08-10-2011, 07:04 AM
The first Bupa Great Birmingham Run, which is to be staged on Sunday 23 October, has reached its entry limit of 15,000 runners.
The half marathon distance event, which will feature runners of all abilities with international athletes at the head of the field, will be televised to the nation live on Channel 5.
Formerly the Birmingham Half Marathon, the event has been renamed the Bupa Great Birmingham Run, and will be organised by Nova, the team behind the Bupa Great North Run, the worldââ¬â¢s biggest half marathon with 54,000 participants.
Former Olympic medalist and Chairman of Nova, Brendan Foster said, ââ¬ÅBirmingham has all the ingredients for hosting a major international running event and we are delighted to be finally staging the Bupa Great Birmingham Run. The Council has laid the foundations with the Birmingham Half Marathon in recent years and we hope, with their support, that we can take it to the next level.ââ¬Â
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, Cllr Martin Mullaney, said: "This is great news and shows the event is now going from strength to strength. That was always our intention when we joined forces with Nova and this year's half marathon will be the biggest and best yet.
ââ¬ÅWe are proud of how the event has become an important fixture on the sporting calendar and this year's 15,000 runners can be sure of fantastic support from the people of Birmingham."
The course will feature a modified start and finish area in the city centre, with runners being set off in a series of waves from 10am.
With the limit reached, no more entries will be accepted for this yearââ¬â¢s event.
The half marathon distance event, which will feature runners of all abilities with international athletes at the head of the field, will be televised to the nation live on Channel 5.
Formerly the Birmingham Half Marathon, the event has been renamed the Bupa Great Birmingham Run, and will be organised by Nova, the team behind the Bupa Great North Run, the worldââ¬â¢s biggest half marathon with 54,000 participants.
Former Olympic medalist and Chairman of Nova, Brendan Foster said, ââ¬ÅBirmingham has all the ingredients for hosting a major international running event and we are delighted to be finally staging the Bupa Great Birmingham Run. The Council has laid the foundations with the Birmingham Half Marathon in recent years and we hope, with their support, that we can take it to the next level.ââ¬Â
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, Cllr Martin Mullaney, said: "This is great news and shows the event is now going from strength to strength. That was always our intention when we joined forces with Nova and this year's half marathon will be the biggest and best yet.
ââ¬ÅWe are proud of how the event has become an important fixture on the sporting calendar and this year's 15,000 runners can be sure of fantastic support from the people of Birmingham."
The course will feature a modified start and finish area in the city centre, with runners being set off in a series of waves from 10am.
With the limit reached, no more entries will be accepted for this yearââ¬â¢s event.