Parkrun events delayed until after July 24 in wake of Boris Johnson's lockdown decision

The free 5km Saturday morning runs were due to restart on Saturday, June 5, before issues around accessing running spaces pushed their return to Saturday, June 26.

Parkrun UK said in a statement on Monday evening: “A huge amount of work has been done in recent weeks to ensure we have permission to return from the large majority of landowners.

“Whilst this delay is disappointing, we respect the fact that a significant number of these permissions were contingent on the country moving into Step 4, and we will therefore target a new reopening date of Saturday 24 July.”

Organisers had previously said the decision to proceed with events from June 26 was subject to any changes in the road map announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson

It comes after Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden wrote to all councils in the UK last month urging them to permit weekly Parkrun events to resume in their areas.

Yesterday, Monday, June 14, Mr Johnson confirmed in a press conference the date for the next easing of the rules was being moved back until Monday, July 19, having been scheduled for next Monday, June 21.

Professor Chris Whitty explained the NHS was at risk of being put under greater pressure if the number of people admitted to hospital with Covid-19 continued on an “exponential path”.

The number of cases is also expected to rise as the summer school holiday approaches.

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