Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 130, May 2020 | Page 42

RACE WALKING
The
History
of Tail
Walkers
Since June 2017, the volunteer Tail Runner at each weekly parkrun has been officially known as the Tail Walker. Parkrun’s
Global Head of Health and Wellbeing, Chrissie Wellington, talks us through the decision-making process behind the
change of name, and parkrun’s commitment to inclusivity.
Coming last. Feeling excluded. Being ridiculed.
These are very real fears for many people
taking part in a sporting event, especially for
the first time. Yet at parkrun, no-one needs to worry
about being the last into the finish funnel, about
being too slow, or feeling isolated and alone. At
every parkrun event, anywhere in the world, it is the
volunteer Tail Walker who is always the last one to
finish.
Looking Back…
Rewind the clock to October 2004, and the first
Bushy Park Time Trial as it was then called. There
were 13 participants, and a prize was awarded to
the final finisher. Thus inclusivity and a celebration of
participation, rather than of speed, was embedded
into parkrun principles right from the outset. Still to
this day, there is no cut-off time at parkrun. People
can walk, jog or run at whatever speed they want,
safe in the knowledge that they will all be made
welcome, appreciated and applauded.
It wasn’t long after parkruns started popping up
across the UK, that the role of Tail Runner, as it was
previously known, was included in the roster of
volunteers. Tail Runners were made compulsory at
junior parkrun events from 2013, and from January
2017 this was extended to also include all 5k events
in the UK.
However, our own insight showed that some
people were put off from participating because they
didn’t feel capable of running some or all of the 5k
course. We therefore felt that not only was the term
Tail Runner becoming less accurate in that more
participants – including the Tail Runners themselves –
were walking, it was also discouraging those that were
less active, or fearful of coming last, from taking part.
Spirit of Inclusivity
It was absolutely imperative that we, an organisation
committed to inclusivity, looked closely at what
we could do to change this and open our doors as
wide as possible. Thus June 2017 was a watershed
moment on this journey. This was when we changed
the name of the role from Tail Runner to Tail Walker.
Semantics, yes, but the change in role title was vitally
important in reaffirming and reiterating the message
that everyone is welcome at parkrun, including those
who walk at our events.
What might have been seen as an insignificant or
tokenistic adjustment was actually a vital and visible
manifestation of our efforts to promote inclusivity.
Now the Tail Walker role is compulsory at more than
2000 events across the world, an important symbol
of our commitment to welcoming, supporting and
respecting everyone, no matter how they choose to
participate.
Some events chose to have more than one Tail Walker,
and there is often a party atmosphere amongst the
back of the pack. Since 2017, an amazing 110,796
people have donned the high-vis vest and volunteered
in this hugely important role.
Walkers Welcome
People walk for a range of reasons – because of
health reasons, to take in the views and the parkrun
experience at a more leisurely pace, to talk and
chat, to support others, or because they may be
taking their very first steps towards a more active
lifestyle. In 2012 in the UK, there were just over
2,500 walks done at various parkruns. This figure
has climbed rapidly year on year, and in 2019 stood
at over 140,000.
In other countries, the proportion of walkers is
even higher than it is in the UK. In South Africa, for
example, it is not uncommon for about 28% of all
participants, young and old, to be walking the 5km
course.
Regardless of the varied reasons for walking,
everyone has a home at parkrun – a place where you
can complete some or all of the event on your own
terms and in your own time, and where the Tail Walker
always has your back.
This article was originally published in the 24 April edition of the bi-weekly parkrun Southern Africa
e-newsletter, and is republished here with their permission. For more info on their 227 different weekly
5km runs all over the country, go to www.parkrun.co.za. (Please note that due to the COVID-19 Lockdown,
all events are suspended until further notice.)
Images: Courtesy parkrun Southern Africa
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ISSUE 130 MAY 2020 / www.modernathlete.co.za