Latest news with #Parkrun
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
Parkrun apologises for runners' abuse of cyclists
Parkrun volunteers have apologised after participants hurled abuse at cyclists and barged pedestrians out the way. Runners taking part in the Swansea Bay Parkrun, in south Wales, are alleged to have used 'abusive language' against cyclists before 'barging' into a woman who was on her way to work on Saturday. The organisers of the event, one of more than 1,300 free 5km runs held across the UK every Saturday, have now apologised and warned the bad behaviour 'puts our parkrun at risk'. They said they were 'disappointed and despondent' after receiving multiple complaints. In a statement on Facebook, the volunteers behind the event added that there had been a 'significant disregard of the shared path etiquette' during Saturday's event. Path shared with other users Parkrunners in Swansea set off from the city's Secret Bar and Kitchen at 9am every Saturday, running along the promenade towards Mumbles. Parkrun does not hire the path and the organisers say they emphasise the need to share the path with other people out running, walking or cycling, both in the briefing before each run and in event details online. The statement said: 'We are really sad to report that we have received several reports – from participants, from marshals and from two members of the public – about the conduct of a minority of participants. 'In particular, abusive language towards cyclists, barging of a female member of the public on her way to work and significant disregard of the shared path etiquette. 'The nature of each of these incidents is such that they have been logged and reported to parkrun HQ. It is likely that the complainants will take the matters up with both parkrun HQ and with Swansea council.' Reports 'so upsetting' The organisers said they were 'at a loss as to what more we can do or say to reinforce the need to 'share with care and kindness''. They added: 'As event directors and run directors we are having to respond to, very understandably, disgruntled path users. 'We apologise to them, we explain what we do to try and ensure all path users are safe and can enjoy use of a community asset – what else can we do?! It is so upsetting to receive feedback and reports like we have today – today is the worst it has been ever. 'We are feeling really disappointed and despondent. Parkrun should be a joy, something positive, something inspirational, something inclusive.' The organisers urged participants to 'share with care and kindness and encourage and support others to do so – or our event will be lost'.
Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Times
If running is the new religion, I'd rather rest
A s a confirmed slouch, I seem to be a dying breed. Most of the young people I know do some form of relatively extreme exercise. Mostly, they run. Running a marathon is quite normal, and one chap I know recently did 100 miles. When they're not running, they think and talk about it — aerobic versus anaerobic training, speed work versus long distance, how to tweak your diet for peak performance. Running and sobriety have risen in tandem, though I'm not sure which comes first: if running is what you care about you stop drinking, and if you've stopped drinking it's easier to run. I'm curious as to why this is happening now. Work is less physical than it used to be, and it may be that young people who sit in front of screens for eight hours a day run to get the exercise they would once have got at work. But most middle-class jobs were desk-bound long before running became a big thing. I reckon it's more about the decline of organised religion, with which running shares many characteristics. • Why you should add sprints to your jog Running and religion both demand self-discipline and the renunciation of pleasure. Both give life purpose beyond the daily grind. Both are social activities: runners congregate at 9am on a Saturday morning for Parkrun, as the observant do for church, the mosque or synagogue. People meet their partners running as they once eyed each other over the pews. Runners talk reverentially about their heroes as Christians once did of their saints. I feel a little alienated from these virtuous young people, since I don't really care who won the 240-mile Moab ultramarathon or whether the Norwegian Singles training plan is the best. But given that runners are less likely to start wars than religious fanatics, it's probably a healthy development. Some of this government's decisions make me wonder whether it has lost its mind. Announcing a public inquiry into the battle of Orgreave is one such. When the police are overstretched and underresourced, is it a good use of public funds to make them dig up files from 41 years ago? How will society benefit from exhuming ancient resentments? Shouldn't people be encouraged to forget, rather than relive, past grievances? And do we really want to see Arthur Scargill again? 'No' is his opening position,' said Sarah Champion, chair of the international development select committee, about Sir Keir Starmer's approach to recognising the state of Palestine. From years of personal experience, her attitude is familiar to me: it is that of a determined child towards a parent who they know will eventually cave in. The script goes like this: No. NO. NO. I'M NOT SHOUTING. Look, I'm sorry… Oh all right. It is worrying that the prime minister's word carries as much authority with his MPs as mine does with my children. Having spent most of my life in the city I haven't had much opportunity for jam-making. Now things have changed, partly because we moved to the suburbs, but mostly thanks to a small apricot tree. Last year it produced about 20 golden globes; this year, around 500. Every day for a fortnight I've picked the softest fruits off the tree before the birds got to them, scrabbled in the earth beneath it to rescue windfalls before they rot, packed a big pan full of apricots and sugar, sterilised my jars and filled them with glowing goo. Now I've got a cupboard full of the distillation of summer. I hand the jars out liberally to friends and relations like a grand lady with a massive orchard. Nobody need know it's all thanks to one little tree.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pop-up picnic park disrupts popular Parkrun in Newport
