Ready, steady, go …it’s junior parkrun!

AN international initiative, which encourages young people to don their running gear and get active has launched in Warrington.
Junior Parkrun is a 2km timed leisure run which takes place at Orford Park every Sunday.
Following a successful test run, the first junior event attracted  more than 60 young people, aged four – 14 taking part.
The free run forms part of the wider Parkrun family of events, including the very popular and successful Warrington Parkrun in Victoria Park which has been running since January last year.
The route taken by the Warrington junior Parkrun is flat and easy to negotiate, so people of all abilities are invited to join in. Participants can take part as often as they want and don’t need to make a long-term commitment.
The Orford event is run by volunteers and funded by LiveWire, Active Cheshire and Warrington Running Club, who have been working together to bring this Parkrun to the town.
The Parkrun movement began in London in 2004 with 13 runners. Today, there are more than 350 Parkruns throughout the UK with thousands of participants.
Louise Shannon, community engagement and sports inclusion officer at LiveWire, said: “LiveWire has been working hard with Active Cheshire and Warrington Running Club to secure funding to bring this junior Parkrun to Warrington, so it was fantastic to see so many keen young runners take part in our first event. The Mayor, Cllr Geoff Settle, Warrington Wolves mascot Wolfie and our very own mascot, Jet, helped us launch this exciting, new programme.”
Anne Boyd, chief executive at Active Cheshire, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Warrington’s first junior parkrun, and it’s wonderful to see so many young people getting active. It’s important to introduce physical activity at an early age so that it becomes a part of everyday life. Active Cheshire aims to get 50,000 more people, more active, more often by 2017, and this project is helping to achieve our ambition.”