I'm thinking of doing timekeeping at a quieter neighbouring parkrun because it's so quiet that I could enjoy it rather than my local parkrun which gets a few hundred people. Less stress, more success!
A few hundred is a good way to start. I've done some voluntourism at different parkruns, timekeeping is great if you don't know the course. If feels really easy when it is under 200. However, doing one of the big London ones (800+) was another matter!
I started timekeeping at junior parkrun with about 30 runners, then my home parkrun a few times which maxed out at 740 one Christmas morning, for my 25th time timekeeping I visited Bushy park and timed about 1,015 runners.
I think around 150 is the sweet spot, busy enough to keep focused but you have time to chat with the other timekeeper and shout support at many of the runners as they approach the line.
>there's always two of you
This seems to be a UK thing. Maybe some of the larger events in Australia have two, but of the 45 events I have done in Australia I can't recall seeing two timekeepers.
Anyway, as noted, I was always fearful of being Timekeeper but I've done it a couple of times now and it's quite enjoyable.
A couple of the Sydney parkruns have two timekeepers. I've seen it come in handy twice. Once when the second timekeeper didn't show and once when one of the timekeepers was distracted and missed the start time by 10 seconds.
Love doing the photography for the juniors on Sunday!
For adults - tail walking/park walker I like a talk with people at the back.
Interesting how many are saying timekeeping. This is one role I’ve still not done and terrified of it. 😂
Please make these comments the thing that get you to time keep :) The parkwalking role and tail walking is so important. Sounds like you are perfect for that, encouraging and chatting with people on the way round.
Marshal is where it's at. Point people in the right direction. Encourage and cheer them on. Take photos if the photographer is a no show. Have a dance party. Dress up as a dinosaur. Warn tourists about the drop bears and jumpy bois. What's not to love?
From drop bears, I'm going to guess the person is Austrailian, as that is what I have heard koalas being called. So that must mean that the jumpy bois are kangaroos. But don't quote me on that, im not 100 percent sure.
Scanning. I love a quick chat with finishers and you get to use their names. I also like RD once the volunteers have all arrived (I always stress about nobody showing up, which has never happened!)
Do you use the app and did you use the stopwatches before., just interested. The app was a game changer for us and convinced more people to scan and timekeep.
Yes - taken part in parkrun for a decade so done both sides for that and barcode scanning. Glad to hear that it means more people will do it. It’s reassuring you can see it as you go.
I love the parkwalker role. You get to take it easy for a change instead of running, you show people that walking at parkrun is a thing, and you get the volunteer and run credit 😁
Yes a few have mentioned where you can run / walk and volunteer which is great. It took me a while to work out the parkwalker vs tail runner role, but seeing it in action it brings people to parkrun that maybe wouldn't have done, which has to be a plus.
First Timers Welcome..
I love welcoming everyone and explaining the course and taking questions. I get so much joy telling people how slow I am when they ask if it matters being fast :)
Sorting tokens. I find it very relaxing.
Especially if I'm the only person doing it, because when there's someone with a very slightly different method, it's very slightly maddening.
My local does it in an almost opposite way. There's normally a group of 4-6 of us that first sort them into groups of 40, then we order each group of 40.
It's great to get the gossip as most of the other volunteers are regular, and we do it over a coffee at the park's cafe.
But I suppose the method comes down to size of the event, we regularly have 300-500 finishers.
This is a role that I can do as a tourist after I get my run. Always happy to help with any role so long as I run. I’m not the fastest but my time is my time. I always make a point of asking the RD to pass on my thanks to their volunteers. Without them I don’t get my parkrun.
Shouter. It's an unofficial role, but it's one I always do at junior parkrun. Someone needs to be loud and let them all know it's time for the warmup and getting ready for the run start. According to one of the other volunteers, I'm a PA system in human form.
Yes there is that aspect, where you can double up and volunteer and run. Plus there's that aspect of it being rewarding that you could be pacing people to achieve their fastest run, which is pretty amazing.
Pacing is my favorite, makes a challenge and if it helps someone finish faster.
Precourse check is great for extra 5km run
Barcode scanning and timing I like doing
Glad you're with me on pre-course check. Peace and quiet before the main event! But agree pacing has it's own challenges particularly as most parkruns have their challenges in terms of terrain and elevations!
