This is the latest update on the future of Sheffield's popular Parkrun events

Six runs normally take place every week in Sheffield’s Concord, Endcliffe, Hillsborough, Manor Fields, Graves and Millhouses parks.

The events, like all Parkruns around the world, were suspended until further notice in March when the coronavirus crisis worsened.

Now Tom Williams, chief operating officer of overseeing body Parkrun Global, has said the suspension will last until late next month at the earliest.

“We can now confirm that events across the world will be suspended until the end of June,” he said.

“Please note that this represents a minimum time-frame for all countries and we expect most, if not all, closures to be in place for longer.”

He said his team's outlook was becoming ‘increasingly optimistic’ – but warned runners not to gather unofficially.

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

“As lockdown restrictions start to lift across some territories in which we operate, we’d like to thank everyone for not going to their venues, at Parkrun time. Importantly, please do not organise group gatherings of any sort at your locations until such time as events have officially returned in your region.

He said restarting runs will be a ‘complex and sensitive process’. “When the decision is made to restart, all events in that region will be required to start. Any events remaining closed would significantly and unreasonably increase pressure on those that open.”

Parkrun began in 2004, when the first event was held at Bushy Park in London, and has since been adopted by 22 countries. The free runs are organised by helpers and consist of a timed five kilometre route.

The Endcliffe Park event – formerly known as the Sheffield Hallam Parkrun – is especially popular. There were just 36 participants when it started in 2010; now it regularly attracts more than 500 runners, with a highest attendance record to date of 884 in May 2019.

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