Exercise

[teamsaint]

Oh, come on ts use your noggin; excellent runners and nervous beginners are hardly likely to be able to "participate together" for long are they? Unless the excellent runners are forced to run with both legs tied together, their paths are going to very soon take entirely different trajectories!

In reality, the serious athletes are going to get frustrated very quickly at being hampered by those of less athletic prowess, while the lesser lights are just going to feel inadequate In other words, it's a PR stunt of very little long term value in tackling the real issue of an increasingly unfit and overweight society.

The point I was trying to make is that really strong athletes and those of us of lesser ability/ capability do indeed participate together. It is something you can’t so easily do in team sports, and I ( a middle age jogger to be found somewhere in the pack ) find it an enjoyable aspect of the activity. Good runners do indeed take part regularly, and doubtless do their club running at other times.and slower runners really do value the inclusive nature of the runs.

It really isn’t a PR stunt. It has been hugely influential in promoting physical activity and mental wellbeing. 500 people regularly at parkruns in small towns says it isn’t a PR stunt. It works.

And it is quite a social phenomenon, IMO.

( Had a lovely long run in the cool of the morning through the woods today. A great way to take the mind off the state of the world.)

[gradus]

Don't you know. . . that sounds like a man working on a chain-gang.

At today's temperature it felt like it!

[gurnemanz]

2 hours tennis. Very pleasant evening for it - warm, no wind or glaring sun.

[Andrew]

I'm not sure if it's been covered before in this thread, but I've been using the "Active 10" app from the N.H.S. for well over a year now and I'm proud to say that I've lost a stone (although looking at myself in the bathroom mirror this morning I can't see from where I've lost it...) I do at least 40 minutes "brisk" walking per day, of which 2 sessions of 10 must be continuous. This means something like 10 continuous, another 10 continuous and 20 brisk minutes walking about my local area. Barnet's extremely hilly (it's not called "High Barnet" for nothing!) so an energetic walk up to the shops takes 10 minutes and a slightly less strenuous walk back another 10. That's the "hard yards" done and the remaining 20 is easily covered by walking around the area of an evening. A reduction in my booze intake, in combination with the walking has brought my blood pressure down into the region of 120-130/75-85, which I'm informed is good for a 60+ year old. The best thing is that I ENJOY the walking and I feel better-it's worth making the effort!

[duncan]

Oh, come on ts use your noggin; excellent runners and nervous beginners are hardly likely to be able to "participate together" for long are they? Unless the excellent runners are forced to run with both legs tied together, their paths are going to very soon take entirely different trajectories!

In reality, the serious athletes are going to get frustrated very quickly at being hampered by those of less athletic prowess, while the lesser lights are just going to feel inadequate In other words, it's a PR stunt of very little long term value in tackling the real issue of an increasingly unfit and overweight society.

Nonsense. It's been one of the most successful activity promotion schemes in recent years. A million registered participants in the UK are numbers that people, like me, trying to promote positive health behaviours dream about.

As to the mix of abilities or seriousness, it's not competitive and the more serious are not participating to achieve a PB. I don't know this for sure but I imagine they enjoy the social side and perhaps altruistically encouraging the less fit.

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm not sure if it's been covered before in this thread, but I've been using the "Active 10" app from the N.H.S. for well over a year now and I'm proud to say that I've lost a stone (although looking at myself in the bathroom mirror this morning I can't see from where I've lost it...) I do at least 40 minutes "brisk" walking per day, of which 2 sessions of 10 must be continuous. This means something like 10 continuous, another 10 continuous and 20 brisk minutes walking about my local area. Barnet's extremely hilly (it's not called "High Barnet" for nothing!) so an energetic walk up to the shops takes 10 minutes and a slightly less strenuous walk back another 10. That's the "hard yards" done and the remaining 20 is easily covered by walking around the area of an evening. A reduction in my booze intake, in combination with the walking has brought my blood pressure down into the region of 120-130/75-85, which I'm informed is good for a 60+ year old. The best thing is that I ENJOY the walking and I feel better-it's worth making the effort!

Having put on more than my usual extra winter season pounds during the pandemic, I'm hopeful of shedding a stone by October. My main problem is the extra appetite generated by all the exercise! I need to get into the idea and the habit of finishing eating before I've had enough.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Oh, come on ts use your noggin; excellent runners and nervous beginners are hardly likely to be able to "participate together" for long are they? Unless the excellent runners are forced to run with both legs tied together, their paths are going to very soon take entirely different trajectories!

In reality, the serious athletes are going to get frustrated very quickly at being hampered by those of less athletic prowess, while the lesser lights are just going to feel inadequate In other words, it's a PR stunt of very little long term value in tackling the real issue of an increasingly unfit and overweight society.

This is far from the reality. Obviously the serious athletes set off at a cracking pace and are rarely seen before the finish. But there are others who run with a dog on a lead, or simply walk the entire course. Goodwill is evident throughout. On some parkruns, there are ‘pacers’ who have enough experience to complete the entire route at a steady pace in, say, 26 minutes, wearing a high visibility vest with the number 26 on it. This helps less experienced runners to pace themselves.

