Parkrun, statistics and running as a Christian

"I'd love to do it in under 25 minutes today!" I said, at parkrun, on 25th November last year. Here's the audio-visual evidence I said this:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBRZ9KceCHM

There is also written evidence online (Mole Valley parkrun website) that I didn't succeed! It took me 26:18 that day. But I did go sub-25 minutes at the same venue on 20th January, last month. Again, the written evidence is online (Mole Valley parkrun website)

A few minutes before I ran another Mole Valley parkrun recently my stopwatch screen froze and I was unable to restart it before the event started. I couldn't use it during the 5k route. It felt strange not looking at it as I embraced the first hill and at the halfway point. It was weird not needing to stop my watch as I crossed the finish line. It was also a bit odd not knowing my finishing time until later in the day when I received the usual text message and read, as is my usual Saturday routine, the results published online and the personalised results email. It was actually quite fun guessing my time before knowing the actual time recorded!

I love parkrun, with or without a functioning watch, as do many other participants. It is good for health and fitness. It is an outlet for stress. It channels aggression. It makes us feel good about ourselves and others. I enjoy friendly conversations, celebrating milestones and seeing the pleasurable pain on our faces as we run. Parkrun is a resource for recreation and a force for good. Despite the sustained effort required to conquer the Denbies hills, I believe to run is a kind of rest from work. As a Christian I also believe parkrun is a gift from God who 'richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment' (1 Timothy 6:17) and by running I am applying the God-given impulse that 'in him we live and move and have our being' (Acts 17:28, originally a pagan poet's quote).

The recent parkrun HQ decision to no longer display performance statistics data on their websites (course records, fastest finishers, most first finishes, category records) doesn't particularly affect my personal enjoyment of running and doesn't directly diminish my love of the parkrun experience and community. According to the official website the decision was made in order to keep parkrun participation inclusive and welcoming. Published performance-related records were seen as a barrier that needed to be removed in order not to stand in the way of newcomers who might, for example, fear finishing last or being the 'slowest' or not finishing the course. I suppose there is the possibility that newcomers could become intimidated or experience increased anxiety by researching the published times of faster and the fastest parkrunners, and we are all prone to knowing at various times in our lives the maxim that "comparison is the thief of joy." Parkrun should be joyful. It is joyful (even when it's wet and muddy). It is a fun run, not a race. There are no prizes for being the first or fastest or breaking a course record. There are no medals or trophies to receive, just tokens to deposit. It is not supposed to be competitive and any competitiveness against self or other parkrunners is self-determined rather than organisationally encouraged. As I was gasping for breath after a parkrun last month I overheard another parkrunner say "I am racing against myself", which chimes well with the general parkrun ethos and spirit.

I don't actually know the precise course records for my local parkrun (15-16 minutes for the male record?) but I do know there is no way I will ever set a new one! So what is it about this recent HQ decision that causes me dismay? It is partly because deleting course records deprives male and female record holders the public recognition they deserve for their achievements. Let's give honour and respect where honour and respect is due. From a Christian perspective, I believe their achievements are a display of their God-given talent and are a visible testimony to the powerful goodness of God's human creation. Course records can motivate, amaze and inspire us.

My dismay is also partly because, despite parkrun HQ claiming there is no hidden agenda at play, it is hard not to suppose that their recent decision was based to some extent on wanting to try to distance themselves from the criticism they have faced on the issue of some female parkrun records being held by biological males who self-identify as female (i.e. transgender women) and who therefore unfairly discriminate against biological females. I read that at least three parkrun female records are currently held by transgender women. Are parkrun HQ brushing this issue under the carpet to try and hide it? By deleting all course records I suppose they are removing recognition of all fastest and most first finishers, including any transgender women's illegitimate course records. But deletion of data isn't going to stop the infringement of women's rights continuing and isn't going to solve the problem of unfairness. It's probably impractical to ask parkrunners to re-register but HQ could amend their registration policy going forwards. It could be changed from: male/female/another gender identity/prefer not to say, to: male/female/open.

My dismay is also partly because I doubt many prospective parkrunners will be put off parkrun by looking up course records and concluding that they just aren't good enough to participate. If a prospective parkrunner was intent on researching fast and fastest times they could still find this information out from any parkrun listing from any event, even with the recent deletion of course records from homepages! And homepages still publish the average finish time! Parkrun welcomes runners, joggers, walkers - these are all ways to complete the 5k - and all are allowed. I sometimes watch inspiring videos of amazingly skilful bass guitarists - it gives me a reality check that I will be an average bassist at best, but it doesn't stop me picking up my instrument, learning and trying to play.

Could I function as a runner without a watch? I did. So, yes I could again. But something would be lost. Could parkrun function without finishing tokens, bar codes, and result listings? Yes, it could. But something would be lost. We all need some healthy competition, a shared purpose of striving together, in our lives - it's what makes us the best we can be, it's what helps us to persevere when disappointed, it's what prompts us to recognise improvement and celebrate success. Success can become an idol if we obsess about it too much. Gaining a new PB is not incompatible with being a Christian. A Jesus-follower's ultimate identity is found in the saving significance of his death and resurrection, but running as best I can and encouraging others too, gives me a taste of the heavenly joy to come.