Birmingham Half Marathon: Sun shines as 15,000 pound streets

Oct 24 2010 by Catherine Lillington, Birmingham Mail

THE sun was shining on the Second City as 15,000 people took to the streets for the Birmingham Half Marathon.

Runners broke personal bests and raised thousands for charity in what was the biggest event of its kind yet.

Organisers hailed the event as a major success - but conceded a number of runners aiming for the two-hour mark were halted close to the finish line due to medical incidents which “had to be dealt with quickly”.

But St John Ambulance said throughout the race 75 people needed treatment for minor injuries only, which included exhaustion sprains and strains.

Talk of the finish line though was local lad Paul Thompson, from Solihull, who came sixth at 1 hour 7 mins 51 secs in his first EVER half marathon.

The 18-year-old tourism student, who runs for the Birmingham Running and Triathlon Club, said he shocked himself after he decided to “give it a shot”.

“I was even getting support from athletes running past me. It’s just great to know people know you are from Birmingham,” he said.

“I was targeting about 70 to 75 minutes but it’s just fantastic to pull off this time – I’m shocked myself. I knew I was good on the road but I never thought I was this good.”

Paul said he ran in memory of his schoolfriend 19-year-old James Tierney, from Weoley Castle, who was killed in a road accident last week and said of him “he was a great guy”.

The modest college student was only moments behind winner 19-year-old Kenyan Edwin Kipyego who crossed the finish line in 1 hour 3 mins 50 secs.

Keeping warm in a bin liner before the race was retired Dave Onion, aged 70, from Nottingham, who didn’t take up running until the tender age of 58.

He hoped to finish in 1 hour 55 mins and told how he has already run 25 half marathons this year.