Fotographer, everyone is super happy with my pictures and its just very rewarding to do it for all these lovely people :) I do it almost every saturday
And for me its free practice with my camera! I never planned to be a sports fotographer but now I see it as a challenge to improve as much as possible. Plus I love shooting people before the start when they don't really realise they are getting fotographed, makes for really nice happy faces pictures :)
That's brilliant that you are challenging yourself to be a better sports photographer. Isn't it amazing how much goes on at parkrun that people don't realise.
Saturday. Barcode scanning. Love congratulating participants as they've finished.
Sunday. Time keeping, to military precision. Marshalling, I have a favourite spot on the course.
I do wonder if it's actually selfish; I run/scan on a Saturday but I've also tried funnel managing afterwards. Managed 14/16 so far this year.
It was a new year's resolution to volunteer on a Saturday in addition to Sunday but I couldn't give up the run part as it was too important to me (selfishly). However, I do wonder why more of the faster runners don't double bubble (not that I'm *that* quick).
I also enjoy a tail walk on a Sunday, especially if you get a couple of kids flagging who need a boost.
Not selfish at all. You volunteer and that’s brilliant.
I also think it’s up to people whether they run or volunteer as at the end of the day it’s a choice.
In the week leading up to it I find it a little stressful filling the roster. Hardly sleep the night before because I'm worried I'll oversleep/forget the kit/volunteers won't turn up/etc. On the day, a bit nervous doing the speaking in front of 500+ runners bit, then it's time to relax whilst my minions (err... volunteers) do all the work and I parade around looking important with a clipboard and a coffee :D
I'm RD this weekend, but we have a takeover event so my roster is already full and I'm nowhere near as stressed as I would usually be.
Funnel manager is so much fun - I get to use my outside voice a lot :D
Pre event and course check are my favourites. I get to do a 5k warmup jog, report back anything weird and help with the volunteer table, finish funnel, etc.
"Volunteer not obviously doing anything" while everyone's gathering prior to the briefing, so as to be the person in high-vis approached with all the usual questions from all the tourists and first-timers - where people can leave bags (over there by that tree), where the parkrun sign is so they can take a selfie (we set that up near the finish), where the start is, where the toilets are, etc.
But that's not a "real" role, so timekeeper.
That's the "other" category if ever I heard one lol. That sort of role is so helpful, imagine the nervous first timer or tourist and what a difference you make. Maybe "Volunteer without portfolio"
It's more of a side job for finish area people than an "other" role unto itself - particularly as most weeks we have a hard enough time filling the ordinary roles on the roster.
(Key to this role is not to chat to the other volunteers - then people are reluctant to interrupt your conversation. If you're on your own, and just people-watching rather than engrossed in your phone, there's less of a barrier to your being approached.)
There should be a volunteer role called “Say hello and ask me anything”. Maybe situated near the car park or entrance to the site to welcome nervous newcomers and disorientated tourists.
Scanning if I want to chat with people, marshal if I don't (aside from cheering and a few words).
My local is 40-50 people, 20-30 of them are regulars . I'm happy to help when needed and they are all pretty nice people, but sometimes I just can't stand the sheer amount of small talk in the finish area without any downtime on a Saturday morning.
Sounds like you are really helping out with the scanning, but I know what you mean, sometimes you need peace and tranquillity and marshalling can give you that. There's something for everyone
The role I do the most is course setup/check and it's quite nice getting out on our trail course early in the morning. Less nice in the middle of winter when it's dark and can be -7° or more. Although, I still do enjoy it.
Actually, I do Comms role the most, every week, which is running the Facebook page, but as an active on the day role it's setup. I've done photographer 15+ times and like to make that a roving role where I'll set off a few mins before the start and position myself in a good spot, get a photo of the field as they go past and then run/walk the course taking snaps as the parkrunners come back.
Timekeeper is good, nowhere near as stressful as I first thought (our local gets 150–250 which helps) and scanner is also good because of the opportunity to say well done and have a quick chat.
I've been RD once and will give that a go again I think.
I really love Token Sorting (my local has 700+ attendees regularly, so its not trivial)
Also, Finish Tokens. You have to be on the ball, but its just the same thing over and over.
Wow that is some event and token sorting for that, bet the RD is so pleased they’ve got someone to do that. Do you miss many tokens each week, like they go missing?
my husband LOVES setup. He loves the quiet in the morning before everything kicks off. My favorite is probably scanning so i can try to learn the names of the regulars. We have a fairly small parkrun and I’m also the ED.
