Parkrun to ‘ban’ dog-owners from using waist harnesses in ‘dangerous’ move, ex-organiser claims
Parkrun competitors will be ‘banned’ from taking part with their dogs attached to a waist belt ‘because it makes them faster’, ex-organiser claims as he brands ‘bizarre’ decision ‘dangerous’
Kevin Ward, 46, used to organise a parkrun in his town of Kesgrave, near IpswichThere are plans to ‘ban’ people running with their dogs using waist harnessesThey will be prohibited from April 2 due to an ‘increased risk of serious incidents’Mr Ward says the ban is actually due to complaints they provide an advantageHe has criticised the organisation for compromising its ‘ethos’ with the decision
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Dog-lovers taking part in Parkrun events in UK will be banned from using harnesses after some competitors said they give them an unfair advantage, a former organiser claims.
Kevin Ward, 46, said the company had compromised its ‘ethos’ with the decision, which he thinks is linked to ‘cheating’ accusations among other participants.
The popular harnesses fit around a jogger’s hips and allow their pooches to trot on a leash in front of them as they exercise.
But the news rules – which come into force on April 2 this year – state these will be prohibited as they offer ‘increased risk of serious incidents’ to other competitors.
Instead, dogs will have to be kept on a ‘short, handheld, non-extendable lead by the side of the participant’, the company recently told its three million membership.
Kevin Ward, pictured here with is dog Wilson using a waist harness, has criticised plans by parkrun to ban the equipment
The 46-year-old, pictured here with wife Beth Ward, believes the company has ‘compromised their ethos and integrity’ by banning the use of waist harnesses
Ex-run director Kevin, who regularly takes his dog Wilson, six, on jogs, branded the move ‘bizarre’ and said it would make events more ‘dangerous’ for pups and people.
He is now helping to launch a rival ‘Barkrun’ group, for dog owners who want to take their hounds on the free weekly 5k runs in public parks without the ‘unilateral rules’.
He said: ‘They’re promoting something that’s arguably dangerous for dogs and runners.’
‘The rumour mill is that people were being called cheats because they’re running with a dog and getting some assistance.’
‘I was one of the run directors for junior parkrun locally, but they’ve compromised their ethos and integrity with what they have done, as far as I’m considered.’
Finance company director and married father Kevin said he started going on parkrun meets with his family in 2015.
And one of the reasons he loved the Sunday jog, close to his hometown of Kesgrave, Suffolk, was that his pup Wilson got a great day out.
He said ‘I run with the dog a lot – normally I’d be doing 20-30 miles a week – and of all the runs we do together, parkrun is his favourite by far.
‘He’ll trot along with me quite happily on a normal run, whereas with Parkrun, he gets really excited.’
‘Plus, he is particularly well known at our parkrun by lots of runners. He gets a fuss made of him, and it’s his favourite time of the week.’
He added: ‘I know he’s not alone – there are other dogs like him around the country – well behaved and well trained – and they usually end up with a bit of a following.’
So when he found out that parkrun was banning waist harnesses – and would only allow runners to take their dogs on a course on short leads – Kevin was left fuming.
He said: ‘It’s family thing for us, we like to go down as a family, and that includes Wilson.
‘If they banned all dogs, it would make more sense than actually banning them on waist harnesses.’
Mr Ward, pictured, says the ban has been brought in after some competitors complained runners using the harnesses to keep their dogs with them were getting an unfair advantage
‘Clearly, parkrun isn’t listening to its own people on the ground – it’s in an ivory tower, making a decision which doesn’t seem to be very a considered or logical one.’
Parkrun claimed that the reason for banning waist harnesses was due to the safety risks that they pose to fellow runners.
In a blog post shared with their membership, they said: ‘Our evidence shows that, when participants use waist harnesses, there is an increased risk of serious incidents, particularly trips and falls, compared to when using handheld leads.’
‘Unfortunately, the nature of parkrunning with a waist harness is such that the lead allows dogs to move from side to side, in front of the participant, which can result in the dog suddenly and unexpectedly crossing in front of other participants on the course.’
However, Kevin disagrees and suggests that the short leads may actually be more dangerous for dog owners and fellow runners.
He said: ‘The handheld lead can potentially hurt the dog if it’s not on properly.
‘A lot of people will use the handheld lead, but then if their child’s fallen over and the dogs taken off, they’ll have their hand degloved.
‘So as well as the obvious, there are some quite horrific things that could happen.’
Instead, he feels that envious runners who feel their dog-loving competitors’ times have been miscalculated may be the reason for the rule change.
He said: ‘Logically when you’re running with other people, and the dog’s out in front of you, that just helps.
Wilson, Mr Ward’s dog (pictured), would no longer be allowed to race using his usual harness, he says. Under the new rules he claims he would have to use a ‘short, handheld, non-extendable lead by the side of the participant’ instead
‘The rumour mill is that people were being called cheats because they’re running with a dog and getting some assistance.’
Kevin has since resigned his post as a director of the junior parkrun league and said he now plans to help others set up a ‘rival’ Barkrun group, where waist harnesses would be allowed.
He said: ‘There’s a Barkrun group on Facebook that started about three weeks ago, and it’s got 2600 people on it already.
‘The idea is that its an hour before parkrun, running the same route.
‘I could see it becoming a rival, personally, if it comes off and becomes a formal event as opposed to just a social run, and more people start to do it.
But Kevin also feels the decision to ban waist harnesses is symptomatic of a change in the ethos of the organisation, which has spread to 20 countries around the world.
He said: ‘Parkrun has become very commercialised. It doesn’t feel quite the same as it used to.
‘I think they have missed the point – it’s not just the dog issue, it’s the fact that it was meant to be an inclusive event for everyone, and there was no consultation of everyone on the ground.’
‘It seems like a knee-jerk reaction.’
A parkrun spokesperson said: ‘Whilst we realise the change is disappointing for those previously taking part using waist harnesses, the safety of all participants at parkrun has to be our first and foremost priority.
‘We are committed to inclusivity, and you’ll see we are absolutely still welcoming dogs at our events, where safe and appropriate.
‘Parkruns are community events where people take part as walkers, joggers, runners and volunteers; an opportunity for friends, families, neighbours and local communities to be together in the great outdoors. We do not make decisions based on finishing times.
‘The changes to participating with dogs has been carefully considered, over time, based on evidence from our incident database, with our primary motivation, as always, to keep events a safe and welcoming space for everyone to take part.’
Global Chief Operating Officer for parkrun, Tom Williams, said: ‘Our incident database consists of close to 40,000 incidents recorded over the last nine years across 23 countries, and over ten per cent of those incidents involve dogs.
‘We continually review and reflect on incidents in order to adapt our operating processes to ensure the safe delivery of our events.
‘Our insight clearly shows that dogs running in front of their owners and/or on long leads, increases the likelihood of incidents, and for those incidents to have more serious outcomes.
‘It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of all participants at parkrun events.
‘We cannot comment on any other situation where people may choose to run or walk with their dog.’
