Kennett Run returning as virtual race

KENNETT SQUARE >> One of the borough’s most popular events, the Kennett Run, is taking place virtually this year.

Police Chief William Holdsworth, who joined the Kennett Square Police Department 24 years ago, said the race in past years has been “very impactful.”

The chief added he’s looking forward to the Kennett Run fully returning to the community in 2022.

“To lose that event was very impactful,” Holdsworth said.

Prior to the pandemic, May kicked off each spring with three big traditional, and highly popu

lar, local events: beginning with Cinco de Mayo, followed by the Kennett Run, and ending the month with the Kennett Square Memorial Day Parade.

Organizers opted to cancel all three in-person May events this year. The events were also canceled in 2020.

However, due to the pandemic, rather than holding an in-person race, the Kennett Run is making a return in 2021 this spring as a virtual-only event.

There are already 230 people registered to partake in the virtual Kennett Run this May, said J.J. Simon, race director for the Kennett Run. He’s held the role as race director for the last five years.

Virtual participants are responsible to complete their five or 10-kilometer or 1-mile run or walk over a one-week period on the route of their choice starting May 15 and ending midnight May 23.

Simon said people can participate in the 2021 Kennett Run locally and around the world.

He said participants are encouraged to share photos of their runs on social media using the hashtag #KennettRun2021.

Although organizers canceled the race completely in 2020 due to the pandemic, the nonprofit Kennett Run was still able to donate more than $20,000 to support the food pantry of the Kennett Area Community Service. Last year, the Kennett food pantry “that was doing an immediate impact” to help the community, Simon said.

He said this year the donations will be shared among multiple charities.

Simon added he believes that there is hope that at least 400 runners will register ahead of May 15.

The Kennett Run was founded 32 years ago. Sponsors include.

It cost $35 to register to partake in the Kennett Run this year. Everyone will be given a T-shirt and a recyclable swag bag that includes gift cards to local businesses.

The Kennett Run raises money for local charities. Simon said the nonprofit names the charities by September in which checks are handed out.

Typically the event raises $45,000 and $53,000 from registration fees which is donated to local charities, Simon said on Tuesday.