Virtual Bath Half Marathon set up as runners ‘boycott’ event due to fears of spreading coronavirus – Somerset Live

A group of runners are banding together to run a virtual Bath Half Marathon as a “boycott” against the event.

The Bath Half Marathon organisers have said the race will be going ahead tomorrow (Sunday, March 15) despite concerns about the spread of coronavirus.

Organisers said “it is now too late for us to cancel or postpone the event” despite being aware the government is considering banning future public events.

Bath Half Marathon has received growing calls from residents, participants and even Bath MP Wera Hobhouse to cancel the event in light of the pandemic.

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Some runners have chosen to pull out of the event and will instead run a ‘virtual Bath Half Marathon’, which will see runners tackle a 13-mile route in their areas.

has been set up where participants will be encouraged to share their photos, run times and track their runs.

Paula Bailey, one of those set to run a virtual Bath Half Marathon, said the group has been set up to “support one another”.

She is planning to run a route in Midford on the former railway line from Wellow to Bath Tunnels area.

She said: “A large group of runners are now boycotting tomorrow’s Bath half marathon and instead are doing our own runs.

“Each of us are planning to run the distance and record our times.

“All charities will then receive their money that we have raised and no one loses out from all our hard efforts in training.”

She, like others, feel it is the wrong decision for Bath Half Marathon to go ahead.

Mrs Bailey said: “Personally I find it appalling that that the organisers of the Bath half have not cancelled or postponed the event given the current circumstances.

“People’s lives are at risk and we do not feel running tomorrow in Bath will benefit anyone.”

Bath Rugby Foundation has announced it will withdraw from Bath Half Marathon, citing growing concerns about coronavirus and runners’ safety.

The charity has said it has been “in discussion for days” and confirmed their decision less than 24 hours before the start of the race.

A statement added they “do not want to put any of our supporters or their loved ones at risk” but thanked everyone who was due to run or volunteer for Bath Rugby Foundation.

The Forever Friends’ Appeal, charity of Royal United Hospital, will also not officially attend the event, although individual runners for the charity can still choose to run.

In a joint message from head of fundraising Rhyannon Boyd and her deputy Richard Gyde last night (Friday, March 13), the charity said the decision was made with a “heavy heart.”