Coronavirus: Lewes Moyleman marathon to go ahead, organisers confirm

In a Facebook post published this morning (Wednesday, March 11) the team said: “Our best understanding is that UK government is not asking small-scale gatherings such as the Moyleman to stop, and attending this event would not add to the risk of infection transmission we all encounter in day-to-day life.

“We therefore plan to go ahead with the Moyleman race on Sunday, unless there is emergency Government advice in the coming days to stop such events.”

Race entry for the popular fixture is sold out, with 350 runners expected to take part.

In a statement to the Express, race director Duncan Rawson said: “With the risks of Covid-19 and the range of public health measures in place in the UK and overseas, this is a stressful and challenging time for everyone – ourselves, friends and the communities in which we live and work.

“We have looked at all best advice from government, including Public Health England, to make sure we can go ahead with the event on Sunday.

“We have put a range of mitigation measures in place so people can attend and take part in the run, without creating additional unnecessary risk. We think this is the right thing to do.

“I am sure it will be an enjoyable and rewarding event for everyone involved, after the months of preparation which runners will have undertaken and the commitment of our amazing team of marshals and volunteers.”

In the Facebook post, the team said mitigation measures on Sunday would include: aiming to have supplies of handwash/sanitiser at the start and end of the race; asking those that feel unwell on the day to consider not attending; holding the pre-race briefing outside at the race start, rather than in the hall of its race headquarters – Wallands Community Primary School; holding the number issuing in a separate dining hall ‘to allow more space to spread out’; and that it will discourage handshakes or ‘unnecessary physical contact’.

The team added that if it was not able to operate the run due to government advice or action that it would assess what reasonable steps could be taken, including postponing the event to later in the year.