14/03/2023

It’s all about the Tail – Walker… at parkrun

Kev Moseley – Vale Of York Athletic Community

When you are next at parkrun (in this case – our local Selby parkrun at Burn airfield), please make sure you say hi to the Tail Walker, for they are one of the most important people at any parkrun event.

So, what is the Tail Walker?   The official parkrun web site reads:  ‘Every parkrun has a Tail Walker volunteer (or volunteers) who sets off at the start of the event and walks at the back of the field. A Tail Walker is entitled to receive both a volunteer credit and a walk/run credit (providing they brought their barcode with them to be scanned) when carrying out this role.

Quite simple, isn’t it?  Very little to it.  You just set off at the back of the pack and when the Run Director says “Go”, you just walk.  You are the very last person to cross the finish line and in doing so, you get a time (the slowest of the day) and also, a volunteer credit.  All in, time to have a good walk and say hi to a few people.

However, I watch our tail walkers at Selby parkrun weekly and have learnt that there is so much more to this role than I ever realised .  It is a role that many happily undertake every week and in doing so, those who do it, have earned my utmost respect.  After reading this, I hope you may feel the same way.

When you set off, many of you – like me hit the tarmac and leave the tail walker in your wake.  The next time you will see these people is as you pass them on the way back.  So, why are the tail walkers so valuable to you at parkrun?

I have tail walked in the past with Janice at and so speaking from experience, I realised that it was not just about walking and talking to her.  For we found ourselves:

  • Supporting those who are at the back and walking but staying a respectable distance from them.
  • Constantly looking at the course as we walked and checking each part of it for future issues.
  • Saying good morning to other users of the airfield and keeping up good relations.  After all, it does state in the rules that We have permission to use the airfield, BUT we do not have exclusive use of the airfield, so if necessary, yield to other users (whether on two legs or four and also in our case, quite frequently – on two wheels), even when they may be in the wrong.  So, a little bit of tact and diplomacy is sometimes needed.
  • Checking in with marshals on the course and saying hello and ensuring that all is ok with each.  They are as integral to the event as the Run Director.  They have been stood out a lot longer that most will have because they arrived early to get to their assigned place.

Then you have the first set of runners coming back towards you as they head to the finish line.  Without realising I found myself:

  • Saying hi to as many individual participants as I can and applauding their efforts. 
  • Watching each participant for signs of injury and checking that should one step aside from the run, checking to see they are ok.
  • Without realising, you are always constantly checking people without their knowledge.  Saying well done and in doing so, you can tell a lot by body language, response, breathing and a whole lot more.  It is something we do without realising.
  • Constantly looking for hazards and ready to report these should the need arise.
  • Picking up any litter dropped by runners to ensure that the site remains clean and we are doing our best to keep it that way.   We do not want something dropped accidently to be blown on to the runway and can cause serious issue should this be ingested into an aircraft,  Should we be found to  be responsible, we could be asked to leave the site and lose our beloved parkrun.
  • Encouraging each person who passes us.
  • Should anyone need medical assistance, ensuring that they are ok and if not, contacting the Run Director who can make the decision as to the best course of action required.
  • As I passed the half way (2.5km) marker, picking up the three cones and moving them to one side. 
  • Picking up the small cones and bringing these back to the finish line.
  • The tail walker is a “Constantly Moving Marshal”.  There to make sure everyone is ok and then to finish last.  The Tail Walker is the one who goes through the finish line, collect the final token and report any issues that they have found whilst out on the course.

Based on the above, you really get an idea of just how important the Tail Walker role really is.  It is a role that without being filled every week, Selby parkrun cannot go ahead.

Next time you come run at Selby parkrun and when you see those incredible Hi Viz hero Tail Walker volunteers, please make sure you say hi and thanks as without them, there would be no event that day. 

It really makes you think doesn’t it and grateful.  I never realised just what I / they do every week and it is a lot more than a steady walk with a dog and a good talk.  Based on this article, don’t you agree?

In the meantime – get up, get out and when you are at Burn Airfield, I hope you really enjoy your run but don’t forget to say thanks as you pass those marshals with hi viz tops on.  They are there from the start to help keep you safe, and they will be there to get you safely through that final finish and over the line.

Have a wonderful run.

Kev and Janice.