parkrun, lap two

Agreed. I'd be a fast(ish) runner and a regular first finisher in some of my local Parkruns and I couldn't care less about any of this. If I'm looking for a yardstick to compare myself to other runners around my age category I'll use a quality road race or championship event.

Again, this is going to be more of a UK problem than an Ireland problem, but I'm worried that Parkruns are going to be ruined by protests.

The 5K app will probably step in and keep those lost statistics anyway.

You still seem to be able to search for parkrunners through the friends section on the 5k app. For now anyway

We'd someone visit the local parkrun just last week to set the course record. I'm not sure who was dis-incentivised by the previous setup but there will certainly be competitive runners dis-incentivised now. Some bring a lot of welcome attention to the runs. Mageean's record at the end of last year for example made me aware of Belfast Victoria and I'd be adding it to my run list if I happen to be in Belfast some weekend. And I know about kids (my own included) that looked at the age category records and it has sparked their interest/got them talking about it. It's not the end of the world and it's a voluntary free event at the end of the day but it seems unnecessary to me. Parkrun has been going from strength to strength.

The attendance records were quite competitive at one point and probably still are among some people. So, while I'd question the value of some of these changes as well, I think they are all consistent with what they say they're doing. Incidentally, they admitted in an email to the event teams that they fecked up with the way this was handled. Making the change without telling the event teams and allowing it to become linked to the gender issue was a big mistake on their part imo.

Sorry, I thought you were referring to the individual attendance records. So, yeah I'd agree event records are a strange one. On the gender issue, it's a different policy that hasn't changed since last year. Event results are still reported by gender, and you can still find the gender records for each event if you know where to look.

As far as I'm aware they don't count the specials eg Christmas Day or New Year's day. They also don't count those outside the country.

"Tubbercurry Trail" Parkrun is nearly ready and is looking to get going on the 23rd of March.

https://www.facebook.com/share/KTrRkNBKh6Vy2zkk/

If you mean the event team, afraid they have zero say in what it's called! parkrun hq decide on the name & you basically have to accept it.

Something to watch out for if you plan on visiting on a different day is the tides. They have an instagram page now and will warn ahead of time if it's called off for the tide.

It does seem strange to pick a venue that you know won't be available on a significant number of days every year

I guess it also depends on how much the course is impacted. Is it just at the peak of high tides or a couple of hours either side, only at spring tides when the high tides are higher .

Did University of Galway this morning, nice enough run although I think the use of the park to stretch out the 5k could be improved, especially as it's potentially a tourist hotspot for challenge chasers.

As it stands you do two laps around a field on a pretty narrow path, out and back on the riverside path and one more lap of the field before finishing.

I reckon they should start with the out and back and then do 3 laps of the field, that way we get the different paces spread out before we tackle the narrow path portion rather than the awkward jostling while everyone is still bunched up.

I believe Yeats was more of a North Sligo / Leitrim man. Those Tobercurriers are friends he hasn't yet met. 😉

We flew into Newquay with Ryanair, then by train to Par. Ryanair only go to Newquay every other day so flew out Friday and back on Sunday. Flying to Bristol is the other option.

Rain warning on the east coast until 3am Saturday morning, could be flooding on Parkrun routes, check their socials.

It's been a few years but we did Stretford parkrun when we were in Manchester for a weekend. It was handy enough to get to by train. Don't forget they start at 9am there.

Laytown might end up getting a lot more then they bargained for. A saltwater beach would be reasonably safe from ice.