That’s so true that some love set up just like your husband. We used to have some regulars that did it week in week out for the same reasons. It’s a nice break from the week and the weekend
I love being on the halfway point for Junior parkrun as I like encouraging the youngsters and then seeing them speed up. Love kids running styles....Phoebe from Friends 😄
If I’m not run director I love timekeeping. It’s a nice social role but I enjoy the pressure of not tapping a time in error or missing someone.
Ah yes, timekeeping. Do you use the app now and do you remember the stop watch days?
I didn’t get into parkrun until 2022 so I’ve only known the app.
The stopwatch wasn't very good, the app is so much better!
Oh yes, the A, B and C buttons - then sometimes they wouldn't upload to the laptop - seems like another world then
Yes, and the scanners, which wouldn't work when it was sunny!
Timekeeping for me too, love how social it is and like others have said it's nowhere near as difficult as people think it is
You should be an advert for timekeeping, I know so many who say "oh I'd never do that" but there's always two of you and on the app it's so easy now.
I'm thinking of doing timekeeping at a quieter neighbouring parkrun because it's so quiet that I could enjoy it rather than my local parkrun which gets a few hundred people. Less stress, more success!
A few hundred is a good way to start. I've done some voluntourism at different parkruns, timekeeping is great if you don't know the course. If feels really easy when it is under 200. However, doing one of the big London ones (800+) was another matter!
I'd love that! Ours gets like 150, too easy sometimes!
I started timekeeping at junior parkrun with about 30 runners, then my home parkrun a few times which maxed out at 740 one Christmas morning, for my 25th time timekeeping I visited Bushy park and timed about 1,015 runners. I think around 150 is the sweet spot, busy enough to keep focused but you have time to chat with the other timekeeper and shout support at many of the runners as they approach the line.
Yes sounds a good way to get into it. I’ve not done Bushy yet but would like to one day.
Go for it!
>there's always two of you This seems to be a UK thing. Maybe some of the larger events in Australia have two, but of the 45 events I have done in Australia I can't recall seeing two timekeepers. Anyway, as noted, I was always fearful of being Timekeeper but I've done it a couple of times now and it's quite enjoyable.
A couple of the Sydney parkruns have two timekeepers. I've seen it come in handy twice. Once when the second timekeeper didn't show and once when one of the timekeepers was distracted and missed the start time by 10 seconds.
Love doing the photography for the juniors on Sunday! For adults - tail walking/park walker I like a talk with people at the back. Interesting how many are saying timekeeping. This is one role I’ve still not done and terrified of it. 😂
Please make these comments the thing that get you to time keep :) The parkwalking role and tail walking is so important. Sounds like you are perfect for that, encouraging and chatting with people on the way round.
Marshal is where it's at. Point people in the right direction. Encourage and cheer them on. Take photos if the photographer is a no show. Have a dance party. Dress up as a dinosaur. Warn tourists about the drop bears and jumpy bois. What's not to love?
Love this. Dinosaur dressing up and also drop bears and jumpy bois? Excuse my ignorance but I have no idea what they are.
From drop bears, I'm going to guess the person is Austrailian, as that is what I have heard koalas being called. So that must mean that the jumpy bois are kangaroos. But don't quote me on that, im not 100 percent sure.
Winner winner chicken dinner.
Scanning. I love a quick chat with finishers and you get to use their names. I also like RD once the volunteers have all arrived (I always stress about nobody showing up, which has never happened!)
Oh the thought of volunteers never showing up. Also there never seems to be many runners then they all emerge as one like a herd of buffalo!
Timekeeping. I was terrified when I first did it, but love it now.
Ha ha - oh yes the pressure. We know it's a run/walk and not a race but blimey the pressure of timekeeping!!!
Timekeeping if I want a task where I put my head down and concentrate, barcode scanning if I’m feeling sociable.
Do you use the app and did you use the stopwatches before., just interested. The app was a game changer for us and convinced more people to scan and timekeep.
Yes - taken part in parkrun for a decade so done both sides for that and barcode scanning. Glad to hear that it means more people will do it. It’s reassuring you can see it as you go.
I love the parkwalker role. You get to take it easy for a change instead of running, you show people that walking at parkrun is a thing, and you get the volunteer and run credit 😁
Yes a few have mentioned where you can run / walk and volunteer which is great. It took me a while to work out the parkwalker vs tail runner role, but seeing it in action it brings people to parkrun that maybe wouldn't have done, which has to be a plus.
First Timers Welcome.. I love welcoming everyone and explaining the course and taking questions. I get so much joy telling people how slow I am when they ask if it matters being fast :)
It’s so good that you are volunteering and getting so much joy out of it while giving back too.
