Andy Poppleton

@Malcolm744 @QcWynter Go back 20 years and there were a huge number of local 5k races - gentle introduction to the sport plus a source of revenue and new members for the host clubs They were cheap, but couldn’t compete with free A lot of people would be very happy if PR was a run, as it claims to be

@AMPopps @QcWynter I wasn't aware that had been an issue! I did some 10ks, and halfs back in the day, but mostly do Triathlon. I wonder how many people do "races" as a result of getting into parkrun. The ability to do a "race" without any forward planning has been fantastic, at least for me.

This is exactly the point. Fun run - no times, no placings, no categories; just oodles of fun for all; or Race - times, placings, categories, publication of such things for the glory of the winners & to incentivise the losers. Choose. The two horses cannot be ridden at same time.

@Malcolm744 @QcWynter To be fair a lot of people were unhappy with the “race dressed up as a run” issue long before categorisation was an issue It killed one of the main revenue streams of the grassroots of the sport, who have to pay for closures, course measurement etc

@QcWynter parkrun managed it for 10 years, it was only because some people wanted to be in a different category that it got awkward.

@sharrond62 I genuinely do wonder if one of the reasons waiting lists are down is because people have just given up making appointments at all!

My mum didn’t own a smart phone or computer. Many of our elderly have worked & paid taxes all their lives, my mum definitely had. This is age discrimination, it’s the same with car parks. Why should the old be forced to buy phones they don’t want or can operate ?

@iownabook Long stagger - 3 bends. Track numbers reflect 400m (2 bend) start lines

This is a screenshot from a w4x4 heat in Gaborone. The lane 2 block is directly in front of the No 2 on the track, while the lane 3 block is several meters ahead of the No 3 on the track. Is this correct or did they screw up something?

@IanTnf Sadly I think we’ll see a lot more of this in mixed 4x100 - it’s just a crazy choice to add that to a programme. Would much rather have added a medley relay… mixed or single sex

Arrogance sits on insecurity. Confidence sits on experience. The loudest voices in any room — the brashest athletes, the trash-talking executives — are usually the most insecure. True confidence comes from having the security to take the step forward knowing you might fail.

@AltamontXCTF @TrackCoachJones @MikeCunningham Totally…. To be honest anything under 120m I don’t bother with handtiming!

@AMPopps @TrackCoachJones @MikeCunningham That’s the point I am making: have to go to video. A hand-timed sprint relay split is a false flag to me.

Sprint relay splits, what do you think?! We taking them? Are they unicorns? Is there a purpose? Weigh in coaches! @MikeCunningham @TrackCoachJones

@AltamontXCTF @TrackCoachJones @MikeCunningham But could equally work with video

@AltamontXCTF @TrackCoachJones @MikeCunningham Sometimes - strap a freelap to a baton

@AltamontXCTF @TrackCoachJones @MikeCunningham Well coupled with other data like speed of the baton through the box, you can work out a lot. Someone’s 100/200 pb doesn’t automatically translate to what they will do over 120-130m around a bend for example

@AMPopps @TrackCoachJones @MikeCunningham Respectfully, what are you learning from the baton split times that you did not already know?

@TrackCoachJones @AltamontXCTF @MikeCunningham That’s why you measure baton time, not the athlete time

@AltamontXCTF @MikeCunningham Sprint relay splits are inaccurate. There's no consistency in distance. One athlete could have a 90m zone while another has 105 or 110. It's fun for ego, and maybe even confidence for some, but it must be taken with a GIANT grain of salt. I'm not wasting my time with them.

@W98AB While genetics undoubtedly do present a ceiling, the number of people who even vaguely approach that ceiling is minute - it’s really not something people need to worry about!

People crying about genetics being the limiting factor, have you ran a quality 100-120miles a week for 2 years? No? Right that’s why you haven’t ran 2.10, not your genetics lol

@TrackGazette *decathlete

Olympic Decathlon Bronze medallist, Lindon Victor 🇬🇩 racing iShowSpeed

@bladesarcade_ @scubaryan_ About 80 of them!

@scubaryan_ inches? stop. he got smoked. Speed is fast and one crazy athlete but people got to stop glazing him like he is in on olympian level.

iShowSpeed lost while racing Grenadian Olympian runner Lindon Victor by INCHES 🤯🔥

@jburnhams @Caterin00138072 @Eldandoerino @sullivansa1 If PR didn’t have rankings, results, timing and truly was a fun-run, the clubs would not be affected. By being a slightly inaccurate 5k race, it sets itself in direct competition with club races, on a totally imbalanced financial playing field.

@jburnhams @Caterin00138072 @Eldandoerino @sullivansa1 Clubs used to rely on local races to generate the revenue they needed to survive and fund other activities. PR don’t need to pay for venue hire and course measurement since they claim not to be a race, so can offer it for free. That has killed off those local races.

Is it "fair" that a former funded GB athlete with all the advantage of resourced training, kit sponsorship etc will go to whatever lengths she can to beat every woman on a list just to feed what appears to be a bruised ego. Former elite athletes tend to be ruthlessly selfish especially when they havn't quite achieved what they thought they should have

@Caterin00138072 @Eldandoerino @sullivansa1 Volunteers’ time is soaked up by PR, who are now less willing to do club events. Then you’ve got teams struggling to get runners out for races, bc they’d rather race the PR instead.

@Caterin00138072 @Eldandoerino @sullivansa1 I think it’s worth stressing that for many people the comp/not comp debate is more about the harm PR has had on clubs. It hides behind being non-comp to avoid overheads while depriving the grassroot clubs (who have to pay for what PR gets for free, with other burdens) of revenue

@eth_taco @homegymcoop Gravity is a vertical force. This fell because of horizontal force.

This is why it fell down. You do not need weights tied around you to do Chest Flys with the Matrix Machine. 95K plus another 60KG, plus the pushing force, not a surprise.

This is a perfect example of why buying cheap equipment can often end in a bad day. Every functional trainer should have the ability for the full stacks to be in use without this happening. Even without being bolted to the ground.

@AlexCoutts11 @sullivansa1 If that’s not the message behind the “is it fair” to be running question I’ll stand corrected, but to me it’s a clear inference. There have also been numerous other posts about her that do expressly say Olympians shouldn’t be allowed (even if they’re from Susan Boyle’s heyday!)

@AMPopps @sullivansa1 Excluded from what Andy.