In February 2024, parkrun determined to take away all course data and statistics from its database in an effort to foster inclusivity and get rid of potential limitations to participation. When the choice was introduced, a bunch of runners from Woking parkrun in Surrey, U.Okay., created a petition titled “Convey Again the Stats.” The petition took off, receiving nearly 30,000 signatures, persuading parkrun to create a brand new database to convey again the stats so customers can as soon as once more entry their historic operating instances and statistics.
Mary Taylor, the orchestrator behind the petition, stated in an interview with Marathon Handbook that there are particular plans to revive entry to key statistics that had been beforehand faraway from the web site. Parkrun CEO Russ Jefferys informed Taylor it received’t be the identical as earlier than, however the proposed answer is an related (however separate) web site that will likely be fed straight from parkrun’s database and present the previously beloved statistics: first finishers, age class data, sub-17 and sub-20 instances, course data, most first finishes and quickest 500 instances.
Taylor stated the extent of the information discussions with parkrun are ongoing, however they’re optimistic they’ll attain an final result within the close to future. “They actually wish to develop one thing with the neighborhood that provides entry to attention-grabbing and helpful knowledge,” she stated.
The petition was launched in February 2024 and amassed greater than 15,000 signatures within the first few weeks, after parkrun took down all statistics and course data following complaints relating to non-binary runners taking ladies’s course data at a number of parkrun places. Relatively than making a non-binary class, parkrun eliminated all statistics within the hope of accelerating registration, inclusivity and participation.
On the time of the choice, it was reported that some individuals felt a disconnect between the displayed statistics and the group’s mission to create alternatives for as many individuals as attainable to take part in parkrun occasions.
“Parkrun is for a neighborhood, and we imagine nearly all of your neighborhood of runners and volunteers need the lists reinstated,” the petition reads. “The lists mirror individuals’s achievements and every record is a part of the historical past of every native parkrun. As , lots of your customers discover statistics and lists attention-grabbing to take a look at and evaluate. It may be enjoyable. We expect it doesn’t take away from parkrun being inclusive in any approach. We all know there have been some good intentions to your determination, however we have to acknowledge and proper once we make errors.”
Taylor stated she was informed the brand new web site may be pretty primary at first, to get it up and operating as rapidly as attainable, and issues could be step by step added to it over time. “In the end, all of us love parkrun and wish it to thrive. I stay up for seeing the following steps.”