BRITAIN’S popular Parkrun events have come under attack after a surge in complaints about “unruly”, “chaotic” and “ego-driven” race-goers.
The free, weekly runs – loved by celebs from Dame Kelly Holmes to exercise guru Joe Wicks, McFly drummer Harry Judd and fitness fanatics Ben Shephard and Spencer Matthews – have faced a wave of criticism in recent months.
10
10
Those who visit the parks that host them, tell The Sun of “carnage” and “not much control” over the attendees that can range from the hundreds to more than 1,300 for some of the 5KM routes.
Running louts have even forced the temporary closure of some events across the country.
In August, one popular seaside Parkrun event was suspended for several weeks over safety concerns, after runners were “barged” into and “tripped”, according to some participants.
A number of runners reported that the circuit in Weymouth, Dorset, had been ruined by congestion and “disgusting behaviour.”
One runner said the event had become “a bit of a monster” because of its popularity.
Another said: “It’s a lot of ego-driven runners cutting you up unashamedly to reach their PB (personal best).”
The problem stemmed from the number of participants almost doubling in size – surging from 300 to 600 – during the summer holidays, with tourists staying in the area also joining in.
Yet it’s not just the summer months that have caused problems.
10
10
Since Parkrun has grown in popularity, so too have complaints.
More than 4.2million people have completed one in the UK and over 1,451 events take place every weekend across the country.
The family-friendly events are run by volunteers with clear safeguarding protocols – but not everyone abides by the rules.
In March, Ancholme Valley Way Parkrun in Lincolnshire announced that a runner had been “verbally and physically abused by a fellow participant”.
Shocked organisers wrote on Facebook that the behaviour “will not be tolerated whatsoever” but a flurry of responses emerged alleging further and similar complaints.
They added: “Parkrun is meant to be an event for everyone and, as such, all that we ask is that all participants please respect one another.”
In response to the post, one woman, who described herself as a “slow runner”, complained that another participant had “screamed in my face” as she tried to pass them.
A second lady commented that abuse was “happening too often, across all events”, while a third called it “completely unacceptable”.
Animal expert Rachel Rogers has also come a cropper with her local Parkrun group volunteers.
Rachel, 36, from Cheshire, claims Parkrun volunteers in her local area, Crewe, had blocked her from using the car park where they were hosting a weekend event and refused entry to anyone other than their group.
Rachel, who runs a business called Nose To Trail, says Parkrun members were “rude, entitled and extremely unpleasant”.
10
10
She told The Sun: “Men in high-vis came over and said ‘You need to move, you can’t park there’ but it was a public place and we had already paid for parking.
“I’ve had so many bad experiences with them. They have a sense of entitlement, like their need is greater than ours. They are extremely unpleasant.”
She claimed hundreds attended local races and some were so oversubscribed that they were, “carnage, like there was not much control over it”.
In 2023, Parkrun was embroiled in a transgender athlete row after it was revealed that trans-women were “setting new women’s records” on their female-only leaderboards.
Thinktank Policy Exchange found it had happened three times in a month.
Ex-Olympian Sharron Davies argued it was “distorting female rankings”.
It led to runners accusing Parkrun bosses of “alienating women” and saying it was “outrageously unfair” because biologically born-men have “many physiological advantages over females”.
Yet in spite of all the backlash, Parkrun appears to be running at full speed, expanding at pace and leaving complaints in the dust.
10
10
10
10
Just two weeks ago, The Gentlemen director Guy Ritchie started allowing Parkrun to use Compton Abbas Airfield, in Dorset, which he owns, for races.
The event, which started life as ‘Bushy Park Time Trial’, in Richmond, London, back in 2004, has grown into a world-renowned event that happens in 22 countries worldwide.
Parkrun told us they are a charity that “exists to bring people together for free” to enjoy exercise in local communities.
They said: “We have robust risk assessment and incident management procedures, alongside regular dialogue with our 2,900+ volunteer-led events across the UK and internationally.
“The health and safety of participants and other park users is paramount. Any reports of inappropriate behaviour by participants are taken seriously, and are not consistent with the values or expectations of Parkrun.
“We work closely with landowners and local communities. Participants are reminded of this and to respect other park users at pre-event briefings, and every event carries out a course check before it starts.”
Parkrun told us they are a charity that “exists to bring people together for free” to enjoy exercise in local communities.
They said: “We have robust risk assessment and incident management procedures, alongside regular dialogue with our 2,900+ volunteer-led events across the UK and internationally.