[vinteuil]

.

... exercise? - and having to be with Other People???

No, o no no no. Good Lord no. The worst possible.


.

[MickyD]

Best thing about the lockdown was realising I don't need the gym anymore - I use a marvellous piece of kit called a Bodyblade and it gives you a good workout at your own pace at home. A fantastic discovery, highly recommended. And I can now exercise to Rameau rather than all that deafening rubbish at the gym!

[Sir Velo]

Nonsense. It's been one of the most successful activity promotion schemes in recent years. A million registered participants in the UK are numbers that people, like me, trying to promote positive health behaviours dream about.

And meanwhile, obesity rates continue to soar...

As to the mix of abilities or seriousness, it's not competitive and the more serious are not participating to achieve a PB. I don't know this for sure but I imagine they enjoy the social side and perhaps altruistically encouraging the less fit.

Perhaps you know some but I don't know any serious athletes who are happy to squander valuable training time in jogging along with those of lesser abilities. Your faith in altruism does you credit but I suspect is more than a little misplaced.

All of this misses the point which I was making (clearly very badly) that the suspension of Park runs should not be used as an excuse for not maintaining a reasonable standard of personal fitness.

[french frank]

And meanwhile, obesity rates continue to soar...

Worrying, but I have a feeling it has no connection with parkruns

Perhaps you know some but I don't know any serious athletes who are happy to squander valuable training time in jogging along with those of lesser abilities. Your faith in altruism does you credit but I suspect is more than a little misplaced.

All I know is what I read on Facebook where my niece, a pretty serious runner (and parkrunner), expresses her gratitude to blokes stronger and fitter than she is for encouraging her on as pacemakers. Not every run has to be a grim, "Personal Best" attempt. It can be just about … exercise.

All of this misses the point which I was making (clearly very badly) that the suspension of Park runs should not be used as an excuse for not maintaining a reasonable standard of personal fitness.

I doubt whether regular parkrunners choose instead to curl up in front of the telly with a box of chocs instead. You either are concerned with fitness and take regular exercise or you aren't and don't, surely?

[Sir Velo]

I doubt whether regular parkrunners choose instead to curl up in front of the telly with a box of chocs instead. You either are concerned with fitness and take regular exercise or you aren't and don't, surely?

Exactly the point I was making in my initial response to teams' comment that the suspension of Park runs was preventing him and thousands of others from taking their daily constitutional (qv).

For those who need the motivation of communal exercise, I would have thought it was still entirely possible to arrange such activities. Two neighbours of mine (from different households) meet up to run together. They seem capable of doing this so why all this wailing and gnashing of teeth?

[french frank]

Exactly the point I was making in my initial response to teams' comment that the suspension of Park runs was preventing him and thousands of others from taking their daily constitutional (qv)

Well, I just enter the lists here as a non participant, non-obese person who finds most discussions of some interest. I don't think that any parkrunner would deny the fact that these are, as well as being good exercise, fun events where people get to know each other and which give that extra bit of incentive to sign up. I disagree with team when he says that 'naysayers will be happy' at the delay, but at the same time, by a massive effort of empathy I do have sympathy with the disappointment.

Me, I can just about walk with a stick and a splint on my foot, and would just love to be participating in an all-levels event like parkrun, but never shall.

[Sir Velo]

I don't think that any parkrunner would deny the fact that these are, as well as being good exercise, fun events where people get to know each other and which give that extra bit of incentive to sign up.

This may well be true and I wouldn't deny that many get that stimulus to exercise through group participation. I suspect that the motivation for many is that in a large enough group they will be able to hide their perceived physical inadequacies from view. However, at the risk of repeating myself:

1. People can still take exercise in groups (albeit small ones).
2. People can still exercise on their own (no restrictions there).
3. There were no such things as Park Runs 20-30 years ago, but levels of obesity were far less of an issue

Above all, my main bone of contention was the unfounded claim that suspension of Park Runs is somehow causing physical and mental distress to millions who are otherwise unable to take exercise. This is clearly ridiculous and a further example of how people will look for any excuse to abnegate personal responsibility for their health.

[Sir Velo]

Nonsense.

You're too kind!

It's been one of the most successful activity promotion schemes in recent years. A million registered participants in the UK are numbers that people, like me, trying to promote positive health behaviours dream about.

I'd be more than happy to proved wrong but let's see how manyregular participants there are in six months/12 months/two years/five years etc. Let's put in some measurables as well: compare the BMIs of participants before/after. It's one thing to be a registered participant; it's another for it to have any significant impact on obesity rates.

Rather like the enthusiasm for going to the gym in the two weeks after New Year, or for tennis around Wimbledon, I suspect that numbers will fall off over time once the novelty wears off; the nights get longer; the weather gets worse; there's better stuff on the telly etc.