Decision taken to postpone Sunday's race due to amber weather warning

With the extreme temperatures predicted for Sunday and the resultant amber weather warning, the Community Sports Foundation have taken the decision to postpone Run Norwich 2022.

This decision has been taken for the safety of runners, volunteers, spectators, and anyone else due to be attending the event.

The amber weather warning for Sunday includes the following wording:

“Population-wide adverse health effects are likely to be experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to potential serious illness or danger to life.”

That warning is clear, and it would therefore be irresponsible of us to ask thousands of people, including a significant number of first-time runners, to push themselves physically in the predicted conditions, even with additional mitigation.

It is likely that a number of people would require additional medical support from emergency services beyond our own extended medical provision for the race; we must not add to the pressure on our emergency services unnecessarily and potentially compromise the level of care that they can provide to others in need during this testing period.

Throughout the decision-making process, safety was the absolute priority.

There is a significant financial impact of postponement on the charity, which means that it is crucial that the race takes place later this year.

With this in mind, we have rescheduled the 2022 race to Sunday, October 23rd and are working with all key suppliers and stakeholders to make this possible.

We would like to thank those suppliers and stakeholders for their flexibility as we look to reduce the financial impact and put everything in place for the new date. This includes Norwich Cathedral, who would like to assure their congregation that services will take place as normal on Sunday, and that they will be able to park in Cathedral Close.

Dan Wynne from the Community Sports Foundation said:

“While it is hugely disappointing to postpone after so much work and anticipation, the decision was unanimous among the team after receiving information and guidance from our Health and Safety Adviser and Medical Providers.

“We had already begun to implement our hot weather measures, with an additional water station along the route, increased supplies of water at the start and finish, and bolstered medical support, but even with these steps we did not feel that we could reduce the risk to a satisfactory level.

“We know there will be disappointment and disruption to plans, but we hope that most people will understand our decision and join us for the rescheduled race.

“We urge everyone to take care and follow advice during this period of extreme hot weather.”

Please see key information below – we are working to finalise further details and will share them as soon as possible.

Runners

Your entry for the 2022 race will remain valid for the rescheduled date
There will be a window for those who cannot make the rescheduled date to transfer their place to others (details TBC)
Those who ordered merchandise will be able to collect it at the rescheduled expo (details TBC)
Charity runners will be contacted by their respective chosen charity
If you have received a running number in the post, please retain this while we work with our timing company on the best course of action
This week’s expo (15th/16th) is also cancelled, and we will confirm in due course how runners may receive/collect their number for the rescheduled event.

Volunteers