After a nine-month hiatus, beloved weekly fitness event Parkrun is back.
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The Saturday morning event is set for a staggered return across NSW from this weekend, with The Beaches and Stockton the first to restart in the city.
Elsewhere in the region, Lakeview, Blue Gum Hills, Singleton, Fingal Bay and Maitland will also kick off on Saturday, while others are set to restart in the new year.
The Beaches Parkrun co-director Sonja Pohlman said it was very exciting to be back after the event was cancelled when the pandemic broke out in March.
"For an event that goes on rain or shine - the only reasons we cancel are for serious danger - the fact it ground to a halt worldwide was really quite shocking," Ms Pohlman said.
Ms Pohlman said while many kept the regular weekly run up during lockdown, the social side of Parkrun was temporarily lost.
"It was a loss of connection to the community," she said.
"It's almost like your family that you see every Saturday morning and then you don't have that at a time we were going into lockdown and becoming more isolated.
"It wasn't just that they weren't getting to run, although that was part of it, they missed their mates, they missed the community.
"So people are excited and really wanting to get back into it."
Related: GALLERY: Newy Parkrun first birthday
Stockton Parkrun co-director Steve Cox said he was expecting a big crowd on Saturday considering the nearby Newcastle Parkrun was not back yet.
"The community over there is pretty good, we've got a lot of regular runners," he said. "It's been pretty devastating for them to be without it for nine months."
Ms Pohlman said part of the reason the event had waited so long to return was that Parkrun headquarters wanted the event to be as close to normal as possible.
"It's essentially going to look the same, there'll be distancing, but no staggered starts," she said.
There will be no limit on the number of runners, but each participant will have to check in via a QR code, which can be done from home.
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IN THE NEWS:
Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
