October 2011 Archives

The Bupa Great Birmingham Run was a resounding success after new organisers took over from the people who ran the EDF Birmingham Half Marathon for three years.

15,000 runners turned up in near perfect conditions to take on the 13.1 mile route out-and-back to Bournville.

The star attraction was legendary Ethopian long distance runner Haile Gebrselassie who went on to win the race by a minute, in a time of 1 hour 1 minute 29 seconds.

Essa Rashed finished second in 1:02:28 with Abderrahime Bouramdane finishing third in 1:03:57

Britain's Gemma Steel was the first woman across the line in a huge PB of 1:12:21.

Read the full race report here and see the official results here.

While the hard serious running was being done by the world class athletes at the front of the field there was a particular focus on the organisation of the mass participation side of the event following in their footsteps.

Last year the EDF Birmingham Half Marathon came under fire for a poorly organised start forcing runners to walk at pinch points less than a mile into the course.

And the finish descended into a debacle as runners had to queue up to cross the finish line and record their official time.

But there were no such problems this year as the Great Run series stamped it's cool authority on the Birmingham event.

The start was smooth with runners funnelled through a bottleneck before the startline before being allowed to jog over the start with plenty of space for everyone.

The water points were well marshalled and there were very few bottlenecks.

Mile markers and 5km markers dotted the course and the all important finish line was clear for runners of all levels to cross without a hassle.

Indeed the finishing straight on Broadstreet saw spectators five deep cheering on their friends and family as they enjoyed the glorious downhill finish straight that made the previous 13 mile slog worthwhile.

But it would be unfair to say that support was only at the start/finish.

Runners were well supported throughout the course with special mentions going to Bournville, Cannon Hill Park and the killer hill in Edgbaston.

The half-mile high-five stretch on the Pershore Road was a nice touch as runners passed each other in opposite directions and gave each other support.

And many of the runners were lucky enough to see Gebrselassie running in the opposite direction as they approached Bournville.

In the Bupa Great Birmingham Run the city has something it can be proud of again.

Congratulations to everyone who took part and to everyone who raised money for charity.

PB Potential: The killer hill at mile 11 makes this tough territory for PB hunters
Would I run it again?: Certainly - the new organisers gave this race a new lease of life
First man: Haile Gebrselassie - 1:01:29
First woman: Gemma Steel - 1:12:21
Verdict: Five stars

The Bupa Great Birmingham Run is just round the corner. Here are a few of my top tips from my experience of running the race.

1. Eat, drink and be merry

Get the pasta down you! That's the conventional wisdom anyway. But also make sure you drink plenty of water - little and often. Being hydrated will make you feel fresher and improve your performance.
But don't fall into the trap of making huge changes to your diet in the days before a race.
There's no need to pile down litres of lucozade or stuff your face full of energy bars.
And I wouldn't even adapt your breakfast too much either.
If you've stuck to your training schedule and fueled up on water and a few carbs then you will be fine on the big day.
So eat and drink normally - and have fun on the run.

2. Bring warm clothes.

There's a good chance it's going to be cold on Sunday morning. Make sure you wrap up warm for as long as possible.
You will probably leave most of your warm layers with family/friends or at the baggage drop at the NIA.
You will be hanging around on the start line for around 30 minutes.
Bring an old warm t-shirt that you can throw away as you start. If you don't care about how you look then a binbag is good for insulation.
There are normally big bins around that you can throw them into once you have warmed up.

3. Start fast!

The usual advice for running a long distance race is don't start too fast.
But for the Birmingham half I'd say start hard and enjoy the first mile - it's the best bit of downhill you will get.
It's a great chance to build a cushion if you are going for a PB

4. Don't forget the big hill at mile 11

The killer part of the Birmingham half marathon is the 250 foot ascent from the Bristol Road to the Hagley Road. It lasts for a little more than a mile and is tough.
I'd advise to leave a little in the tank for it, factor it in to your race plan as one of your slower miles and then switch on mentally when you get to it.
Once at the top you are on a slight downhill road to the finish line - possibly the best bit of the race.

5. Smile for the cameras

The event is being photographed and filmed by the Birmingham Mail among many others. And it is also being televised live by Channel Five. Smile - you will be on camera!

The Leafy Bournville 10k once again proved a great warm up race for the BUPA Great Birmingham Run as a challenging course tested its 160 competitors.

The winner of the race was Orlando Corea, of Bournville Harriers, in 35:51 with the first female finisher being Robyn Matson of Havering Mayesbrook AC in 43:32.

Full results can be found here.

As you can see from the Garmin read-out, the course was slightly longer than 10k. Speaking to other runners after the race it seems that the average GPS read out was about 6.4miles.

Last year this event was made all the more interesting as the heavens opened and runners were left to tolerate torrential rain before, during and after the race.

This year, however, conditions were very good with only a slight breeze to contend with.

The course had changed slightly this year too as a lap of the running track was replaced with an extra lap of the field midway through the race.

But what about the course? As well as being a good warm up for the Great Birmingham Run it is not a bad pre cross country tester.

The race starts with a lap of the Rowheath playing field before the course makes its way downhill towards the Bristol Road.

Runners proceed through one of the village's housing estates before reaching the Bristol Road after about 2 miles.

A short but very muddy dash along a wooded trail and then past some Sunday league football makes up the next part of the course.

Then it's a steady climb of 80 feet, over a roughly mile, back to the start line where you repeat the 5k course a second time.

The additional lap of the sodden playing field midway through was a nice energy sapping treat to test tired legs after a tough incline.

Bournville Leafy 10k is always a very friendly event with very supportive marshalls directing runners along the way.

I'm still surprised that more of the 10,000 half marathoners do not use this as a warm up as it's great race practice in a relaxed environment.

The price was £11 EOD for non affiliated runners which was reasonable compared to many other races I have been to this season.

At the finishing line each runner was given a goody bag including a Dairy Milk, banana and a miniature golden running shoe paper weight instead of a medal.

PB potential - Unlikely for road runners
Would I run it again? - Yes, great half marathon prep but tough on the legs.
First man: Orlando Corea 35:31
First woman: Robyn Matson 43:32.
Last finisher: 1:23:32
Verdict: 3 stars