A 5km running route has been created in Princes Park in Toxteth.
The Friends of Princes Park have been supported by the Royal Liverpool Hospital and Liverpool City Council’s Public Health and Outdoor Recreation teams to create Liverpool’s first Run England 3-2-1 running route.
The route highlights some of the features of the park including the lake, tennis courts, the outdoor exercise facilities and the play parks and can also be used by walkers and cyclists alike.
Councillor Tim Moore, Cabinet member for parks, said: “These waymarkers will help to encourage walking, running and exercising, helping people to stay fit and healthy as well as enjoying the surroundings of this fantastic park.
“I’m delighted that we have been able to install them for the first time in Liverpool in Princes Park.”
As part of the Run England programme from England Athletics this route makes up one piece of the jigsaw that helps to provide a supportive pathway for beginner runners in the city.
Craig Blain, Run England Area Coordinator for the North, said: “Run England as a programme is aiming to support more people to get more active and through running and one aspect of this is the development of routes as part of our 3-2-1 programme. These marked and distance referenced routes provide a hand rail for people stepping out for the first time on their own and we hope this will be the first of many routes for the city.”
Katy Gardiner, chair of the Friends of Princes Park said: “The Friends groups are delighted to have the Run England 3-2-1 Route installed in the park.
“Running in the park has really taken off in the past few years with the success of the parkrun here every Saturday, and we hope the route will help to get more people to have a go at running”.
Graham Furniss, from Liverpool Royal Hospital added: Exercise reduces the risk of many health conditions and improves wellbeing.
“The full 5km route will help you to burn off 300 or 400 calories and help to keep you in good shape.
“Most importantly, running is enjoyable and is definitely more fun with friends, so why not get your trainers on and give it a go!”
The Public Health team will be conducting a free prize draw survey of running activity in Princes Park and are appealing for people to take part. The prize will be £50 worth of Natterjacks Running store vouchers courtesy of Run England. The Survey will be conducted from 1st to 31st March, and the winner will be drawn after the 1st April. Fill it in here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/runprincesparksurvey
To find your local 3-2-1 route and to find out more about the support on offer from England Athletics as a recreational runner please visit www.runengland.org
