Weymouth parkrun suspended after surge in runners sparks safety fears
Weymouth parkrun is being suspended for two weeks after a surge in attendance raised safety concerns
Weymouth’s popular Saturday parkrun has been suspended for at least two weeks after organisers warned that rising numbers and an increase in incidents had created “worrying” safety conditions.
The free 5km event at Lodmoor Country Park will not take place on the 22nd or 29th of August while organisers introduce new signage and consider how the route can be made safer for runners and members of the public.
More than 500 people have been taking part in recent weeks, with the event recording a particularly large turnout of 690 runners on August 1st.
Organisers announced the suspension on Facebook, saying the growth in participation had been accompanied by an increase in reports to run directors of people being tripped or barged into.
The statement said: “Our numbers have increased over the summer but more worryingly, the number of incidents reported to the Run Director have also increased and if we want to enjoy our parkrun in the future, we need to take action now.”
Participants are regularly asked to keep to the left-hand side of the path, particularly on the route’s out-and-back section.
Organisers said most runners followed the guidance, but there had been repeated reports of people attempting to overtake when there was insufficient space.
“Runners and members of the public are getting tripped and barged,” the organisers said.
They added that responding to each reported incident also placed a significant demand on the volunteer team, with each case requiring “several hours of work”.
The decision prompted hundreds of comments from participants, many of whom backed the temporary cancellation and described the route as a “problem”.
The suspension comes as parkrun continues to grow in popularity, including in Weymouth where the event is attracting its largest crowds during the summer.
Runners looking for an alternative can attend other nearby parkruns, including events at the Great Field in Poundbury, Dorchester, and St Mary’s Field at Bridport FC.
For Weymouth participants, however, the cancellation means two Saturday mornings without the familiar sight of hundreds of runners filling the paths of Lodmoor Country Park.