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Mayflower 400 Harwich Half Marathon
Harwich Half 2021 race postponement notice
Important Announcment
What a year it has been so far! It was the 15th March 2020, just 20 days before the race, when we took the difficult decision to postpone the Mayflower 400 Harwich Half Marathon. At the time the Coronavirus was starting to take a grip of the UK and we felt we had to act in the best interests of runners, volunteers, organisers, spectators and the wider community of Harwich. As it transpired the decision would have been taken out of our hands anyhow by the lockdown that was subsequently introduced shortly afterwards.
Our decision to postpone left us with a choice - hope for the Coronavirus to not take a grip and postpone to autumn 2020 or postpone for a full year until Sunday 11 April 2021. The decision to move to April 2021, until now, seemed like it was a good one as various events, including the London Marathon, moved to later in 2020 only to be cancelled or changed to a virtual event.
It is now over two years since we began planning for the return of the Harwich Half Marathon and we were desperate to provide our entrants with a fantastic race experience whilst raising money for the local community.
As the revised date of 11 April 2021 approaches we would like to provide you with an update and our plans for the Mayflower 400 Harwich Half Marathon. We want to give as much information to you in advance as we appreciate as runners the importance of having information to make decisions around training and event participation.
By April 2021, it is impossible to imagine that the race will be able to go ahead in the manner that we wish. We have been meeting regularly to go through various permutations such as Virtual Races, waved starts, staggered starts and small paced group runs. Alongside this the additional and vital safety considerations for runners, volunteers, local residents and spectators combined with risk assessments, race permits and road closure applications are all necessary in order to fulfil the vision that we have. Unfortunately, Covid has not gone away and the future is still very uncertain.
Therefore, after much discussion and deliberation, we have decided that the the Mayflower 400 Half Marathon will not go ahead this year as planned. I am sure you understand the reasons for this as and we are as disappointed as I am sure you are.
The Harwich Half Marathon is now proposed to take place on Sunday 3rd April 2022. This date will coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Harwich Half Marathon and we hope to make this truly an event and celebration to remember!
Information for runners
All entries will be automatically carried over to the postponed event date in April 2022. Entries will remain open as will the existing runner transfer process.
Every runner who has a place in the Mayflower 400 Harwich Half Marathon will be able to use their place in the rescheduled event on Sunday 3rd April 2022 without taking any further action.
As all profits from the Mayflower 400 Harwich Half Marathon are being put back in to the local community via the Harwich Runners and the Rotary Club of Harwich and Dovercourt, a decision has been taken to reuse the already purchased memorabilia for the rescheduled event on Sunday 3 April 2022.
All runners that choose not to take part (or are unable to do so) in the rescheduled event on Sunday 3 April 2022 may receive their race medal and t-shirt that has been purchased for all entrants - please email stephen@harwichrunners.co.uk to arrange collection/delivery of your purchased items. Please note, if you choose to take this option then you will be removed from the entrants list for the rescheduled event on Sunday 3 April 2022 but can reenter.
Summary of options and actions required
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1. Defer entry to the postponed Mayflower 400 Harwich Half Marathon - no action required
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2. Receive your medal and t-shirt that has already been purchased - contact stephen@harwichrunners.co.uk
We are sure you understand the difficulties faced in organising events during the current climate but look forward to seeing as many of you as we can as part of our postponed Mayflower 400 Harwich Half Marathon in 2022.
Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to welcoming you to our postponed Mayflower 400 Harwich Half Marathon.