A dedicated runner has written and published a new book, to celebrate the global phenomenon that is Park Run.
How Park Run Changed Our Lives, which was published last week, details the health and social benefits of the weekly 5k events for runners, joggers and walkers.
Written by Eileen Jones, who is a member of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, the book features interviews with some of the seven million people worldwide who have signed up to Park Run since its inception in 2004.
And to mark its release, Ms Jones will run the first leg of a 330-mile relay from the Lake District to London
The former women’s fell captain for Clayton, who now lives in Ambleside, has completed 260 Park Runs in 104 locations, and has made friends along the way, many of whom will also be taking part in the relay.
Eileen Jones, who has written the book, How Park Run Changed Our Lives
Ms Jones said: “It’s given people something to focus on, to get excited about, while they are missing Park Run.
“Several of the volunteers have said how important it will be to feel part of something bigger again.
"It’s our gesture of thanks to Paul Sinton-Hewitt, whose little idea about a time trial in a London park has had such a big impact on all our lives.”
Park Run began in 2004 in Bushy Park in London, and was the brainchild of Paul Sinton-Hewitt.
Junior Park Run at Ramsbottom
Since the coronavirus pandemic, Park Runs across the country have been cancelled, but the relay, which will see around 90 runners carry a copy of the book to Bushy Park and hand it to Mr Sinton-Hewitt, will provide Park Run addicts a chance to take part in something communal once more.
The relay will set off from Fell Foot at Windermere on Friday March 19.
Ms Jones, who has been a member of Clayton Harriers since 1985, will run the first leg, and on day two, Park Running Vicar, Rev. Matt Guilder will set off with the baton (book) from St Thomas’ Church in Lancaster
The route will then go via Garstang and Chorley to the outskirts of Manchester, through Cheshire and Staffordshire to Lichfield, and then via Warwick and Aylesbury to West London.
The Covid-secure event will see only two runners on each leg, all running within their own home areas.
Park Runs have grown in popularity since 2004, with Blackburn, Clitheroe, Pendle, Hyndburn, Burnley, Preston, Blackpool, Lancaster and many more places across the county hosting their own weekly 5ks.
The free events are due to re-start on June 5.
Runners starting the race pre-Covid
However, Park Run will begin restarting their junior events on Sunday April 11.
A spokesperson for Blackburn's Witton Park event said: "These will only be open to junior Park Runners aged 4-10 to begin with (as opposed to the usual 4-14).
"However, 11-14-year-old junior Park Runners are encouraged to still attend events in a volunteer or spectator capacity, and also help younger siblings with their first Park Run steps.
"Junior events are held at Clitheroe Castle, Burnley, Avenham Park in Preston, Padiham Greenway, Worden Park in Leyland, Ramsbottom and Queen’s Park in Bolton.
"Junior events are 2km in length, and they take place on Sunday mornings at 9am, rather than Saturdays.
"The re-start date of Saturday June 5 for all adult Park Runs is obviously a hugely exciting moment for Park Runners, with the idea of running with our usual friends in our usual locations in early summer a distinct possibility, but as always it comes with a note of caution.
Runners from Witton Park's Park Run, pre-Covid
"The date is entirely dependent on the roadmap continuing at the pace current envisaged, and any delay in moving from one step to another will naturally impact on Park Run's return date.
"We must all continue to play our part to help give us the best chance of this happening.
"Blackburn with Darwen still stands within the upper echelons in terms of rates of infection and case numbers in the country, but hopefully things will show definite signs of improvement long before that June date."
For full details of Park Run’s restart plans, visit: blog.parkrun.com/uk/2021/02/26/restarting-parkrun-in-england/
For more information about How Park Run Changed Our Lives, visit: gritstonecoop.co.uk/books/how-parkrun-changed-our-lives/
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