Parkrun removes records to be less 'off-putting'

around the world every Saturday morning. Participants of all ages and abilities can take part in this inclusive event, which promotes physical activity and social interaction. It's a great way to meet new people and improve your fitness levels. Plus, it's completely free! With so many locations to choose from, you're sure to find a Parkrun near you. So why not give it a try this weekend?

Parkrun has taken steps to make their website more welcoming to new participants by deleting certain data, including speed records. This has been done to ensure that new entrants are not discouraged from taking part.

The website will stop showing information such as the fastest initial achievements, male runners who ran under 17 minutes and female runners who completed under 20 minutes, as well as records sorted by age or category.

Parkrun is putting in effort to "discover means to eliminate obstacles that hinder registration and involvement."

This happens while receiving negative feedback for permitting transgender women to take part in the women's group.

Last December, the think tank Policy Exchange reported that their research indicated that a minimum of three Parkrun records for women had been established by transgender women.

Parkrun informed BBC Sport that they have been considering altering the information they release prior to the Covid outbreak, and this choice is not a response to the matter of transgender individuals.

Parkrun said in a statement that they have made various modifications to their digital communication, including alterations to the arrangement, style, pictures, and vocabulary. They have been doing this as they develop and will keep on doing so in the future.

We put in a lot of effort to ensure that the knowledge we distribute aligns with our ethical principles. Moreover, we strive to eliminate any obstacles to signing up and involvement in everything we undertake.

We are aware that our websites play a critical role in providing valuable information to parkrunners, especially those who are new and have not participated before. As a result, we formed a worldwide task force to explore ways to showcase information in a manner that is welcoming and doesn't suggest that parkrun is a competition.

The team assigned to this project has dedicated a considerable amount of time to conduct in-depth research and suggest feasible solutions.

It was evident that there was a discrepancy between the evident performance data on the website and our goal of offering chances for numerous individuals to participate in parkrun events, specifically those facing unease with activities like parkrun but who have the possibility to benefit greatly.

Individuals taking part in Parkrun events will still receive bespoke emails presenting their outcome, and the event results as well as personal profile pages will remain unchanged.

Parkrun, a communal occasion that covers a 5km distance, can be enjoyed at over 800 spots without any charges. Till now, it has recorded finishing of over three million participants.