parkrun has confirmed yesterday that all its events across the world will continue to be suspended until at least the end of June.

They also made it very clear that continued closure for another four weeks represents a ‘minimum time frame’, and that they expect ‘most, if not all’, closures to be in place for longer.

While many parkrunners will be encouraged by the statement, others may be disappointed, coming as it does after many countries, including the UK, have started to take steps to ease their lockdowns.

parkrun itself is looking on the bright side. 

Tom Williams, parkrun Global’s Chief Operating Officer, said: ‘Despite this announcement of extended closure, our view of the future is increasingly optimistic as the situation continues to change rapidly and dynamically across the world. 

‘There is now a definite and positive move towards relaxation of restrictions, and every week we get closer to the point where parkrun events will return to their communities.

‘We continue to be cautious and thoughtful about parkrun’s return and we will, at all times, consider region-specific national and international government and public health guidance.’

runABC’s conversations with several run directors during lockdown revealed significant concerns about how events would be restarted. Many expressed worries about their own events being ‘overrun’ if others in their area were unable or unwilling to restart. 

Williams’ statement today should set the minds of those particular RDs at ease. 

Noting that ‘understanding the sentiment and feeling of our volunteers and communities is particularly key’, when the decision is made to restart parkrun, Williams confirmed, ‘all parkrun events in that region will be required to start’.  

Acknowledging that restarting parkrun will be ‘a complex and sensitive process’, Williams gave an assurance that ‘any decision to recommence [will have] the full and widespread support of volunteer teams, and the wider community’. 
 
‘Volunteer happiness and welfare will always be at the heart of what we do and, prior to reopening any events, we will continue to collaborate with our communities in order to best understand local situations and implement appropriate processes in advance.’