Please remember that parkrun events are all delivered every week by volunteers, giving their time to provide a safe and sustainable event for everyone to enjoy.
The safe and sustainable delivery of parkrun events will always be their number one priority, and, as a parkrunner, there are some ways that you can support local volunteer teams, especially if you’re chasing a certain challenge, or visiting a different event for the first time.
Here’s some useful to know information:
parkrun events do need key operational volunteer roles filled to go ahead
parkrun events do need a certain number of volunteers, and a certain number of key operational roles covered, to go ahead safely every week. This is so the course is signed off as safe, you don’t get lost on the route, nobody finishes last, you get your time and barcode scanned, and ultimately get to experience the parkrun magic you know and love. We will try to accommodate all volunteer requests however sometimes we may ask you to do a different role or turn down specific individual requests. At times there are some very important safety and operational reasons for this, particularly if you haven't attended the event before - we might need a pre-event course check undertaken by someone who knows the park well, or a tail walker who is familiar with the course, or a first timer’s welcome delivered by someone who speaks the local language. Please always respect the volunteer team’s decision.
We are delighted that you’re coming along, and will always try to find a volunteer position you are comfortable with, while also making sure everyone is safe.
All the information you need about an event is on the course page
The role of parkrun volunteers is to put on a safe and sustainable event. If you have questions on getting to parkrun, public transport, location of the start, etc please find this information on the course page of every event. You can also use online translation tools and maps to help you navigate to the start. Volunteers may not always be able to provide you a personal response or recommendation in advance, nor is there any expectation for them to do this.
Challenges beyond the app
There are lots of challenges, both official and unofficial, in the parkrun community. Volunteer event teams might not be able to include every challenge or specific shoutout in the event brief, especially as we love to celebrate milestones too. Volunteer teams may not be able to make any special accommodations for unofficial challenges, and that should be respected. The safe, simple and sustainable delivery of parkrun on the day will always be their number one priority.