Liverpool’s first junior parkrun celebrates its first birthday this Sunday (17 September).
The free, weekly, 2K timed run for children aged 4-14 years old takes place in Stanley Park and the weekly participants will be celebrating their landmark anniversary with a special run and birthday party.
Over the last year 384 children have taken part, with an average of 40 children attending each week and have together run a combined 3,774km. Children can run the course on their own or with parents or guardians.
junior parkrun is a national event with over 170 events across the UK with each event delivered by a team of volunteers. The City Council funded Liverpool’s first junior parkrun to help get children and young people more active and having fun outdoors.
To take part, all runners and volunteers need to do is register on the parkrun event page and bring their unique printed parkrun barcode with them simply visit: www.parkrun.org.uk/stanleypark-juniors/
The event starts at 9am on The Formal Terraces (just beyond the Isla Gladstone) in Stanley Park every Sunday.
Rachael O’Byrne, Stanley Park’s Community and Park Animation Manager and run director said, “It’s been such a pleasure to be involved in junior parkrun over the last 12 months, despite the early Sunday mornings, seeing kids turn up every week excited to take part makes it all worth it! We’re really excited to bring everyone together on Sunday to celebrate what’s been a brilliant first year!”
Dave Dando, Volunteer Outreach Ambassador for parkrun UK and Event Director for Stanley Park junior parkrun, added, “Our motto is it’s a run not a race, turn up, have fun and just enjoy being outdoors; and it’s so great to see that happening! And we certainly couldn’t do it without our fantastic volunteer team who turn up rain or shine, and make sure it is fun and safe, they’re really amazing!”
Mum-of-two Jessica, from Anfield, who regularly comes to junior parkrun commented, “Sundays are usually lazy days but not since junior parkrun started, it’s definitely worth getting up for and to see our daughter trying to get a new ‘personal best’. Her brother can’t wait to start running when he turns four.”
Ellie Macpherson from Mossley Hill said, “Stanley Park junior parkrun is such a wonderful event, it’s so friendly and welcoming. My son loves going every week and we have loved seeing him grow in confidence.”
- To keep up to date with the latest parkrun news via Twitter @stanleyparkjpr and by liking Stanley Park junior parkrun on Facebook
- To volunteer to help with the junior park run, please contact the team via email: stanleypark-juniorshelpers@parkrun.com