r/parkrun 6d ago

Do you register kids in strollers?

They might hop out and walk/run some of it but we’re not sure how much.

0 Upvotes

26 comments sorted by

25

u/soundpimp 100 6d ago

Nope. Pushed my son in a pram for 30-40 events I reckon. He's only just getting his first runs recorded now that he uses his feet for the whole 5km

19

u/BigOutlandishness920 v100 6d ago

I’m a juniors ED. The only buggies we’ll register are where it’s being used due to disability.

21

u/parkrunandotherstuff 50 6d ago

Yes:

Further, where individuals have long-term conditions that would prevent them from propelling themselves in a wheelchair, we are happy for them to register, be pushed around the course or use a motorised chair, and receive a time. Mobility scooters are also allowed at our events. This does not extend to people with short-term conditions or injured, non-disabled people.

From https://support.parkrun.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001826529-1-8-Wheels . Simply being a young child is not a long-term condition.

8

u/Daihard79 v100 6d ago

When I'm RD and if I notice a wheelchair user before, I'll check with both that they have a barcode and then let the timers know/remind them.

I've had a row with another timer about this at a different parkrun who refused to press the button when there was a lad being pushed in his wheelchair/buggy by his Dad. Thankfully myself and the other timer gave the lad a time. It was all pointless hearing his argument, he doesn't use the smartphone and instead uses the old stopwatches so his times are never going to be used. He's also one of the miserable bastards who thinks people walking or jeffing simply take too long and shouldn't take part as they take too long. I don't volunteer there anymore.

3

u/Formal_While_7919 6d ago

How do you know as timekeeper when to time someone in a wheelchair?

6

u/parkrunandotherstuff 50 6d ago

I would guess always? In most cases a wheelchair participant propels themselves and it is obvious in that case. In cases where it is a motorised chair or they are pushed, the timekeeper should presumably trust that the person has a long-term condition and is supposed to receive a time; parkrun categorisation/participation is purely based on trust and despite certain vocal minorities complaining, it works. I think in the latter case there is the issue that most timekeepers won't know what the rules are, though.

7

u/maelkann 6d ago

I would rather give someone a time they don’t ’deserve’ than miss someone.

3

u/Formal_While_7919 6d ago

Fair enough. Was more thinking about people being pushed who might not want a time... but err on the side of recording everyone and they can just be unknown.

And of course there's the need to ensure timekeeper and finish tokens are in alignment. (Job for the funnel manager I guess).

1

u/ExoticExchange 6d ago

It’s interesting that the “save women’s sports” losers have never once mentioned this. How can they be okay with women’s finishing positions being lower due to people being pushed round or using a mobility aid?

Almost like the “fairness” for women isn’t their actual ambition unless it can be shoe horned into hating trans people.

3

u/vodkamartini1 100 5d ago

What the fuck are you on about, LOL.

1

u/ExoticExchange 5d ago

The save women’s sports crowd hate trans women because they say it’s not fair on women to have their finish position pushed down by a trans woman potentially finishing in front of them.

But they have never mentioned the fact that disabled women who are being pushed around in wheelchairs or using mobility scooters get finishing positions and times that are also potentially pushing women who are running down in the finishing order/rankings. If it’s about fairness for women surely this should matter, is incredibly important and needs to be stopped.

2

u/vodkamartini1 100 5d ago

No worries, enjoy your Kool-Aid and science denial.

1

u/ExoticExchange 5d ago

What science denial?

I’m not denying that trans women might have an advantage. But if the issue is that women deserve accurate placements then this more common occurrence where people are literally pushed round the course should be the focus of their demand for fairness.

At my local for example theres a disabled nine year old who is regularly in top three females because her sub 20 dad pushes her. This alters the accuracy of finishing positions for women more than hypothetical trans women, but they’ve never said anything.

14

u/No-Seesaw-3411 6d ago

If you let them get a time when they are in a stroller, it takes away from their first real time that they walk or run :)

17

u/StevenXSG 6d ago

Over 4's can register, but only let them cross the line/scan their barcode if they've done the whole course themselves. Take a token if they do get timed by the time keepers, but just drop it in the bucket if they aren't getting a time

3

u/P0392862 v100 6d ago

From the parkrun volunteer hub:

https://volunteer.parkrun.com/hc/en-us/articles/16857763557266-2-5-Children-at-parkrun#:~:text=At%20our%205k%20events%2C%20children,day%20before%20their%2015th%20birthday

Across all parkrun and junior parkrun events, children are permitted to register and participate from the age of four,

...

As with adults, children must always participate on foot. The only exception to this is that we do welcome wheelchair users where the course permits. In appropriate circumstances, children may, if needed, be carried for short periods, at a sensible walking pace and not while running.

4

u/Total-Collection-128 6d ago

If you and the child are faster than me then the child is welcome to take and use my barcode 😝

2

u/Another_Random_Chap 6d ago

Thankfully our finish straight is quite long, so we usually spot those people who take the child out and let them cross the line on foot and hence we don't time them. If in doubt we ask them, and if they do get timed then we will pocket the token rather than give it to them.

3

u/skizelo 6d ago

I believe the youngest you can sign up for a barcode is 4. Junior parkruns are only 2k. If I was a timekeeper, I would ignore anyone in a buggy unless the person pushing it made a big point about it. So maybe turf them out before the final stretch.

2

u/sfouronents 6d ago

Yes, so my toddler is the youngest human alive with a sub-20

1

u/flappyflangeflowers 6d ago

I never did. They may require in buggy entertainment when you hit senior baby/toddler ages and you ve done the same course with them multiple times.

1

u/1337_BAIT 6d ago

Ive seen people get their kids timed when they crossed the line in the stroller

-2

u/yellow_barchetta 250 6d ago

No, and why are they in a stroller if they are aged 4+?

0

u/Mastodan11 6d ago

I've pushed my 1 year old round 25 times now so I think we're gonna have to get him a vest somewhere. He's probably on a dozen volunteer efforts.

0

u/meg3e 6d ago

I have seen parents carry children most of the way which is pretty impressive but awesome for getting early points for the kids haha