long time to get the code on the screen and scanned despite the apps being in easy to access positions on my phone desktop and the apps specifically designed to show various barcodes quickly an easily. Multiply those 5 seconds by 1000 people and it can easily create a massive backlog. Those delays are potentially cancelled out by the new higher ratio of scanners to parkrunners, but that has yet to be tested at any proper big events in SA or the UK. Biggest events in Australia are around 400 I think.
paul the builder May 2021 10:14am, 13 May 2021 7,098 posts	Quote Pin paul the builder No-one has pocket space for phones. Flipbelt will be a revelation for you.
option_Richard May 2021 10:15am, 13 May 2021 215 posts	Quote Pin option_Richard There seems to be an assumption that people wouldn't get an app open whilst in the queue. People get their barcodes ready in the queue, so why would that change?
The_Saint May 2021 10:19am, 13 May 2021 6,809 posts	Quote Pin The_Saint I am fully aware of the myriad of things you could wear to carry a phone but my reasons are more to do with not wanting to be like people who pin their race number to their back no matter how many times you tell them.
Gobi May 2021 10:20am, 13 May 2021 74,041 posts	Quote Pin Gobi Like Kstuart if I run to parkrun and back the last thing I'd be carrying is a phone...
Spideog May 2021 10:20am, 13 May 2021 971 posts	Quote Pin Spideog Yes people would get their barcodes ready in the queue, but then the phone would lock, they would start browsing something, the app would crash, they would decide to phone mum to tell them about their pb, they would drop it in a puddle. Still needs a parkrun created way to access the barcode first though as most people won't know how to get the currently provided barcode in a sensible format on their phone. That app will cost time and money, unless someone else goes and creates it for free for parkrun.
larkim May 2021 10:25am, 13 May 2021 14,300 posts	Quote Pin larkim +1 for a flipbelt. Best thing ever for being able to take your phone without ever noticing you've got it with you. Though not the quickest thing to get a phone out of, so another delay before the scanners. Whereas my wrist band is immediately on display. Like I posted above, barcodes on phones needs to be trialed to see what difference it makes in the real world, but my instinct would be it that it would add delay thus making the process worse rather than better overall. All methods of presenting a barcode have their flaws, physical may still be the "least worst" solution until the next system comes along.
fuzzyduck79 May 2021 10:29am, 13 May 2021 199 posts	Quote Pin fuzzyduck79 Sounds like some are starting to get uncomfortable about being forced to take a phone to parkrun, but that's not the idea - it's just giving people the option to use a screen based barcode if they choose to. I would still take my key fob barcode and use that, unless it was scratched to oblivion. One advantage of the screen based option is they don't fade/fall to bits in the wet but sure phones can malfunction in cold/wet conditions too.
azx May 2021 10:44am, 13 May 2021 280 posts	Quote Pin azx If it helps anyone, I bought these shorts a bit back: amazon.co.uk then bought some more and threw out all my other running shorts. Got rid any chafing problems and have a pocket for a phone that holds it fixed. I listen to audio books when I run and always have my phone with me and aftershokz to listen to.