It is the world's biggest running event, with millions of participants every week, but parkrun has been off on Saturday mornings since March.

As participation sports have gradually started up following the coronavirus lockdown, park runners have been left wondering when Saturday mornings were ever going to get back to normal for them.

But an announcement on parkrun's blog confirmed that it will be back in England by the end of October.

Global chief executive officer Nick Pearson wrote: "Ever since parkrun events closed in the UK and across the world, we've been focused on understanding how and when we would be able to resume in a safe and appropriate way.

"Throughout, we have sought to understand the evidence, to be a part of discussions with government and public health bodies, to listen to the parkrun community, and to communicate regularly, transparently and honestly.

"Following detailed conversations with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Sport England, and Public Health England, I am delighted to announce that we intend to reopen parkrun and junior parkrun events in England toward the end of October this year."

This will come as very welcome news to park runners across Gloucestershire, including this Punchline writer who has been a regular park runner since 2015.

Events will be back at 9am on a Saturday morning at:

Cheltenham

King George V Playing Field, Cheltenham

Gloucester City

Gloucester North

Kingsway

Tewkesbury

Stratford Park, Stroud

Stonehouse

Cirencester

Newent

Forest of Dean

Mallards Pike, Lydney

Berkeley Green

Wotton

Tetbury Goods Shed

Fire Service College, Moreton 

(Apologies if we've missed any!)

Junior parkrun events will be back at 9.30am on a Sunday morning for 4-14 year olds at:

Cheltenham

Stonehouse

Forest of Dean

Parkrun has been a huge global success because it has got people of all ages running, jogging, walking, volunteering and making friends on a Saturday morning. Many participants would not have considered running without parkrun.

Many GP practices across the UK diagnose parkrun to help support mental and physical health, particularly for people with long-term health conditions.

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