The waiting is finally over as parkrun makes its long awaited return to Kent on Saturday morning.

It’s been a long time coming for the fans of the 5km run or walk with thousands expected to gather at the events across the county from 9am on Saturday morning.

After a few false dawns, the go ahead for the return on Saturday 24th July has been welcomed by thousands across Kent.

Who could have foreseen what was to come back on Saturday March 14th 2020?

Over 16 months later and all of Kent’s parkrun venues will fire back into action at the weekend.

The volunteers have to work within a new Covid framework, but it will still look and feel almost the same for the runners and walkers.

Not having parkrun in my life has been a real miss and I don’t think any of us should underestimate the effect it has on our physical and mental health.

Meeting up with friends, running or walking with others, meeting new people, sharing that satisfaction of completing another 5km, it’s certainly been a hole in my life this past year or so.

It was parkrun that re-enforced my love of running and gave me structure every week.

I’ve met some really lovely people through parkrun – some lifelong friends.

I appreciate there will be some people that are still nervous about returning and with Covid figures on the rise across Kent, it seems illogical to be gathering in large groups, but all the evidence I’ve seen suggests I am more than safe outside.

For me, the benefits more than outweigh the risks and if we’re all sensible, parkrun will remain on the calendar now.

I’ve certainly become a convert to parkrun in recent years and sitting on 237 events, I have been looking forward to hitting the 250 milestone for some time now.

If you’ve never been and are contemplating bringing parkrun into your life – do it! It will be one of the best decisions you will ever make!

Here are the parkrun events that will return across Kent on Saturday:

Ashford parkrun

Beckenham Place parkrun

Bedgebury Pinetum parkrun

Bexley parkrun

Bromley parkrun

Canterbury parkrun

Cyclopark parkrun

Dartford parkrun

Dartford Heath parkrun

Folkestone parkrun

Great Lines parkrun, Medway

Lullingstone parkrun

Maidstone parkrun

Malling parkrun

Margate parkrun

Orpington parkrun

Pegwell Bay parkrun

Royal Tunbridge Wells parkrun

Shorne Woods parkrun

Squerryes Winery parkrun

The Leas parkrun, Minster

Tonbridge parkrun

Walmer and Deal Seafront parkrun

Whitstable parkrun

Oh…. and don’t forget your barcode!