for an ad-free Fetcheveryone experience!

parkrun thread

3 lurkers | 513 watchers

The Mussile 10 Jul 1:01pm, 10 Jul 2025 1,206 posts	Quote Pin The Mussile Somerdales distance can vary wildly due to the hexagoning effect of GPS so I have to regularly answer questions on it. Some people seem to think a digital readout is 100% accurate regardless
Meep Meep 10 Jul 5:11pm, 10 Jul 2025 247 posts	Quote Pin Meep Meep I remember my physics teacher saying that to us about 30 years ago. With digital readouts becoming more and more common my teacher said "people think since a digital readout means something is 100% accurate". Then we got taught how to read vernier scales, which I definitely remember to this day. Honest.
chunkywizard 10 Jul 6:35pm, 10 Jul 2025 18,388 posts	Quote Pin chunkywizard I could see Somerdale being difficult for GPS! It’s probably the same as running around a running track (if you don’t have a fancy track mode). Try it wearing one watch on your left arm and one on the right arm and compare the difference - you’ll get very different measurements!
Old Croc 10 Jul 7:00pm, 10 Jul 2025 35,324 posts	Quote Pin Old Croc @RooA RooA wrote:Our course is definitely long. 3.15 miles. Some people get grumpy about that too. 😆 Oh well. Yours is, I informally measured it a few years ago, told them it needed adjusting, they didn't.
57.5 Degrees of Pain 11 Jul 8:44am, 11 Jul 2025 29,119 posts	Quote Pin 57.5 Degrees of Pain Old Croc wrote:@RooA RooA wrote:Our course is definitely long. 3.15 miles. Some people get grumpy about that too. 😆 Oh well. Yours is, I informally measured it a few years ago, told them it needed adjusting, they didn't. You could complain to the ambassador
Bazoaxe 11 Jul 12:49pm, 11 Jul 2025 28,563 posts	Quote Pin Bazoaxe Edinburgh is also long measuring between 3.13 and 3.15 although the faster runners cant take the shortest route on the bend around 3k so it may be accurately measured
paulcook 11 Jul 12:53pm, 11 Jul 2025 8,413 posts	Quote Pin paulcook chunkywizard wrote:I could see Somerdale being difficult for GPS! It’s probably the same as running around a running track (if you don’t have a fancy track mode). Try it wearing one watch on your left arm and one on the right arm and compare the difference - you’ll get very different measurements! Exactly this. I guess either arm would be short on the tight turns of a track anyway, but one arm more than the other. Stick that track, for argument sake, into the GPS jungle of Canary Wharf on London Marathon day and it'd be even worse.
AndyS 11 Jul 3:47pm, 11 Jul 2025 3,771 posts	Quote Pin AndyS Oddly enough, Canary Wharf on Marathon day this year wasn't too bad. On the other hand, I have many, many runs in the area which are little more than random noise.
Mr J 12 Jul 9:37pm, 12 Jul 2025 14,146 posts	Quote Pin Mr J We were at Cheltenham today. It got cancelled at the run briefing. Police arrived and we had to leave the park. Tragically they found someone dead near the start. Not sure how it was not discovered sooner. I think a parkrunner saw it at 850. Never had a late cancellation before, first time for everything. 681 completed ones before today.
LipGloss 12 Jul 9:46pm, 12 Jul 2025 81,898 posts	Quote Pin LipGloss Wow that it tragic. Wonder why no seen at course set up or course check .