Author To Represent Jamaica At 10K Commonwealth Run
To enter the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k click here
An international-award winning author will be displaying Jamaican national colours with pride at this year's Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K featuring the Commonwealth Run.
Organisers of the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k have created a distinctly Commonwealth theme at the event to raise the profile of the city's bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Taking place on Sunday, 30th April, the popular city centre run is now less than a month away and will feature elite teams from as many Commonwealth nations as possible, with 20 countries now signed up.
And among those taking part will be Thomas Glave, an American author of Jamaican descent who has been published widely and won numerous international awards and accolades.
Thomas, 51, splits his time between his Birmingham home and creative writing lecturing in the US during autumn terms.
A globally respected champion of social justice, New York-born Thomas moved to Birmingham in 2014 and says he ‘loves' the city and taking part in its events.
“I've done the 10K and the half marathon before and this year I will be taking part in the Birmingham International Marathon,” he said.
“I love the cheering and the crowds and being a part of the city. This is something I really noticed the first time I did the half marathon. It really pushes that civic feeling in Birmingham.
“I love Birmingham and this city really deserves events like this.”
Thomas isn't planning to raise money for charity at the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K but is considering appealing for support from friends when he takes on the first ever Birmingham International Marathon, which is being held on Sunday, October 15 – the same day as the Great Birmingham Run.
“I've raised money before for the Stroke Association and might try to raise money for charity for the marathon,” he said.
“My training for the events is going really well. I do some swimming to supplement my running and when I am out I will run along the city's many canal towpaths.”
Thomas met fellow Commonwealth runners Alison Fox (Canada), from Nottingham, Graham Williams (Wales), from Smethwick and Adam Guy (England), from Birmingham, in Birmingham's Victoria Square, to share training tips and inspire each other's running spirit.
They were joined by Birmingham-born Ian Stewart, one of the world's leading distance runners between the late 1960s and mid-1970s, who flew the flag for Scotland.
Liz McColgan, one of Britain's most distinguished athletes, will be jetting into Birmingham from her Qatar base to take part in the Commonwealth Run as she captains the Scotland team.
A two-time gold medallist over 10,000 metres at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1986 and Auckland in 1990, as well as winning the 1991 World Championships and silver at the 1988 Olympic Games, she achieved further gold medal glory at the 1992 World Half Marathon Championships, 1991 New York City Marathon, 1992 Tokyo Marathon and 1996 London Marathon.
Liz will be among the 7,000 people running, jogging or walking this year's Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K on Sunday, April 30.
Applicants interested in representing their Commonwealth nation or territory should apply via a dedicated email address, commonwealth@greatrun.org and be able to confirm they are a passport holder or born in the relevant Commonwealth nation.
The Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k is accessible to all levels of ability, whether you walk, jog or run the route. For those looking for a bigger challenge, it's also a great training run in preparation for the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run half marathon or the inaugural Birmingham International Marathon to be held in the city in October.
To find out more about the Commonwealth Run campaign click here
It has also been confirmed that the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k will be televised live on Channel 5 on the 30th April.
Anyone who enters the Simplyhealth Great Brmingham 10k will receive a £10 discount off the entry fee for either the Great Birmingham Run Half Marathon or Birmingham International Marathon and vice versa.
To enter the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k click here
To enter the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run Half Marathon click here
To enter the Birmingham International Marathon click here
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