Great Birmingham Run 2011

Sunday 23rd October

Click for photos of the Great Birmingham Run in Cannon Hill Park by David Ball 

 Above: Haile Gebrselaissie alongside 2 nd placed Essa Rashed.

 Above: B&R’s first runner Ryan Lee at about halfway.

A large contingent of B&R members raced this half marathon and found themselves in esteemed company as the men’s race was won by the popular Ethiopian double Olympic 10,000 metre gold medallist and former marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie. Whilst club members Phil Anderson and Wondu Beyene were lucky enough to shake Haile’s hand after he had won the race by over a minute, Rob Mole and James King went one better. Arriving in plenty of time and getting ready for the race they bumped in to Haile who was warming up in the same car park and took the chance to run with him!

Gemma Steel now of Charnwood Harriers led the women’s BUPA Series going in to the race and won on the day. Some eagle-eyed B&R members might recognise her as the winner of the women’s race at the 2007 North Worcestershire Hill Race in 2007 (the precursor of the Waseley Wobbler) as a Hermitage Harrier (also a Leicestershire club).

The race had been re-branded as part of the BUPA Great Run Series and there were major changes in the start that alleviated the bottle necks early on in the course and avoided the problem of over-crowding at the finish. The starts were staggered according to expected finishing times with the last wave only starting 45 minutes after the elite runners. The start was moved a short distance on to Sandpits but thereafter the route was the same as for the half marathon in the last two years, going past the Town Hall and Victoria Square and downhill behind New Street Station and the Bull Ring. The next couple of miles were flat and fast until the climb up to 5 miles at Cadburys and a further uphill stretch to 6 miles. The course looped round to return along the Pershore Road giving runners a chance to encourage their team mates running in the opposite direction. Passing Warwickshire’s  impressive newly rebuilt Edgbaston cricket ground the runners had a welcome leafy stretch through Cannon Hill Park passing the BRMB stand. Ten miles was passed on Highgate Middleway with the underpasses under the Pershore and Bristol Roads adding climbs. Even Gebrselaissie commented that the hills through Edgbaston at 11-12 miles were tough, especially in to the wind but at last the runners arrived on the Hagley Road with one last underpass at Five Ways before the finish on Broad Street alongside Centenary Square. Good organisation moved the runners away from the finish efficiently and there was welcome food and drink and a T-shirt in the goody bag but the medal wasn’t as nice as in previous years. There was a very relaxing free post-race massage provided by students from the University of Central England – just what the doctor ordered! So the race seems to have ironed out last year’s finish problems and with a good course, plenty of support and great facilities at the start and finish it seems certain to be a sell out again next year if the limit is 15,000 again.

Ryan Lee was the fastest B&R runner on the day just missing out on a sub 80 minute time finishing in 1-20-01. Alan Elsmere was 2 nd male vet 60 just 60 seconds behind his category winner. Gemma Cone led the B&R women’s 11-strong contingent clocking a chip time of 1-40-09.

Thanks to all the non-racing club members who turned out to cheer us on through Selly Park and in Cannon Hill Park.

Let me know if you have good photos of B&R runners at this event suitable for the website. Either e-mail me the link if you have already uploaded the photos on to the web or send the photos to me at phil.ando.anderson@talk21.com .

(Phil Anderson)

Leading men (Gun Time)

 Leading women (Gun time)

 B&R Performances (Chip Time)

James King crossed the line near Rob Mole but doesn’t appear in the results.

Amanda who ran for Cancer Research UK is a new club member and isn't listed as B&R in the official results as she wasn't affiliated to the club when she entered.

Click for results page for the Great Birmingham Run 2011

Click for photos of the Great Birmingham Run in Cannon Hill Park by David Ball