With thousands of vaccines being delivered every week, hopes of returning to some form of normality are rising.
For many, that will mean a return to events and activities which have been put on hold since last year.
Parkrun is one of these events – free, weekly 5k runs which take place across the world.
Prior to lockdown restriction coming into force, five locations across Ayrshire hosted a parkrun at 9.30am every Saturday morning.
Those registered with parkrun are provided with a barcode which is scanned at their local event to track their time.
Here are the Ayrshire runs to get involved in once restrictions are lifted, if you fancy it:
Eglinton Country Park, Kilwinning/Irvine
A mixture of tarmac and trail paths, the Eglinton parkrun route takes participants through the park’s gardens, around the loch and through the countryside.
Due to the use of tracks and trails, part of the course can become muddy following rainfall.
The course begins at the Clement Wilson Gardens below the park’s castle ruins.
The female record for this route is currently held by Lindsay Johnson who completed it in 16:52, and Jonathan Hopkins holds the men’s record with a time of 15:48.
Eglinton Parkrun has an average finishing time of 28:59, with around 140 runners completing the course every week.
Free carparking is available near the Tournament Café.
(Pic: Eglinton Parkrun Facebook)
Dean Castle Country Park, Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock’s parkrun route follows a mixture of footpaths and tracks in Dean Castle Country Park.
The course takes runners over the stone bridge, past the animal paddocks and along the route of the Craufurdland water.
The route loops back towards the bridge, before joining the path following the Fenwick water and returning to finish at the starting point.
The women’s course record is 20:35, run by Jennifer Wetton, with Kieran Cooper holding the men’s record of 16:58.
The average finishing time for this course is 30:10.
(Pic: Dean Castle Parkrun Facebook)
Rozelle Park, Ayr
Beginning on the track north of the park’s pavilion, Ayr parkrun is a trail of one and half loops.
It takes runners through trails on the perimeter of the park, finishing up on the track at the South side of the pavilion.
Sean Chalmers set the course record of 17:02 in 2019, with Toni McIntosh holding the women’s record time of 19:32.
The average finishing time for the Ayr route is 30:42.
Rozelle Park has a number of parking areas, but those taking part in the parkrun should use the main gate car park.
(Pic: Ayr Parkrun Facebook)
South Beach Esplanade, Troon
Starting from the Sunken Garden, Troon parkrun sees participants cover a 5k route along the Ayrshire coast.
Runners head north along the South Beach Esplanade, before looping back to finish at their starting point.
The average finishing time for this course is 28:42.
Jennifer Wetton holds the women’s course record with a time of 18:00. The men’s record time is 15:18, set by Sean Chalmers.
Parking is available at the South Beach Esplanade and is free for two hours.
(Pic: Troon Parkrun Facebook)
Stair Park, Girvan
Girvan parkrun is a two lap course around Stair Park and along the seafront.
The route’s terrain is partly made up of tarmac path, with grass underfoot in the Stair Park section of the run.
The course records are held by Toni McIntosh and Stuart Livingstone, with times of 18:00 and 16:10 respectively.
The run starts next to the Quay Zone leisure centre and has an average finishing time of 31:18.
Car parking is available next to the start/finish point, with public toilets nearby also.
(Pic: Girvan Parkrun Facebook)
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