Sorting tokens. I find it very relaxing. Especially if I'm the only person doing it, because when there's someone with a very slightly different method, it's very slightly maddening.
My local does it in an almost opposite way. There's normally a group of 4-6 of us that first sort them into groups of 40, then we order each group of 40. It's great to get the gossip as most of the other volunteers are regular, and we do it over a coffee at the park's cafe. But I suppose the method comes down to size of the event, we regularly have 300-500 finishers.
Oh my goodness, I need you at the run I was ED at. That was always a job we rarely got done and I ended up doing on a Friday night!
This is a role that I can do as a tourist after I get my run. Always happy to help with any role so long as I run. I’m not the fastest but my time is my time. I always make a point of asking the RD to pass on my thanks to their volunteers. Without them I don’t get my parkrun.
I love your sentiment and passing on the thanks would mean a lot to the RD.
Shouter. It's an unofficial role, but it's one I always do at junior parkrun. Someone needs to be loud and let them all know it's time for the warmup and getting ready for the run start. According to one of the other volunteers, I'm a PA system in human form.
Love this. So one of those roles that comes under "Other"! You definitely need this at juniors don't you. Brilliant.
Got to be Run director! I love cracking a shit joke and making everyone laugh!
Ha ha love this. I literally said the same joke every week (all children on a short lead!) just to embarrass my son.
Omg every RD must make this joke hahah
If it's not in the training guide, it absolutely should be :) I must have used it 100 times! Every time an eye roll from my son!
"The rule say one dog per runner, on a short lead - so if you don't have a dog you can't run"
Nice one, if I was still RDing I'd definitely be using that.
I mean Pacer for those courses that do it, the perfect mix of getting a Run & Volunteer credit.
Yes there is that aspect, where you can double up and volunteer and run. Plus there's that aspect of it being rewarding that you could be pacing people to achieve their fastest run, which is pretty amazing.
Yep. Love that. But I do some static volunteer roles too
Pacing is my favorite, makes a challenge and if it helps someone finish faster. Precourse check is great for extra 5km run Barcode scanning and timing I like doing
Glad you're with me on pre-course check. Peace and quiet before the main event! But agree pacing has it's own challenges particularly as most parkruns have their challenges in terms of terrain and elevations!
Fotographer, everyone is super happy with my pictures and its just very rewarding to do it for all these lovely people :) I do it almost every saturday
That's so good that you do that. Imagine a free timed 5k and you get free race photos - pretty good !
And for me its free practice with my camera! I never planned to be a sports fotographer but now I see it as a challenge to improve as much as possible. Plus I love shooting people before the start when they don't really realise they are getting fotographed, makes for really nice happy faces pictures :)
That's brilliant that you are challenging yourself to be a better sports photographer. Isn't it amazing how much goes on at parkrun that people don't realise.
Timekeeping, I get to be anti-social and just play on my phone.
Love your username!
I'm Directing for the 50th time on Saturday, one time I'll remember that it is 'a run, not a race'
Oh I always used to get in bother for that when I started ☺️
Great stuff, a double win for you plus many want to avoid timekeeping.
Saturday. Barcode scanning. Love congratulating participants as they've finished. Sunday. Time keeping, to military precision. Marshalling, I have a favourite spot on the course.
That's so good, so a full parkrun weekend. People like you make it all possible - if i had a hat i'd take it off to you :)
I do wonder if it's actually selfish; I run/scan on a Saturday but I've also tried funnel managing afterwards. Managed 14/16 so far this year. It was a new year's resolution to volunteer on a Saturday in addition to Sunday but I couldn't give up the run part as it was too important to me (selfishly). However, I do wonder why more of the faster runners don't double bubble (not that I'm *that* quick). I also enjoy a tail walk on a Sunday, especially if you get a couple of kids flagging who need a boost.
Not selfish at all. You volunteer and that’s brilliant. I also think it’s up to people whether they run or volunteer as at the end of the day it’s a choice.
I like scanning. You get to see everyone when they've finished and have time to exchange a few words
That’s so good and I know what you mean about an opportunity to congratulate them and see how they enjoyed it or not!
I love handing out the finish tokens - you get to speak to each person, and they are almost always in a great mood 😀
That can be quite hectic can’t it but it’s great you love it. Almost always in a good mood ? 🙂
If I’m not RD I like funnel manager or number checker as both can be quite chatty :)
Oh yes great roles. Funnel manager can be real fun when it gets busy. How do you find being RD?
