Story added: 7th April 2020

Race to now take place on Sunday, October 18 at 9.30am

The Norwich City Community Sports Foundation have taken the decision to reschedule this year’s Run Norwich to Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 9:30am.

All entries for the 2020 race remain valid for the rescheduled date, however the transfer procedure is outlined further down this article for those who are unable to make the new date.

The importance of rescheduling

Run Norwich is the largest and most critical of the Community Sports Foundation’s annual fundraising events, many of which are under threat or being rescheduled at this incredibly challenging time.

The money raised annually from Run Norwich helps the Foundation to continue its vital work in the community for people with disabilities and people from disadvantaged backgrounds, work which will become even more important in the coming months as our community relies on our support to bounce back during this difficult time.

In addition, we have partnered with 12 other local causes this year to provide them with fundraising places in Run Norwich; each of these causes are under similar pressure to sustain their services for the groups that they support.

Put simply, we and these other worthy causes cannot afford to cancel the event for 2020, or gamble by waiting to see if Run Norwich can take place on the usual weekend.

In addition, Run Norwich brings a large number of people together for a joyous celebration of running and our amazing city; the benefits of staging this event are more than just the essential fundraising it creates.

Run Norwich increases footfall to city centre businesses, it gives people a goal on their road to fitness, or a challenge to complete in memory of lost loved ones.

It brings people together in a way that we can only dream about at this time of isolation and separation, and we are desperate to put on that amazing morning for you all when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Finding a date

In recent weeks, the Foundation’s Run Norwich team discussed a range of potential dates, many of which provided different obstacles as they clashed with various pre-existing or rescheduled events in the running, city, and Football Club’s respective or potential calendars. We also have the added challenge of rescheduling the Foundation’s other fundraising events and coordinating the resource of our staff in such a condensed period of activity.

Finding a date has also required some external collaboration: we are enormously grateful for the support and flexibility of Great Yarmouth Road Runners and Great Yarmouth Borough Council at this time. The date we have selected is the traditional weekend for their East Coast 10k, which has now been rescheduled to Sunday, November 29, 2020.

Andrew Baker, the Chairman at Great Yarmouth Road Runners, said:

“The Great Yarmouth East Coast 10k is organised by Great Yarmouth Road Runners and Great Yarmouth Borough Council and I’m very pleased that we could all work together with Run Norwich to organise a new date for our race of November 29^th, meaning Run Norwich can successfully go ahead on October 18^th.

“This now gives all the Run Norwich runners the opportunity to compete at both events and means all the various charities involved can benefit from much needed donations from both races.  The East Coast 10k has been a big event for Great Yarmouth for many years and last year’s race was the largest yet, so we’re really looking forward to this year’s event.”

It is our intention to support the rescheduled East Coast 10k with our marketing and volunteering resources to show our thanks and to help ensure the success of an event which is key to the sustainability of Great Yarmouth Road Runners.

One of the objectives of Run Norwich is to boost the local running community and we are determined that the East Coast 10k will not suffer by accommodating the Run Norwich date change.

We would like to also thank Neil Featherby and SportLink Running & Fitness (East Coast 10k sponsors) for their help, advice and flexibility over the date change.