Updated Sunday 15th - The event has been cancelled this morning.
The Wilmslow Running Festival will NOT take place today 15/3/20 due to coronavirus but will be rescheduled. Having listened to feedback from our local community, volunteers and runners, we've taken the decision to minimise risks at this very difficult time for everyone.
As we all know, the coronavirus is progressing on an hourly basis and we hope you'll understand the reasons for the late cancellation of our event. All entries will be carried forward to a new date, which will be advised as soon as it's safe to reschedule.
The organising team of the Wilmslow Running Festival have confirmed that the race is on.
In recent days, meetings with both the organising team and the Charity Trustees have taken place and contingency plans have been created should they have to cancel the event at late notice, which happened two years ago due to the Beast from The East.
Race Director Nick Bishop said "Every entrant was emailed yesterday with advice and the government update today endorses our stance. I have also twice spoken with UK Athletics who have no plans to currently cancel events."
He added "Marshals at drinks stations and who may have contact with runners will be wearing gloves. We have ensured that based on all advice available that runners, spectators, marshals and all are not put at risk."
The second Wilmslow Running Festival will take place on Sunday, March 15th, featuring the ever popular Waters Wilmslow Half Marathon at 10.30am followed both a 10k and a fun run, of just under two miles.
Road closures will be in force on the day covering all roads in the Kings Road / Altrincham Road area, and on the course itself as it winds towards Mobberley before heading back to finish on Morley Road in Wilmslow.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
My teenage son is entered into the run but we,as a family. decided last night that it was putting yourself at unnecessary risk whether running or spectating, so we won’t be going.
The organisers should postpone the meeting until a later, safer date when it will be far more enjoyable for all.
The decision to go ahead with this race should be reconsidered. Many taking part will be young and fit (though that is no absolute guarantee of safety) but the coronavirus will take advantage of this mass gathering. It is highly contagious, far more so than flu, and helping it to spread like this will be a death sentence for some of the more vulnerable in our society, more than for most of those actually participating.
I see the first case has been conformed in East Cheshire; this is the tip of the iceberg; we are quite possibly < 2 weeks behind Italy. It is dangerously irresponsible to let this race go ahead.
The sensible thing is to postpone this event now.
Should be cancelled and rearranged for a later date.
Both the Wilmslow and the Alderley websites carry many posts on this subject, every one of which is against the holding of this event - not one post is in favour.
I hope these uncaring organisers are proud of themselves. I think they are despicable and when the inevitable escalation of the spread of this virus locally happens, and perhaps vulnerable people die, their shameful pig-headed selfishness will not be forgotten.
Many will turn up not knowing of this last minute cancellation. The only winner today will be the coronavirus.