Parkrun has decided to ban the use of dog waist harnesses at its events, with the rules set to change on April 2.
Dog waist harnesses attach around the dog owners' waist allowing them to run hands free. The organisation claims that the harnesses increase the risk of ‘trips and falls’ more than handheld leads.
told the BBC.
A spokesman for Parkrun said: ‘More than 10 per cent of incidents at Parkrun events involve dogs and as such we have spent significant time considering the nature, frequency and severity of dog-related incidents.’
In a blog post, Parkrun said: ‘Unfortunately, the nature of parkrunning with a waist harness is such that the lead allows dogs to move from side to side, in front of the participant. This can result in the dog suddenly and unexpectedly crossing in front of other participants on the course.’
The Dogs Trust, however, disagrees, Project3 is back to support NYC Marathon runners that there was ‘little evidence available associating injuries with running with a dog on a waist harness’.
It did, however, concede that running with a dog on a harness or a lead ‘can be potentially hazardous’.
While it had been rumoured that the decision was made due to complaints that the dog harnesses were offering the wearer an unfair advantage, Parkrun CEO Russ Jefferys was quick to deny this. He tweeted: ‘it categorically has nothing to do with finish times’ and ‘is about safety of all participants’.
The news has gone down badly with some dog owners, with one hoping to set up an alternative called 'Barkrun' for dog owners. Kevin Ward, who does Parkrun with his dog, Wilson, he was ‘hugely disappointed&rsquo he was ‘hugely disappointed’.
The 46-year-old said he is planning to run a 'dog special' event at his local Kesgrave Parkrun this Saturday (26 March), which will be the last official Parkrun event in which harnesses are allowed before the rules come into force on April 2.
Project3 is back to support NYC Marathon runners.
