2000’s Run Series

[av_image src=’https://www.redwayrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MK-50-final-RED-LARGE-300×176.jpg’ attachment=’7470′ align=’center’ animation=’no-animation’ link=” target=”] [av_hr class=’default’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’] [av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’2000’s RUN SERIES – THURSDAY 3RD AUGUST’ color=” style=” custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’][/av_heading] [av_hr class=’default’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’] [av_image src=’https://www.redwayrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2000s-300×144.jpg’ attachment=’7514′ align=’center’ animation=’no-animation’ link=” target=”] [av_hr class=’default’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’] [av_textblock] Aside from the change to a whole new century, the Milton Keynes Census in 2001 saw a population of 207,063 and John Prescott in 2004 announcing expansion plans for MK saying it was set to double in the next 20 years. The extract below is taken from the MK50 official site and documents some of the key activities in that decade (Click HERE to visit the MK50 site for further information) 2000 The Xscape complex was opened: home to the UK’s first indoor real snow and, at the time, longest ski slope. 2002 Milton Keynes Lightning ice hockey club was founded. 2004 Milton Keynes Dons Football Club was founded. It had formerly been Wimbledon F.C. who had controversially relocated from London to play in Milton Keynes. The ‘Dons’ part of the name is a reference to the former club. 2005 The estimated population of Milton Keynes Borough was 224,500. British Touring Cars fill the streets with an estimated 12,000 people visiting Milton Keynes to view the cars as they parade up and down the boulevards. 2006 The estimated population of Milton Keynes Borough was 224,500. The Parks Trust took over the maintenance and upkeep of MK’s green spaces. 2007 stadiumMK home to MK Dons F.C., was opened by HRH Queen Elizabeth. The Stables expands with ‘Stage 2’; offering a more intimate performance space. The National Museum of Computing opened in 2007. The commercial shopping centres look to the arts to drive up visitors with Light Fantastic; an aerial light and sound show outside M&S with 50,000 spectators. Milton Keynes celebrates its 40th Birthday. A competition to design a Birthday logo for the City was launched and the resulting 40th logo was utilised across the City. In the summer of 2007 a Birthday Party for the City was held. The celebrations were called the Big Moo. Arriva made all bus fares 40p for the event, there was a Battle of Britain fly-over, a commemorative first day cover and a successful Official Guinness Book of World Records attempt for the most number of people face painted a Cow! Even MK Dons Chairman Pete Winkelman got involved with his face being painted as seen on the Commemorative edition of GO! From MK Citizen. The event was covered on ITV and BBC news programmes. The weekend long party saw over 25,000 people involved, joining in the fun and making the 40th a year to remember. 2008 Milton Keynes Dons won promotion to League One after winning the League Two title. Milton Keynes’ Fringe Festival is established by artist Sally Annett with a contemporary programme of installations, exhibitions, performances and experiments. 2009 The Royal Train Sheds; once home the Royal Trains, was reopened as award winning apartments. Bletchley Leisure Centre is redeveloped and launched with artists commissions both inside and outside of the building made by Vanessa Dell and the community. 2010 Milton Keynes hosts the first iteration of the biennial IF: Milton Keynes International Festival, produced by The Stables. 2011 An estimated 60,000 people watch local F1 team Red Bull Racing hit the streets of Milton Keynes as they celebrated back-to-back World Championships with their cars and drivers on their Homerun event. 2012 The multi-million pound Network Rail national headquarters building opens in Central Milton Keynes. 2013 International Artist Gordon Young opens his newest piece; MK Rose in Campbell Park for celebration, commemoration and contemplation. 2015 stadiumMK is host to three matches in Rugby World Cup 2015 and Milton Keynes welcomes the world. A new library at Kingston is opened which is largely self-service and volunteer run. [/av_textblock] [av_hr class=’default’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’] [av_gallery ids=’7518,7519,7520,7521,7522,7523′ style=’thumbnails’ preview_size=’portfolio’ crop_big_preview_thumbnail=’avia-gallery-big-crop-thumb’ thumb_size=’portfolio’ columns=’6′ imagelink=’lightbox’ lazyload=’avia_lazyload’] [av_hr class=’default’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’] [av_textblock] Our 2000′s Run will visit lots of the iconic places from this decade. The route is just over 5.5 miles in total and will visit (among others) The Xscape building which opened in 2000 as the 2nd tallest building in MK. Did you know that the two funnels on the front that look like lifts or a cooling system are actually stairs? The Grand Union Canal which in 2001 held the IWA’s National Waterways Festival and attracted 25,000 visitors, 347 boats and 320 caravans. The MK Arena nicknamed the Thunderdome! home of MK Lighting formed in 2002 The site of the old Hockey Stadium which became the first home of MK Dons in 2003 and now houses the Network Rail HQ building Avebury Boulevard where the British Touring Cars came to Milton Keynes on 15th September 2005 racing up and down in front of a crowd of 12,000 The hub which completed in 2007 and was officially opened by the Queen. Its MK’s most popular alfresco dining and lifestyle venue. The run will start and finish at the car park on the canal at the very end of Silbury Boulevard SEE YOU ON THURSDAY 3RD AUGUST AT 7PM FOR A RUN THROUGH THE 2000′s [/av_textblock] [av_image src=’https://www.redwayrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2000-route-300×196.jpg’ attachment=’7516′ align=’center’ animation=’no-animation’ link=” target=”]