Sefton Coastal Park Run group to celebrate 300th event this weekend

One of Sefton’s coastal park run groups will cross the finish line for the 300th time this coming weekend.

Hundreds of people have taken part in the Crosby parkrun each Saturday morning for the last eight years.

Overcoming high winds, icy temperatures, scorching sunshine and the occasional blister, they have run the equivalent of the north to south length of western Europe.

Managed entirely by volunteers, the running group would have accomplished much earlier had they not been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Created in partnership between Active Sefton and Parkrun UK back in 2015, people from around the world, including global football stars, have taken to the makeshift course on Crosby’s stunning coastline across the last eight years.

More than a thousand miles have been covered during that time, the equivalent of running from Crosby to the Costa Del Sol!

The success is in no small part down to the work of Crosby parkrun co-director Jan Mullin and Amy Barnes, Sefton Council’s Active Sefton Development Manager.

Jan, who runs the weekly event with co-director Gareth O’Hanlon, said:

“Our running community relies on volunteers, from teenagers to retirees, who all get on as a fabulous team week in week out.

 “It is an absolute pleasure to be part of this fabulous team turning up every week and working in all weathers. 

“Parkrun has had appositive  impact on so many lives, improving health and wellbeing for runners and volunteers alike. 

 “We have faced challenges such as Covid and we continue to face obstacles – some small and some large – but overall, we are a community to be proud of.”

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, heaped praise on organisers, along with a team of volunteers who brave all weathers to ensure the run still goes ahead.

He said:

“Amy and Jan have worked incredibly hard together from start to finish and we are delighted that the event has reached this impressive milestone.

“Jan and her loyal team of volunteers have committed themselves every week to provide a hugely welcoming community for everyone to take part, whether they are walking or running. 

 “We have seen people from all corners of the world take part in the Crosby parkrun, which is one of the Parkrun community’s few official coastal based runs.

“The statistics are staggering and it is a testament to Jan’s team that they have welcomed hundreds of different running clubs, had nearly 40,000 impressive finish line results and even local celebrity and Sefton resident Jamie Carragher takes part regularly!”