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parkrun thread

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Dooogs Nov 2021 9:48pm, 4 Nov 2021 7,637 posts	Quote Pin Dooogs This is about 500-600 runners and maybe 20 - 30 metres. 2-3, sure, but 5 feels a bit de trop...
LindsD Nov 2021 9:59pm, 4 Nov 2021 50,607 posts	Quote Pin LindsD We don't always have one and never more than one
LindsD Nov 2021 10:00pm, 4 Nov 2021 50,608 posts	Quote Pin LindsD Thanks OC. Maybe we need to cancel once.
mr d Nov 2021 10:03pm, 4 Nov 2021 5,475 posts	Quote Pin mr d Thinking nearby parkruns need to take turns at having a week off.
LouiseRuns 🌹🇬🇧 🇪🇺 Nov 2021 10:43pm, 4 Nov 2021 375 posts	Quote Pin LouiseRuns 🌹🇬🇧 🇪🇺 I think if nearby parkruns took turns in having a week off we'd probably just find we were overwhelmed with runners rather than get extra volunteers. Maybe if we all took the same week off citing lack of volunteers it might make a difference... I've noticed if I amend our template to "Hi [name]" instead of "Dear [name]" it gets more of a response. Any sort of personal touch seems to make a difference. Our juniors don't have much of a volunteer base (I think the email goes to about 30 people, most of whom aren't actively involved) so I tend to borrow the 5K volunteer list, which seems to do the trick. I may test the personalised/impersonal theory next time I'm RD at the 5k, use the standard template and see what happens...
sallykate Nov 2021 10:45pm, 4 Nov 2021 8,402 posts	Quote Pin sallykate I need another three volunteers to be comfortable for Saturday. Last week I didn't have enough marshals but thought it would be OK; it resulted in a first-timer taking a wrong turn (having turned up in pouring rain). Not a safety issue but not a great experience for the runner. I don't want to repeat that this week so will go with just one timer and two scanners if need be.
LouiseRuns 🌹🇬🇧 🇪🇺 Nov 2021 10:49pm, 4 Nov 2021 377 posts	Quote Pin LouiseRuns 🌹🇬🇧 🇪🇺 We had someone go the wrong way at ours a while back. Fairly sure if they'd gone to the first timers' briefing it wouldn't have happened.
bja61 Nov 2021 10:50pm, 4 Nov 2021 4,063 posts	Quote Pin bja61 We were full by Wednesday night and only need one more for next week which is great. I’m not sure whether it is all the recent appeals for help that have worked, or perhaps all the recent rain has brought back the famous mud at Ayr and more folk would rather volunteer!!!
Gogsy! Nov 2021 11:01pm, 4 Nov 2021 586 posts	Quote Pin Gogsy! The mud at Ayr is what I remember most from my only visit there! 😊
Pothunter Nov 2021 6:18am, 5 Nov 2021 4,966 posts	Quote Pin Pothunter We’re lucky in that we have a core group of marshals who do it every week. They can’t run for various reasons but are happy to stay involved which is great. I’m only missing a funnel manager this week but number checker can do that too. Bonfire weekend is traditionally our biggest attendance because a few other localish parks are closed for firework displays but with the new runs opening recently I think that effect will be diluted.