Dear Runner,
We hope that you, your family, loved ones and friends have been safe throughout what has been a very difficult and testing 2020 and we, like most, are glad to see the back of it. As we enter 2021 we are looking ahead to what the year might have to offer and feel optimistic about the future of events. We have always planned and operated within the current national and local guidelines that are prevalent at the time. Unfortunately, we were beaten twice by Covid in 2020 (March and September) and the Weymouth Half Marathon was rescheduled to the 21st March 2021.
It is uncertain whether we will be in full lock down or a tiered system by March. In tier 3, England Athletics guidance does allow outdoor events to take place, with some specific Covid adaptations to ensure the safety and well being of both competitors and spectators. Our covid specific plans, risk assessments, participant and spectator codes of conducts for the Weymouth Half Marathon have previously received no objections from the Dorset multi-agency Safety Advisory Group (including public health England). However, in tier 4, events are not allowed to take place and people cannot travel from a tier 4 area to an event in a lower tier.
We continue to liaise and work together with all of our key stakeholders and have now been advised that given the current set of circumstances and uncertainty with regards to gatherings, community concerns, tier levels, lockdowns and restrictions, it is unlikely that we will be given permission to host this event on the planned rescheduled date of 21st March 2021. In taking action now and rearranging the 2020 Weymouth Half Marathon to Sunday 13th June, we feel that this gives us the best opportunity to ensure we are able to successfully deliver this event to you and it gives you optimal time for any planning needed.
The following will now happen:
The 2020 Weymouth Half Marathon will take place on Sunday 13th June 2021. Your entry will automatically be transferred to this date and you do not need to do anything. Please keep your race number and timing chip as you will still need to use it for this event. For those who have entered after the March 2020 event and have not received a race number and timing chip, they will be sent out nearer to the event.
Should you prefer to take a virtual run option, instead of the transfer, this must be completed on either Saturday 20th or Sunday 21st March. Just run 13.1 miles anywhere, send your evidence to alan@justracinguk.com before the end of Sunday 21st March and we will then send you your finishers medal and buff and remove you from the rearranged 2020 event.
We hope you understand how difficult the current situation is and share our hope that things will improve throughout 2021.
Best regards,
Alan and The Team