More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Finish tokens will be quarantined and no celebrations will be allowed, the time has finally come for the return of parkruns in Kent but they'll look very different.
With 5k events planned in Ashford, Bexley, Canterbury, Gravesend, Dartford, Folkestone, Maidstone, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Sittingbourne, Tonbridge and Whitstable for Saturday. Ahead of the events here is everything you need to know.
The green light has finally been given for the return of the events across the country and Mass Participation Sports Organisers (MSO) members have worked together to ensure participants are safe.
Nick Pearson, CEO of parkrun Global, said: “This work has ensured our much-loved events can return and we invite everyone to take part – join your local parkrun, enter one of the nation’s iconic events and think about raising funds for the charity of your choice.
"We can’t wait to welcome back our parkrun family to 5k events in England.”
The MSO has worked with runbritain, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Sport England to agree protocols.
An up-to-date list of 5k parkrun events can be found here and the vast majority of those are now preparing to reopen on Saturday.
Where events do not currently have permission to reopen, parkrun is continuing to work with landowners to support a reopening wherever possible.
In order to to take part, all participants and volunteers must undergo a self-assessment for Covid-19 symptoms.
No one should attend an event if they, or someone they live with, has a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss of or change to, their sense of smell or taste.
In the event of the local lockdown of a particular area, relevant parkrun events will be closed with immediate effect and registered parkrunners from that area will be advised appropriately.
And due to the ongoing pandemic organising a parkrun looks very different to what it did 16 months ago.
Organisers will have to either immediately wash or quarantine finish tokens – the chips given to participants to record their times – for 72 hours.
Volunteer bibs and lanyards should be returned after the event with "minimal human contact", with the same washing and quarantining procedure in place.
The sharing of equipment must also be avoided where possible.
Results will be processed at home in order to avoid gathering around devices.
After the event, there should be no non-essential presentations, gatherings or celebrations.
All participants, volunteers and spectators are required to maintain social distancing after the event.
Walkers, runners, and volunteers will also be asked to provide email addresses as part of their online registration process.
This will help parkrun accurately and quickly contact people in the event of an outbreak.
To find out more about what guidelines parkrun have put in place, click here.
The parkruns take place at 9am every Saturday and are free, weekly, community events all around the world.
To register or find out more about your local parkrun click here.
