FLOODS of fitness fanatics have been signing up for a popular annual endurance event after the organiser confirmed it would take place in September.

Last week bookings for the Gelt Gladiator, which is staged at Walton, near Brampton, reopened after twice being called-off due to Covid-19.

In 2020 it was cancelled by event director Mike James but he vowed it would return this year.

In January it was also postponed from June to September.

However on Friday Mike confirmed it will take place on September 18 and 19 in line with prime minister Boris Johnson's roadmap out of the Coronavirus crisis.

In 2019 about 1,500 people took part, now he expecting about 3,000 adults and children who are desperate to get back in shape after the easing of lockdown restrictions.
He has also announced an additional cross border 10k in July, which stretches from Carlisle to Gretna.
Mike said: "It has been an emotional rollercoaster, and I've doing a number of jobs just to get by.
"We are expecting about 3,000 people to sign up to the Gelt Gladiator, we had about 1,000 people who've transferred over from the previous race and already we've had about 50 people sign up over the past couple of days.

"I think people are joining up because they are desperate to do something.

"It's all in line with Boris Johnson's relaxing of social distancing rules, but we'll see at the time what measures need to be put in place, so it is properly managed."

Mike, who's been in the events industry for 20 years, took on a number of jobs after the event was put on hold, including stacking shelves in a supermarket and driving a taxi.

In a post on Facebook Mike last Friday announced that booking are again open
He said: “Please join in if you are new to mud runs or have done them before. 

“We need you all to help save local events.”

"The 10-mile and 10k events will take place on the Saturday, while the 6k and 3k events will be held on the Sunday.

"More details on how to sign up and the transfer of existing entries to the new date will be announced in the coming days.

"The first entries are expected to be open tomorrow, with transferred entrants being contacted directly by email."

Gelt Gladiator was first held in 2015 and had run every year since until the coronavirus pandemic hit.

A residents have expressed their support for Mike on Facebook during the crisis.
One said: “Hopefully it can go ahead.

“Missed it last year, but a round of applause for thinking of others when you desperately need it to go ahead for your business.”

For more information about the events go to: www.geltgladiator.com