Swansea Bay Parkrun said it had received reports of abusive language towards cyclists, a woman being barged on her way to work and “significant disregard of the shared path etiquette” on the course along the city’s seafront.
The free event is organised at 9 am every Saturday, with participants starting from the city’s Secret Bar and Kitchen, along the promenade towards Mumbles.
The feedback regarding Saturday’s run was “the worst it has been ever”, the group said in a statement on Facebook.
Organisers said they felt “really disappointed and despondent”, adding that parkrun events, which are held every Saturday for free, should be inspirational and inclusive.
The statement opens saying behaviour at Saturday (July 26) event “puts our parkrun at risk”.
“We are really sad to report that we have received several reports today – from participants, from marshals and from two members of the public – about the conduct of a minority of participants today.
“In particular, abusive language towards cyclists, barging of a female member of the public on her way to work and significant disregard of the shared path etiquette.
“The nature of each of these incidents is such that they have been logged and reported to parkrun HQ. It is likely that the complainants will take the matters up with both parkrun HQ and with Swansea council.”
They say they are “at a loss as to what more we can do or say to reinforce the need to ‘share with care and kindness’.”
“As event directors and run directors we are having to respond to, very understandably, disgruntled path users.
“We apologise to them, we explain what we do to try and ensure all path users are safe and can enjoy use of a community asset – what else can we do?! It is so upsetting to receive feedback and reports like we have today – today is the worst it has been ever.
“We are feeling really disappointed and despondent – parkrun should be a joy, something positive, something inspirational, something inclusive.”
People commenting on the post acknowledged some runners viewed the event as a race, rather than a community event.
“Not all but some faster runners expect you to move out of their way as they are on course for a PB [personal best] whereas it maybe a PB for a not too fast walker, jogger, runner,” one person wrote.
However, one also described parkrun as “the best thing that’s happened in the UK” in recent years.
“Unfortunately there are always a tiny minority who can’t bring themselves to behave in a way that minimises friction between groups.”
[Lead image: Parkrun UK]