A pop-up picnic park in Newport's Riverfront area has unintentionally disrupted the city's popular Saturday Parkrun, drawing concern from runners and community supporters. The temporary installation overlaps the Parkrun starting line, leading to the cancellation of this week's event and raising uncertainty about future runs until the site is removed in early September. The park was part of a city centre enhancement led by Newport Now, in partnership with the local council. While the area is intended for residents to enjoy outdoor leisure, its placement has prompted frustration over perceived lack of planning and consultation. Runners have voiced disappointment, citing the mental and physical benefits Parkrun brings to hundreds of participants each week. There are also concerns that relocating runners could lead to unnecessary car travel and higher carbon emissions. Organiser Simon Cawthorn described the move as thoughtless and called on Newport Council to reconsider the setup. He urged the importance of protecting community-driven fitness initiatives that contribute to public health and cohesion. He said: "Hundreds of people get health and mental benefits from the Parkrun, this action by the council is thoughless and selfish, they have not used due consideration when setting this up and will bring disappointment to hundreds of people, not to mention the impact on the environment when all these runners have to get in their cars and drive to different locations to do their weekly Parkrun." Despite the setback, both Newport Now and Parkrun representatives remain optimistic. Discussions are underway to find a workable solution before next weekend's event. The site, while temporarily reconfigured, is part of a much larger public space that regularly accommodates festivals and activities. With some route adjustments or revised layout, it is believed the pop-up park and Parkrun can coexist. For Simon Cawthorn, the situation highlights the need for better coordination between event planners and community organisers. Newport City Council says it remains committed to finding a solution. A spokesman said, 'The Riverfront Parkrun is a welcome addition to the city centre activities. We want it to continue and believe it can be accommodated even with the temporary pop-up park in place as there is a lot of space around it.' Meanwhile, the picnic area was a big hit with Jayden, his twin sister Ellie, and their friend Kylen-Jay. Asked if they were bothered about disrupting the Parkrun, Ellie smiled and said, 'No! This is more fun.' Their dad, Lee, enthused, 'We came from the cinema and found this — the kids love it.'
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Newport City Council 'thoughtless' over Parkrun cancellation
The temporary installation overlaps the Parkrun starting line, leading to the cancellation of this week's event and raising uncertainty about future runs until the site is removed in early September. The park was part of a city centre enhancement led by Newport Now, in partnership with the local council. While the area is intended for residents to enjoy outdoor leisure, its placement has prompted frustration over perceived lack of planning and consultation. Runners have voiced disappointment, citing the mental and physical benefits Parkrun brings to hundreds of participants each week. There are also concerns that relocating runners could lead to unnecessary car travel and higher carbon emissions. Organiser Simon Cawthorn described the move as thoughtless and called on Newport Council to reconsider the setup. He urged the importance of protecting community-driven fitness initiatives that contribute to public health and cohesion. He said: "Hundreds of people get health and mental benefits from the Parkrun, this action by the council is thoughless and selfish, they have not used due consideration when setting this up and will bring disappointment to hundreds of people, not to mention the impact on the environment when all these runners have to get in their cars and drive to different locations to do their weekly Parkrun." Despite the setback, both Newport Now and Parkrun representatives remain optimistic. Discussions are underway to find a workable solution before next weekend's event. The site, while temporarily reconfigured, is part of a much larger public space that regularly accommodates festivals and activities. With some route adjustments or revised layout, it is believed the pop-up park and Parkrun can coexist. For Simon Cawthorn, the situation highlights the need for better coordination between event planners and community organisers. Newport City Council says it remains committed to finding a solution. A spokesman said, 'The Riverfront Parkrun is a welcome addition to the city centre activities. We want it to continue and believe it can be accommodated even with the temporary pop-up park in place as there is a lot of space around it.' Meanwhile, the picnic area was a big hit with Jayden, his twin sister Ellie, and their friend Kylen-Jay. Asked if they were bothered about disrupting the Parkrun, Ellie smiled and said, 'No! This is more fun.' Their dad, Lee, enthused, 'We came from the cinema and found this — the kids love it.'
