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A popular seaside Parkrun was suspended after holiday crowds and 'ego-driven' runners chasing personal bests sparked a series of complaints about dangerous behaviour.
Organisers of the weekly event in Weymouth, Dorset, have cancelled the run for the next two Saturdays after reporting an increase in incidents of runners and members of the public being 'tripped or barged' along the 5km (three miles) course.
The chaos has been blamed on a surge in numbers during the summer holidays, with tourists joining the event and attendance almost doubling from its usual numbers.
Around 300 to 400 people typically take part in the Weymouth parkrun, but almost 600 turned up last weekend.
Organisers say narrow sections of the route have become dangerously congested, with some faster runners allegedly barging past slower participants in a desperate bid to shave seconds off their times.
The issue has also been exacerbated by runners travelling 'two or three abreast chatting to each other', blocking the path for those trying to get past.
The event, held at Lodmoor Country Park, will return on September 5, when organisers expect the bulk of holidaymakers to have left the area.
In a statement, the Weymouth Parkrun team said: 'Our numbers have increased over the summer but more worryingly, the number of incidents reported to the Run Director have also increased and if we want to enjoy our parkrun in the future, we need to take action now.
Organisers of Weymouth's Parkrun (pictured) have cancelled the run for the next two Saturdays after reporting an increase in incidents of people being 'tripped or barged' along the 5km course
'We ask each week that everyone keeps to the left side of the path particularly on the out and back stretch, and most do but each week we have reports of people overtaking when there isn't room.
'Runners and members of the public are getting tripped or barged and with every incident reported comes several hours of work for our core team.'
The organisers said they had also ordered signs reminding runners to give way to other people using the shared paths.
They added: 'Please remember that the parkrun uses shared paths. For the continued success of the event, please give way to other park users.
'This won't hurt your time, it won't stop you from getting a PB (personal best) and it will make sure everyone continues to enjoy the event.'
But the suspension has sparked a wider debate among participants over how to tackle congestion without ruining the appeal of the free weekly event.
One suggestion has been to introduce staggered start times, allowing faster runners to get away from the main pack, which can include dog walkers, families and parents pushing buggies.
However, this would go against Parkrun rules, with events required to begin at 9am.
Around 300 to 400 people typically take part in the Weymouth parkrun, but almost 600 turned up last weekend (pictured)
There are also logistical difficulties with staggered starts because volunteers use a timer on the official Parkrun app to record each runner's finishing time and position.
Others have argued that no change to the format is necessary and that runners simply need to show more consideration.
Les Hooper, who volunteers as a race marshal at Weymouth, said: 'Having spent a good part of the hour last week shouting and encouraging participants to "Keep Left on the Narrow Path," I felt like I was wasting my breath.
'Individuals and groups ignored my warnings and even flooded around members of the public who were a bit worried by this.'
One participant said they had been shouted at during last Saturday's event for not running fast enough.
They said: 'Didn't report it but one runner behind me shouted at me to "overtake him, go on!" when I had stayed behind a fellow who was pacing me.
'I had no desire and little manoeuvring room to do. I had never experienced this behaviour at parkrun before.'
Another participant complained of 'a lot of ego-driven runners cutting you up unashamedly to reach their PB'.
Stephen Lummis said: 'People shouldn't run two or three abreast blocking paths. I know they probably want to chat but on the narrow bits just apply common sense.
'Obviously barging anyone is disgusting behaviour.'
Gareth Wilkinson said: 'Unfortunately parkrun has become a bit of a monster and is now a victim of its own success.
'It doesn't help that selfish individuals take no notice of the safety briefings and any warnings given out.'
Helen Harrell, who describes herself as a slow runner, said she had struggled to cross the course because of faster participants.
She said: 'As a slow runner, I have sometimes found it difficult to cross the course, because the fast runners are stampeding through before I have taken the first turn into the wooded area.'
Sophie Webber added: 'Hopefully things will improve once the school holiday madness has passed.'
The Weymouth course starts and finishes beside a large car park at Lodmoor Country Park.
Runners head north around a golf course and miniature railway before joining a shared walking and cycling path.
It is on this section, particularly where the route turns back on itself, that organisers say congestion has become a major problem.
The route then loops around the other side of the golf course before runners return to the finish.
Parkrun was founded in Bushy Park, south-west London, in 2004 and has since grown into a global phenomenon, with more than 2,000 events taking place around the world on Saturday mornings.
The Weymouth organisers urged runners who still want to take part this weekend to consider attending one of the many other parkruns taking place across Dorset.