THE WELSH Government’s Coronavirus restrictions prevented patrons of the Conwy parkrun from properly celebrating the event’s 7th anniversary on January 8.

The Conwy parkrun has become a huge success since it started, its challenging five-kilometre course running from close to the RSPB Conwy nature reserve, towards Conwy Castle, before finishing in nearby Deganwy.

The event is held every Saturday at 9am, and is therefore a key initiative in maintaining the fitness of people in the area and promoting a healthier lifestyle.

Organiser Donald Hale, who has completed 132 parkruns, said: “It is a real community event and is technically not a race but a great and very popular social event where most of the runners or walkers enjoy a catch up, especially after such a torrid couple of years following this pandemic.

“Parkrun is not just for elite runners but for everyone, of any age or ability.

“It is so essential for mental and physical health.”

However, Welsh restrictions currently cap outdoor events at 50 people, meaning just a fraction of normal parkrun goers were able to attend the anniversary.

This has caused some controversy within the Conwy running fraternity, with the impact on mental health, as well as the validity of the ban, being brought into question.

Hale commented: “I was very disappointed when the Welsh Government dropped the restrictions to outdoor events to just 50 people which meant that any participation in the parkrun, cross country, and all other running events is impossible.

“It hurt even more as in Wales, and especially at Conwy, we had only just got going again during the summer following a break due to covid-19 from 14th March 2020.”

A petition from Welsh Athletics, Parkrun UK and Welsh Rugby sparked the Welsh Government into increasing the limit to fall closer in line with Scotland’s figure of 500, allowing future parkruns to return to some form of normality.

Hale added: “Regrettably, it took the Welsh Government about six weeks too long to come to the correct decision, cancel their ridiculous ruling, and finally lift the numbers permitted.”

The 283rd Conwy parkrun, and first since the relaxation of restrictions, was held the following weekend in which 200 runners and walkers participated.