No return date for Parkrun as organisers wait for whole country to be able to restart as one

Keen runners will have to wait a little longer to get their Saturday jog on at Kalgoorlie-Boulder parkrun as the event continues to be postponed.

Parkrun chief operating officer Tom Williams is maintaining a stance that the whole country will restart their events at the same time and not State by State as gathering restrictions ease.

This means WA parkruns will have to wait until Victoria’s COVID numbers stabilise, and they are allowed large gatherings before the Kalgoorlie-Boulder event can restart.

“As countries relax their respective lockdown restrictions we find situations where certain events could operate legally and safely but are having to wait for other events that could be many thousands of miles away to be in the same position,” he said.

“Some States of Australia have relaxed restrictions such that parkrun could return, whilst this isn’t the case in other States.”

Kalgoorlie’s parkrun began in 2013, with the free event taking place every Saturday at 8am at Karlkurla Park, often with more than 100 enthusiastic attendees of every age and fitness level.

The route winds 5km through the park and each runner is timed, allowing them to test their endurance and beat their previous time each week.

Mr Williams said while he understood it was frustrating for States which had eased restrictions, the postponement was for everyone’s benefit.

“Reopening specific regions within parkrun countries brings with it many complexities, not least the need to understand more localised public health guidance, respond accordingly, and ensure that we don’t create issues for neighbouring regions,” he said.

“As such, at this time, our policy remains that we will only open parkrun events where we can safely and appropriately open every event in that country.

“We would particularly like to thank those events waiting patiently, and to assure them all that we are mindful of their situations and will continue to review our position on this as time progresses.”

With New Zealand parkruns beginning last weekend, there will at least be another two months before Australia can restart, with metropolitan Melbourne returning to Stage 3 lockdown as of midnight yesterday.

Mr Williams said he did not feel it was appropriate to set a date for the return in Australia.

“We do not feel it is appropriate to provide hard and fast commitments that when X happens we will reopen,” he said.

“However, we’re continually seeing positive news around the world, bringing us all closer to returning to our parks and open spaces, something we are committed to making happen as soon as possible once it is safe and appropriate to do so.”