Quartet help to make city 10k a Commonwealth of nations...
MEET four of the runners proudly representing their home nations as part of this year’s Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K featuring the Commonwealth Run.
Organisers of the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k have created a distinctly Commonwealth theme at the event to raise the profile of the city’s bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
And runners representing Canada, Jamaica, England and Wales, gath- ered at Birmingham’s Council House in Victoria Square to meet each other for the first time ahead of the race on Sunday, April 30.
The Commonwealth run will feature elite teams from as many Commonwealth countries, with 20 nations now signed up.
Meeting for the first time were runners Alison Fox (Canada), from Nottingham, Thomas Glave (Jamaica), from Birmingham, Graham Williams (Wales), from Smethwick, and Adam Guy (England), from Birmingham.
They were joined by Birminghamborn Ian Stewart – one of the world’s leading distance runners between the late 1960s and mid-1970s, who flew the flag for Scotland. Admin worker Alison, who hails from Ontario, has lost a remarkable 11 stone in weight since she started running following a family bereavement.
Alison’s grandfather was born in Scotland and after completing a study-abroad year in Leeds in 2011 she applied for a UK ancestry visa to allow her to live and work in the UK.
“I only started running two years ago when I was trying to lose weight,” said the 29-year-old.
“I discovered I really enjoyed Before, I couldn’t run five feet, alone 10k!
“I’ve now lost just under 11 stone it. let and I recently completed my first marathon. I’m really excited to be representing Canada at the Great Birmingham 10k.
“One of my running heroes is the Canadian marathon record holder Lanni Marchant and I asked her for some advice before my first full marathon and she even congratulated me after I finished it.”
Liz McColgan, one of Britain’s most distinguished athletes, will be jetting into Birmingham from her home in Qatar to take part in the Commonwealth Run as she captains the Scotland team.
The 52 year-old will be among the 7,000 people running, jogging or walking in the event.
The University of Birmingham already has a large team signed up to take part in the event and has pledged to support the Commonwealth campaign.
“With a population of over a million people in the city and an array of Commonwealth nationalities, we’re looking forward to a spectacular day in Birmingham,” said Great Run communications director David Hart.
Applicants interested in representing their Commonwealth nation or territory should apply via commonwealth@greatrun.org – and be able to confirm that they are a passport holder or born in the relevant Commonwealth nation.