Irish Independent
22-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Athletics star David Gillick encouraging anyone struggling with fitness or isolation to join free Parkrun coaching, after event became his ‘therapy'
Register at and access six-weeks of coaching to run – with walkers and volunteers also welcome Former Olympic sprinter David Gillick says his weekend Parkrun became part of his 'therapy' after he experienced a huge comedown when he retired from athletics. Now he wants anyone struggling with fitness or isolation to sign up for free Parkrun coaching to improve their physical and mental health. Gillick (42), from Ballinteer, south Dublin, experienced depression after he retired from elite athletics 11 years ago. But the former 400m runner – who competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – won't forget the impact the VHI Parkrun at Dublin's Marlay Park had on him two years after he retired from athletics. Back then, he felt unable to run due to a mental block and an identity crisis. 'When I retired from elite athletics, I didn't want to run for two years,' said Gillick, who is a VHI ambassador. 'I went through counselling. I felt like I'd lost my identity because I'd been running since I was seven. It was part of me.' The athlete is today helping to launch Your Happy Pace, a VHI initiative to get as many people as possible participating in Parkruns from this September. Gillick pushed himself to go to Parkrun at Marlay Park, after repeatedly battling with himself about whether it was something he should do. The experience was transformative. 'It became like part of my therapy,' Gillick said. The release of endorphins was amazing and I felt good about myself again 'I was in Marlay Park, where my athletics club was. I had the label 'I'm an Olympian, that I can do every event great'. 'But it wasn't the case. After the first one, I died. I thought I could stay with the others but I couldn't. I ran a 5k in probably 25 minutes. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'I expected more but even after feeling I'd not done enough, I realised I was out in the air, I was with my wife Charlotte, I was among people and I was already starting to feel better. "We grabbed a coffee and I was set up for the day. The release of endorphins was amazing and I felt good about myself again. 'I wanted to better myself and I was eating and sleeping again. It was a massive benefit to me.' Gillick is set to release his memoir, The Race, in October, which will track his entire career and the world of Irish athletics. But right now, he's launching free places available for a six-week couch-to-Parkrun programme in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny, and Donegal. This is part of his life after athletics – and he says he's keen to help make society a better place. The programme, beginning on September 1, will give participants a training plan supplemented by weekly in-person training with a qualified coach at one of six selected parkrun locations nationwide. Gillick says he understands some people feel out of place when it comes to running. But he assured interested applicants, 'there will be someone there to support you every step of the way'. There's coaches on board, webinars and WhatsApp groups, to help runners. And the public don't have to run, they can walk or volunteer. The initiative is about 'building community, helping physical and mental health and ending isolation'. There'll be people with you every step 'This is about physical and mental health. It's not to put pressure on people to see how fast they run. This is geared towards people who were never involved in parkrun. 'Maybe you might be a bit intimidated, you might not want to go and feel maybe you'll be isolated and left behind. 'That won't be the case. There'll be people with you every step. We want to target people who aren't Parkrunners. 'We want people to embrace it. Maybe you'll ease your way into a jog, who knows.' Gillick still attends the Marlay Park Parkruns and he's witnessed young people increasingly coming to the events. But there's older people too, sometimes volunteering. The events help provide opportunities for people to meet others and form friendships. 'This type of coaching would cost so much if you paid for it, so it's just great,' he said. 'For me, it's about creating an environment we want to live in, where we want our kids to grow up in. An environment where there's opportunities and fun, a chance for people to be happier and take those initiatives because I've gone through it – feelings of isolation and feeling lost. 'And I know the impact running had on my life and what it can do for others, too. We can all play our part in making life better. And tell your friends and family about this too.' Register at There are up to 50 places available at each of the following Parkrun locations, with applicants notified in advance. The locations are: Poolbeg Parkrun, Ringsend, south Dublin; UCG Parkrun, Co Galway; Ballincollig Parkrun, Co Cork; Mungret Parkrun, Co Limerick; Kilkenny Parkrun, Castle Park, Co Kilkenny; Letterkenny Parkrun, Co Donegal.
