This parkrun was announced well in advance so a lot of people got to know about it and hence, 600 plus turn up for the inaugural run.
This creates a lot of problems for the organisers from available parking to space on the course. It also puts huge pressure on the volunteers trying to cope with these huge numbers.
The photo above is from the start of the inaugural Midleton parkrun and it shows the greenway full of runners just after the start. While this field will gradually thin out, the front runners will be turning back at the 2.5km mark and face all the runners going out.
Flatten the surge... Both of the new Carrigaline and Dungarvan parkruns started on the same day - Sat 17th Oct 2026. This was no accident. The start dates for both events were not made public and if it did leak out then there were two events to choose from.
This strategy worked and there were 48 finishers in Carrigaline and 144 in Dungarvan.
The problem now is that people know about the new events and there is a real risk that they'll be swamped for the first few weeks. Both Dungarvan and Carrigaline are out and back courses and the greenways are a lot narrower than Midleton.
I'd guess that the maximum comfortable capacity for the Dungarvan parkrun is probably about 240 while Carrigaline is about 120.
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| Narrow start for the Carrigaline parkrun |
Parkrun Ireland are appealing to participants to consider delaying their visit to help flatten the initial surge.
Parkrun Ireland... "Thinking of visiting an inaugural parkrun event? 🌳
We understand that there’s something special about being there for a new event’s very first parkrun. Before you head along, it’s worth thinking about how you can best support the new volunteer team - not just on week one, but for weeks and months to come 🙌
New events can sometimes experience a huge turnout on their inaugural day, with numbers far higher than expected. While it’s fantastic to see so much enthusiasm, a sudden influx of participants can also be challenging for a new team finding its feet. Large crowds can mean more pressure on volunteers, increased incidents, complaints from other park users and, in some cases, concerns from landowners about congestion or overcrowding.
One of the best ways you can support a new event is to spread the love 🧡
If you’re planning to visit a new parkrun, consider making your first visit on week three, four or one of the following weeks. Your support is just as valuable then and it can make a real difference to an event as it settles into its regular rhythm.
And if you really want to be there for the inaugural, why not volunteer? Your extra pair of hands can be hugely valuable to a new team as they navigate their first ever event 🦺
Every new parkrun is built by its volunteer community. So whether you visit on week one, week four or months down the line, your support can help a new event thrive and make it sustainable in the long term 👏 "
