PARKRUN is back!

After an absence of over 15 months due to the pandemic, the popular Saturday-morning event has returned.

At the Cliffe Castle parkrun in Keighley, 123 people took part in the ‘restart event’ – running, jogging or walking the five-kilometre course around the grounds.

Of those, 24 were first-time participants and 18 people recorded new personal best times.

Seventeen different clubs were represented.

And the free event, one of 500 parkruns held across the country that day, was supported by 20 volunteers.

The Cliffe Castle parkrun is managed by husband-and-wife team, David and Carol Senior.

Carol said: “Parkrun had to start all its events in England at the same time, so we had to wait for the national go-ahead.

“It was so good to see everyone returning – the atmosphere was wonderful.

“There were a few misty eyes as parkrun regulars who have not seen each other for so long finally got together again.

“Thanks to a lot of hard work by the council, the park is looking beautiful.

“I’d encourage anyone who’s needing to get out and shake-off the Covid blues to come and join us.”

Parkruns take place over five-kilometre courses every Saturday at more than 1,400 locations across the world.

In England, the runs start at 9am.

The events are free to enter and are organised entirely by volunteers.

Before taking part for the first time, entrants should register online to receive a barcode which they then take along to every event. The barcode is scanned at the finish and each participant later receives their time.

Parkruns are open to people of all ages and abilities and they are being held under a national Covid-compliance framework.

Since the Cliffe Castle parkrun was launched in September, 2018, more than 3,700 participants have completed over 13,800 parkruns ­– covering a total distance exceeding 69,000km. More than 260 individuals have volunteered.

For further information and to register, visit parkrun.org.uk.