Birmingham Half Marathon

Six Harriers travelled to Birmingham on Sunday to run alongside the worlds best runners who were competing in the World Half Marathon Championships which was run as part of the EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon.

On a cool morning with slight drizzle at times, perfect for distance running, over 10,000 completed the course which started and finished in the Birmingham City Centre. The people of Birmingham came out in their thousands to cheer the runners creating GNR type atmosphere.

First of the Harriers home was Vanessa Costa who improved her personal best by just over a minute in a time of 2.04.48. Judith Brand competing for the first time at the new age group, FV60, recorded her second fastest ever HM time 2.09.44. Zoe Waistell ran an even paced race but although fading over the last mile still recorded her second best ever time for the HM of 2.12.32. Star of the team was undoubtably Sam Abbott who finished in a time of 2.15.20 knocking an amazing 11 minutes off her best ever time. Next fresh from running across Spain, if fresh is the correct word, Kim Sayers was only 2 seconds off a PB with a time of 2.40.02.
Finally the only male Harrier running, Mark Woolerton found life very hard on the day and finished in 2.50.33.

Well run to all and this should be a race to look for in future years.

(Colin Brand)