The role of technology in sport and recreation participation

How does technology and data influence or impact your participation in sport and physical activity?

Parkrun, an organisation I admire greatly for what it has achieved in motivating hundreds of thousands of people to get active has announced that it is removing the course, age and category records from its website to remove barriers to participation.

Parkrun said ‘What was clear is that there was a disconnect between the performance data displayed so prominently on the site, and our mission to create opportunities for as many people as possible to take part in parkrun events’.

On face value it makes sense - for an organisation with a vision to be a place for everyone and for people to be active together outdoors highlighting records isn’t necessarily consistent.

But (un)suprisingly, there has been a backlash from people opposed to the records ban and petitions have been started to have parkrun reinstate the records.

In the current age of technology and fitness tracker apps (e.g. Strava) tracking performance has become ingrained in the way we go about our exercise or training. While I’m not a parkrunner, I ride regularly and have been a strava user for well over a decade which has definitely influenced my approach to training - both good and bad.

As essentially a social media platform, I get massive FOMO if I see my mates have been out for a ride and I haven’t had a chance to get out for a few days which motivates me to get out for a ride ASAP. On the flip side, there have been times where I have become too focused on the data - distance, average speed, segment times and not just enjoyed the ride for the activity itself.

So is the removal of parkrun course records a good or bad thing?

I imagine the solution to the debate is not an either / or answer - for some people the removal of data / records will reduce barriers to participation - for others its availability will act as a motivator.

How does technology influence or impact your participation in sport and activity?