Get on your marks for the return of Parkrun
Sunderland City Council bosses have confirmed the green light for Parkrun to resume in Wearside later next month.
Organisers of the mass participation exercise event, whichstageshundredsofruns across the UK, have said they hope to welcome amateur athletesbackonSaturday,June26.
And barring any further restrictions or changes to coronavirus guidance, Sunderland’s events at Silksworth and Herrington Country Park are due to be among those reopening.
A spokesman for Sunderland City Council said: “Parkrun has permission to restart in Sunderland.
“Welookforwardtohearing more and continuing to work with organisers when new national Parkrun dates are confirmed.”
Bosses behind the event, which is staged across more than 20 countries, had hoped races would be able to resume in the UK next week, on June 5, butnationalParkrunchiefsdecided this would not be viable.
However, they now claim they are ‘increasingly optimistic’ they will be in a position to get going once more from June 26.
Nick Pearson, Parkrun Global CEO said: “We are incredibly grateful to all of the landowners who have granted events permission to return so far and for the groundswell of support for Parkrun over recent days.
“Although it is disappointing
not to be able to return on June 5, we are still optimistic that we can return Parkrun eventstonearly600communitiesacrossEnglandverysoon.”
Afinaldecisiononwhether eventswillrestartonSaturday, June 26, is expected to be confirmed by Friday, June 11.
Permission had previously been secured for more than 250 Parkruns to go ahead across England on June 5. But it was felt this would not provide the ‘critical mass’ needed to ensure everyone wanting to take part is able to without overwhelming the most popular venues.
Visit www.parkrun.org.uk to find out more.