Up and running!

3 Jan 2019 03:02

MACCLESFIELD’s junior parkrun has been successfully launched in the town’s Victoria Park.

It follows the success of the adult run which was set up in South Park in April and sees an average of 250 runners taking part every week.

Junior parkrun’s are weekly 2km, volunteer-led, timed runs for children aged four to 14 years old, which take place at 9:30am every Sunday in parks across the world.

Helena Gowler, community engagement Officer at Macclesfield Town Council, said: ‘When we saw just how successful the 5k parkrun was, the council really wanted to build on that and bring parkrun to Macclesfield in a big way.

“Junior parkrun was the obvious next step in this. Macclesfield Town Council have funded this project and event directors Holly Bamford and Holly Nettle, along with a team of fantastic volunteers, have made this happen.

“One of the aims of the council is to make activity the fun and easy option. Junior parkrun really fits in with this’.

Eve Taylor, event support ambassador for parkrun UK, said: “The success of the Saturday morning 5k in South Park is borne out of the large number of people coming together each week to run, jog, walk or volunteer. 

“We had a great turnout for the inaugural event of the junior 2k version in Victoria Park and we look forward to seeing more four to 14 year olds joining us each Sunday morning.

It’s a brilliant way to encourage children to be out in the fresh air having fun whilst being physically active.”

Anyone who wants take their children along to junior parkrun needs to register on the parkrun website www.parkrun.org.uk where they will receive their personalised barcode.

Runners then take the barcode along to each parkrun so that they can obtain their finishing time. 

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