Coronavirus: Organisers give Sheffield Half Marathon update as UK cases soar to 590

Siobhan Curtis, from Run For All, said that as the government advice is that all mass events should still go ahead, the half marathon will go ahead as planned.

A statement on behalf of the organisers said: “We know there are a lot of excited runners busy preparing for the Sheffield Half Marathon later this month and so we wanted to reassure you that following the UK Government, World Health Organisation and other public bodies current advice that all mass events should still go ahead, we have every intention of hosting the event on Sunday 29th March.

“Our team will continue to liaise with Sheffield City Council accordingly and will ensure any appropriate advice and guidance is shared with you, our runners.

“We will continue to closely monitor the developments relating to COVID-19 both nationally and regionally and will keep you up to date as entrants, of any changes to our events programme in 2020.

“Should the UK Government announce that mass events are to be cancelled from the 29th March, we have put plans in place to host the Sheffield Half Marathon instead on the same day as the Sheffield 10K, Sunday 27th September.

“If you have entered both events already and the Sheffield Half Marathon is held the same day as the Sheffield 10K, you will be contacted directly and be issued a full refund for your Sheffield 10K entry.”