When Will Parkrun Be Back?

By Lydia Manch Last edited 34 months ago
When Will Parkrun Be Back?

Ever taken part in a parkrun?

The free, weekly events have been going for years across the UK, with a big concentration of parkruns in London — actually, a few years back Londonist's Geoff Marshall did every parkrun in the city (at the time, 47 of them). UK-wide the events attract about 300,000 runners a week, and have three million registered parkrunners.

Suspended over lockdown, the restarting date for their 5K events had been planned for the weekend of 5 June.

What's the latest?

It's been announced today that the restart has been pushed back.

Some landowners have given permission for parkrun to take place — but just a small fraction of the usual number, meaning that whichever locations reopened would be at risk of being overwhelmed by the number of participants. Fewer than 5 events out of London's 50+ usual locations were confirmed as able to proceed.  

Parkrun organisers are looking at 26 June as a hopeful target date now for the parkrun and junior parkrun 5K events to start.

When will that be confirmed?

A decision will be announced on 11 June, confirming if 26 June will be the go date.

Events will operate within a government-approved Covid-19 safety framework (read more here).

Sadiq Khan has made a statement of support for the reopening of these events, and said, "the City Hall team stand ready to work with London Councils, the parkrun team, and volunteer organisers to make this a reality".

All images from parkrun Marketing.

Last Updated 21 May 2021