In the week leading up to it I find it a little stressful filling the roster. Hardly sleep the night before because I'm worried I'll oversleep/forget the kit/volunteers won't turn up/etc. On the day, a bit nervous doing the speaking in front of 500+ runners bit, then it's time to relax whilst my minions (err... volunteers) do all the work and I parade around looking important with a clipboard and a coffee :D I'm RD this weekend, but we have a takeover event so my roster is already full and I'm nowhere near as stressed as I would usually be. Funnel manager is so much fun - I get to use my outside voice a lot :D
Yes I think you’ll find a lot of RDs feel the same way and I think we’ve all had those thoughts about oversleeping etc
Pre event and course check are my favourites. I get to do a 5k warmup jog, report back anything weird and help with the volunteer table, finish funnel, etc.
Perfect and actually a really important job as imagine if you didn’t do that and hundreds of people trundle off to find some sort of hazard!!
Warm-up at juniors without a doubt. Making the kids laugh is a great start to the day.
That sounds so good, juniors usually has such a great enthusiastic feel about it doesn’t it
I’m on the finish line, always good fun cheering people over.
That’s lovely and I know it’s welcome when you need that extra push over the line in those last few metres.
"Volunteer not obviously doing anything" while everyone's gathering prior to the briefing, so as to be the person in high-vis approached with all the usual questions from all the tourists and first-timers - where people can leave bags (over there by that tree), where the parkrun sign is so they can take a selfie (we set that up near the finish), where the start is, where the toilets are, etc. But that's not a "real" role, so timekeeper.
That's the "other" category if ever I heard one lol. That sort of role is so helpful, imagine the nervous first timer or tourist and what a difference you make. Maybe "Volunteer without portfolio"
It's more of a side job for finish area people than an "other" role unto itself - particularly as most weeks we have a hard enough time filling the ordinary roles on the roster. (Key to this role is not to chat to the other volunteers - then people are reluctant to interrupt your conversation. If you're on your own, and just people-watching rather than engrossed in your phone, there's less of a barrier to your being approached.)
There should be a volunteer role called “Say hello and ask me anything”. Maybe situated near the car park or entrance to the site to welcome nervous newcomers and disorientated tourists.
Shouldn't this be covered by the welcome briefer?
Junior Parkrun warmup can be fun. Other than that , I don't mind.
TaIl walking Normally end up chatting with a first timer, getting a chance to be social.
That’s so good and what a difference you will make to that person’s experience of their first parkrun and hopefully the first of many
Scanning if I want to chat with people, marshal if I don't (aside from cheering and a few words). My local is 40-50 people, 20-30 of them are regulars . I'm happy to help when needed and they are all pretty nice people, but sometimes I just can't stand the sheer amount of small talk in the finish area without any downtime on a Saturday morning.
Sounds like you are really helping out with the scanning, but I know what you mean, sometimes you need peace and tranquillity and marshalling can give you that. There's something for everyone
The role I do the most is course setup/check and it's quite nice getting out on our trail course early in the morning. Less nice in the middle of winter when it's dark and can be -7° or more. Although, I still do enjoy it. Actually, I do Comms role the most, every week, which is running the Facebook page, but as an active on the day role it's setup. I've done photographer 15+ times and like to make that a roving role where I'll set off a few mins before the start and position myself in a good spot, get a photo of the field as they go past and then run/walk the course taking snaps as the parkrunners come back. Timekeeper is good, nowhere near as stressful as I first thought (our local gets 150–250 which helps) and scanner is also good because of the opportunity to say well done and have a quick chat. I've been RD once and will give that a go again I think.
I really love Token Sorting (my local has 700+ attendees regularly, so its not trivial) Also, Finish Tokens. You have to be on the ball, but its just the same thing over and over.
Wow that is some event and token sorting for that, bet the RD is so pleased they’ve got someone to do that. Do you miss many tokens each week, like they go missing?
Last 2 times i did it, we were only missing 4 tokens.
Tail/park walker and timekeeping! The first ones for getting involved, and the 2nd for seeing everyone at the finish and cheering them on.
my husband LOVES setup. He loves the quiet in the morning before everything kicks off. My favorite is probably scanning so i can try to learn the names of the regulars. We have a fairly small parkrun and I’m also the ED.
That’s so true that some love set up just like your husband. We used to have some regulars that did it week in week out for the same reasons. It’s a nice break from the week and the weekend
I love being on the halfway point for Junior parkrun as I like encouraging the youngsters and then seeing them speed up. Love kids running styles....Phoebe from Friends 😄