No Images? Click here Virtual parkruns by Virtality NOTE - The following was a false news story put about for April Fools Day 2017. The harmless punch line is delivered on the page reached when you click on the "Find your nearest participating sports center" link. This was by me, not by parkrun, or anyone directly associated with parkrun. Little Stoke parkrun is to be reborn from the start of next month! And with a guaranteed no charge to run! Little Stoke has been confirmed as one of the first five parkrun courses that will be made available by Virtality from 9am next Saturday morning. This will use running simulators at franchised sports centres. Virtual reality headsets will display the parkrun course and show other parkrunners participating across the country. Don't think that the virtual parkrun will be easier and provide unfair opportunities for PBs - not only will the simulators incorporate gradients but weather features should also be anticipated! Initially the running machines will simulate only tarmac courses but later on in the year a variety of surfaces will be introduced to allow grass, mud, gravel and even sand parkrun surfaces to be reproduced underfoot. But with the virtual parkrun when you finish you may be tired, wet and cold but your barcode will already have been scanned and the Sports Centre café is there ready for your order. "No barcode, no run" - a valid parkrun barcode must be presented for the machines to work but then finish times will be automatically recorded and listed in the full results for the chosen parkrun. Runs will contribute towards the earning of parkrunner's "50" shirt and after the first fifty will still be shown with the actual parkrun results, though will not contribute towards shirts beyond "50". Virtality have also announced that they will be looking at adding a virtual marshalling role to the simulator - with opportunities to cheer on the runners and even deliver "high-fives" as runners pass. In announcing this venture Paul Sinton-Hewit says that it will enable more people than ever before to participate together at the parkrun of their choice. This is NOT a precursor to closing down any parkruns and it should be particularly good for parkrun tourists since they will be able to run far flung parkrun venues without having to get up ridiculously early on a Saturday morning. Note that since there will be a restricted number of simulators available at the sports centres advanced bookings may be needed. To minimise the likelihood of disappointment another of the first parkruns to be included will be Highbury Fields and this will allow relay runs by up to five parkrunners, each doing one lap. All virtual parkruns must start at 09:00 and be completed by 09:50, even in Scotland, to enable normal Sports Centre use from 10:00. At other times, and on other days, the virtual parkruns can be run as "Virtual Freedom Runs" though a modest fee will apply. For contractual reasons Virtual parkruns will not be possible outside the UK or in Northern Ireland. End of false news story. |