Sun shines on Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K
Thousands of Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K participants basked in beautiful Bank Holiday weekend weather as the annual event took to the streets on Sunday.
A record-breaking 8,000 people signed up for Sunday’s race, which was broadcast live on Channel 5.
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Anne Underwood, was honorary starter and was joined by the Leader of Birmingham, Cllr Ian Ward, to wave off the runners and walkers taking part for personal goal, charity support, or a fun day out.
The Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K is expected to raise around £1.5m for local and national charities.
Commonwealth Games gold, silver and bronze medal-winning hammer thrower Lorraine Shaw, from Gloucester, made the trip across the Midlands to take part and raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society.
Winner of the 10K elite men’s field was triple Commonwealth Games winner Moses Kipsiro of Uganda with a time of 29:08. In second place was Great Britain’s Andy Vernon in 29:35, with third place going to fellow Brit Luke Traynor with a time of 30:01.
Poland’s Aleksandra Lisowska won the women’s race just five seconds ahead of Ireland’s Shona Heaslip in a time of 34:14. In third place was Fatna Maraoui of Italy with a time of 34:26.
The Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K is organised by The Great Run Company, who will also stage the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run on Sunday, October 14. Entries are open now for the annual half marathon, which reverts to its popular morning start time.
The 10K featured a 220-strong team from the Birmingham office of global professional services company PwC, which embraced the spirit of the event and inspired its Midlands workforce to take part in the Business Challenge.
Thirty Midlands companies of all shapes and sizes took part in the 10K Business Challenge to battle it out for fastest-time trophies and all-important bragging rights in the corporate community.
The University of Birmingham royal blue running vests could be seen in their hundreds at the 10K, with runners and walkers of all abilities running for the UBSport team.
Birmingham City University has been promoting an active lifestyle among its staff and students with more than 250 taking part.
David Hart, partnerships director for The Great Run Company, said: “It was a day that showed off Birmingham at its finest, with a sea of runners from so many different communities joining together in a celebration of sporting activity.
“It was fantastic to see the huge levels of support across the route as runners of all abilities took over the streets.”