“The health and safety of participants and other park users is paramount. Any reports of inappropriate behaviour by participants are taken seriously, and are not consistent with the values or expectations of Parkrun.
“We work closely with landowners and local communities. Participants are reminded of this and to respect other park users at pre-event briefings, and every event carries out a course check before it starts.”
I witnessed ‘carnage’ first-hand with the stampede of runners in London’s Battersea Park, says Sun reporter Josh Saunders.
PLUMES of dust rise from the ground as the heavy thuds of more than 1,100 runners march, jog and walk to the parkrun starting line, on a crisp morning in London’s Battersea Park.
Yet not everyone has such a positive experience to share.
The race here – just a stone’s throw away from The Thames – became the most-attended parkrun event in the world when it began in October 2024 and you can see the appeal.
It’s London’s fastest 5km course.
It’s so popular it has become known as “the home of the running influencer” and even referred to as “Hinge for runners”, due to the non-stop social media celebratory posts.
During my visit, there were 1,138 racers recording their times but I can see disruption before the race has even started.
Amid warm-ups, cyclists angrily yell “move!” at the masses of joggers as they try to weave through the hundreds-strong crowds.
In a pre-race announcement, runners are instructed to keep alert because of “a few issues with prams”, to “always keep left” and to stick to the five-metre wide road – not the grass.
Just seconds after the ‘three, two, one’ race countdown start, three people fall and narrowly dodge being trampled by some over-zealous sprinters, clearly keen for a personal best.
One is a teenage boy, who hobbles onto the grass, collapses, and clasps his arm in pain while fighting back tears.
Medics are on hand but it’s a scene akin to the wildebeest stampede from Disney film The Lion King. It could have easily ended in serious injury.
Seconds later, many runners are on the grass regardless – clamouring for the best position and trying to escape slow-moving traffic.
Some swarm around the sides of wheelchair user Phoebe, 93, who cuddles dog Barney and tells me her runner daughter “put me behind the bench so I would be safe”.
She’s not harmed but it’s an intimidating sight as the running mob charge towards her.
Runners block the roads, leaving park users unable to cross to the central lawns.
A panicked dad is forced to grab the handles of his young daughter’s bike, which has stabilisers on, after she nearly edges into the runners’ paths.
One who braced the chaos was walker Carole Hazlewood, 89, and her dog Billie, 12.
She grimaces when parkrun is mentioned, telling me: “Don’t talk about those runners. I hate it. They are unbelievably rude.
“A couple of years ago a runner actually pushed me on the shoulder.”
Parkrun is “a big issue” for locals like Carole, who has lived here for nearly 50 years, but she says they feel “helpless”.
“Everyone’s really annoyed,” she tells me: “You just want to come into the park but the runners are all so entitled. I know they have to run somewhere but it shouldn’t be here.”
Lucy Sandeberg, 56, a local, multi-time parkrun racer, also says there is “a big backlash from residents”, who are annoyed at losing access to a rare green space in London.
Overall, she’s in favour of the event but has had issues due to the vast attendee numbers and feels change is needed.
The clerk tells us: “I see it from both sides. People get really cross, especially those with dogs and pushchairs. They have to wait ages for the dense amount of runners to pass.
“During one event, I was trying to get past them and they were like, ‘Mind the runners, mind the runners’. I was like, ‘Yeah, but it’s a park for people to walk in as well.’
“They need to find the right balance for residents. If parkrun keeps getting bigger and bigger then I don’t know what they will do.”
Chris Halsey, 64, who was taking his grandson to football practice, believes it’s a case of residents kicking off over nothing though.
“No disrespect to them but they think, because they live here, that they are above everyone,” he says. “Like, ‘This is my park, I belong here’. They are the only ones to moan.
“You do see arguments – people yelling when runners don’t give way to people – but it’s also hard for runners to slow down with the momentum they have built.”
I bump into multiple marathon runner and former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, 38, who tells me: “I think it’s fantastic, I love it.”
He’s not running today but is a regular at this parkrun, saying it’s “brilliant” because of the “nice community vibes”.
Within 14 minutes and 59 seconds the first man crosses the finish line, followed by another two seconds later and a third 17 seconds after that.
One man barges through two women on the final straight to the finish line, leaving them furiously muttering.
By the one-hour seven-minute mark, the final runner has crossed the line. The thousand-plus crowd gathers around, taking photos and congratulating one another.
Today’s Battersea Park event saw 119 personal bests set, one person completed their 250th Parkrun and another four achieved their 100th and while there are plenty of smiles there have also been plenty of close shaves.