Parkrun

[Sunlit Forres]

Moravian have just donated £50 toward the set-up costs for a new Parkrun starting up in Elgin in the autumn. In Scotland, Parkruns are held at 0930 on a Saturday morning (Saturdays are also when most of Moravian's events are held). I think they're at 0900 in England & Wales. http://www.parkrun.org.uk/. Parkrun seems to be the perfect complement to the club's activity mix, offering opportunities for members to run and socialise together afterwards on those blank Saturdays.

Do any clubs out there actively participate in your local Parkrun. If so, has mixing regularly with the local running community had any impact on newcomers attending your events?

[Glucosamine]

WAOC has had a presence at a local parkrun for a couple of years (was originally Cambridge, then we moved to more orienteer-friendly Wimpole when it opened with a mainly grass course with a hill), with orienteers running under the club name to help fly the flag.

As a club in the local team league, we have placed close behind the larger local running clubs, and ahead of some of the tri clubs, which hopefully helps our cause. This year we seem currently to be fourth, with 20 members and 288 runners at Wimpole (http://www.parkrun.org.uk/wimpoleestate ... s/clublist) - I think we had a few more last year, and we also have several members running under their running club affiliations. One of our members was 'runner of the month' at Wimpole this month, having done more than his fair share of volunteering - on crutches.

Parkrun events have been accommodating in helping us publicise events, especially where we share areas. As to the $64k question, I'm not sure if I can point to any specific parkrun recruits, but there are a good number of new faces around lately.

[Mrs H]

I know that quite a few Harlequins attend various Parkrun events across the West Midlands and I think some promotion has gone on although again I cant say if we have had any recruits from it.

When Parkrun was first mentioned on the forum I pointed out the need for orienteers to compete under their O club name and wear their club tops at the event. I think clubs should consider having bespoke running tops which could possibly double as urban racing tops, rather than wear anything 'weird' to improve our image with the word 'orienteering' writ large (although only young people look good in singlets)

[graeme]

Good idea...

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[Happy]

SN have regular participants at Frimley Lodge, Rushmoor, Guildford and Alice Holt parkruns. We have left flyers, had a come and try at Frimley Lodge after the parkrun, taken part in the 'wear your club colours' days but have not that I am aware had anyone come along to an Orienteering event or join as a result.

Our very popular once-a-month Saturday Series (including the Junior League) clashes with parkrun. Some members on those days fit in the parkrun and then come and orienteer.

One SN member is also the elected Event Director on parkrun board.

[andypat]

Our very popular once-a-month Saturday Series (including the Junior League) clashes with parkrun. Some members on those days fit in the parkrun and then come and orienteer.

Thats not clashing, thats complementing!

[Sunlit Forres]

Thanks to those who have replied. I've just heard that INVOC are doing an O promotion after the Inverness Parkrun on 9th Aug (a TD1 course as a warm down plus a few extra bits and pieces). Full credit to Suzanne Robins-Bird for taking the initative and if Nopesport still exists after 9th Aug I'll report back on here.

I doubt whether that in itself will produce many new orienteers, but what it will certainly do is show that orienteers do run and want to be part of the local running community. I'm sure that the impressive attendances at SN's events is partly to do with them being well known.

(PS I agree with you Quite right AP - that's why Moravian are buying in to the Elgin Parkrun that's starting up in the autumn).

[SeanC]

Parkrun appeals to lots of people because it's very local and cheap to get to, and same place/time every week, so orienteering may not suit for many of these types, but ParkRuns often have 100-200 people, so amongst these there will be a handful of people who would be interested. It might be better to promote Sunday events since for many doing two runs in one day is a bit much, but the Sunday event would need something suitable for runners (ie not the standard colour coded courses). Or mid week events.

I know some clubs have put on taster events immediately following the ParkRun. I suspect these would work best where the organisers can get to ParkRuns in previous weeks and promote the event at the ParkRun start announcement or by pasting fliers onto car windscreens.

Another group worth targeting is families. ParkRun suits me on Saturdays for example because I can get a run myself at 9am, then take my son orienteering at 11 at a local orienteering event. Lots of families seem to go along to ParkRun with some running and some watching/helping.

[Tatty]

SOC had a few Gosport Runners who did the Leigh Park Park run and then stay on to do our Summer Series event. Their main aim was the orienteering as they wanted to introduce variety inti their training. A few have come back to several events this summer.

[andypat]

A few have come back to several events this summer.

Less than 3 presumably...

[Shropshire born]

I agree with Mrs H when I run a park run I run as a member of HOC. But wear my running club top only because 1 it does not make we look like a clown which the old club top does and 2 running club provided a training /park run top to all members to raise club profile. with more park and urban events taking place it's now time to change the old look of orienteers in baggy trousers and multi coloured tops and go for simple running tops and vests with club name on them and logo.

[SeanC]

How about a generic orienteering / british orienteering short sleeved running top which could be bought off the shelf from one of the orienteering suppliers? Do any exist?

[Mrs H]

Uck!

[seabird]

Aire have had a club running vest for many years from the days when we used to enter teams in Fell races, and run in them individually under the club's colours.

These are now a regular sight at urban orienteering races and at the 5 Parkruns in Leeds and Bradford.

Amazingly the design seems as good now as it did 25 years ago. (Await comments from the fashion police)

[graeme]

Uck! (Await comments from fashion police)

Sorry, but given the risk of hyperthermia today the BOF safety squirrels have made vest and shorts compulsory. Note both men's JK winners are pictured in their running club tops. Only W21E winner housewife looks like a proper orienteer.