A science teacher has announced plans to form a running group to give ‘transphobes a Halloween fright’ at parkrun.
Quoting the witches in Macbeth, the organiser, who writes on Substack under the name David, declared ‘something wicked this way comes’ before claiming parkrun was ‘under attack by transphobes’.
Parkrun organises free, weekly timed 5km events in parks and public spaces across the UK every Saturday.
The group appears to have been formed in response to Reality Rules Runners UK (RRR), a running club formed to “peacefully protest” against parkrun’s policy allowing men who ‘identify’ as women to run in the female category.
But with Halloween just days away, there is little public evidence to suggest David is close to his target of 262 participants – one more than the 261 reported for Reality Rules Runners’ official debut on 3 October.
David’s Substack announcement has attracted just ten likes and three ‘restacks’ since it was published on 13 October. At the time of publication, a Reddit discussion has attracted three expressions of interest.
In an earlier Substack post, David – who [Un]Captured understands is a science teacher based in West Sussex – told parkrunners unhappy about males running in the female category to ‘leave your bigotry at home and suck it up’ or find another event.
He also linked to results identifying ‘those parkruns which have transphobes running at them’, suggesting supporters could avoid those locations for their ‘mental health/safety’ or attend to support LGBTQ+ participants.
However, he urged peaceful participation, writing: ‘Just by turning up and existing is enough to do it, let’s keep this peaceful!’
David promised to publish details of his running group following his Substack announcement on 13 October. On 22 October, he told Reddit users he would release the information “over the weekend.”
One Reddit user wrote: ‘Was just scrolling though this and the Halloween theme of scaring transphobes appealles to me. Is this a nationwide event?’
Another said they had registered for parkrun and were ‘ready to join your club’, adding that it would be ‘extra fun to bait the bigots’.
It remains unclear how many runners have committed to taking part.
Reality Rules Runners UK, launched through The Mail on Sunday in August, now has more than 600 members campaigning for the reinstatement of sex-based categories at parkrun.
Its founder, who wishes to remain anonymous, told [Un]Captured: ‘The sole purpose of Reality Rules Runners UK is the reinstatement of fair, lawful sex-based categories at parkrun. This is clearly stated on our website and reflected across our social media.’
Former Olympic marathon runner Mara Yamauchi said: ‘We’ve heard accusations of “transphobes” and “bigots” plenty of times before. What’s always missing is a clear and compelling explanation of why men should be included in parkrun’s female category.’
The Halloween initiative follows controversy over parkrun photographs in which the Reality Rules Runners UK logo name had been digitally removed from runners’ T-shirts. Parkrun subsequently apologised and restored the images.
David and parkrun were approached for comment for a report commissioned by the Mail on Sunday but did not respond.
One Response
This idiot is being trusted by parents, to educate their children.
‘Transphobe’ is such a vacuous, empty insult.
I hope this clown falls flat on his face.