Less Than 800 Places Left For Birmingham Marathon
To enter the Birmingham International Marathon click here
With 21 weeks to go until the first Birmingham International Marathon takes to the city streets it has been revealed fewer than 800 general entry places are now available.
Runners considering taking part are being urged to sign up immediately to avoid missing out on the city's inaugural 26.2-mile run, which will take place on Sunday, October 15.
Excitement is building for the Birmingham International Marathon and entries have now surged past 8,000, making it one of the UK's top six marathons in its first year.
The Birmingham International Marathon takes place on the same day as the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run half marathon, which means more than 25,000 people could be running in Birmingham that day.
Aston mum Shah Begum is planning to tackle her first marathon in Birmingham. Since taking up running just two years ago, she shed six stone and now inspires other running first-timers through inspirational social media messages and community running groups.
Shah said: “If anybody's thinking about entering but hasn't committed, my advice to them would be ‘just do it'.
“Once you've signed up, you have a target to aim for and it becomes more and more exciting, especially when you follow people on social media who are on the same journey as you.
“I want to run my first marathon in my home city. I want to get across that finish line and say, ‘I ran my first 26.2-mile distance in Birmingham, where I grew up'.
“Also, the recent 10k reminded me just how much support you get in Birmingham. Along the entire route, you've got people clapping and cheering you on. The crowds are brilliant in this city.”
Starting at Alexander Stadium, the marathon will take in iconic city sights like Villa Park, Selfridges, Edgbaston Cricket Ground and picturesque Cannon Hill Park before finishing at Millennium Point in front of thousands of cheering spectators.
And to make the Birmingham International Marathon weekend a true family festival of running, entries are now open for the Simplyhealth Junior and Mini Great Birmingham Runs, taking place at Alexander Stadium, the home of UK Athletics, on Saturday, October 14.
The Mini Run is open to children of all abilities aged 3-8 and the Junior Run is open to 9-15 year-olds.
Birmingham is widely regarded as the birthplace of mass participation long-distance running events and the Birmingham International Marathon will cement the city's position as the European Capital of Running.
Birmingham staged one of the country's first open-to-all marathons, the People's Marathon, which ran from 1980-85 and was organised by late Solihull-based elite runner John Walker.
To enter the Birmingham International Marathon click here
To enter the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run 2017 click here
To enter the Simplyhealth Junior and Mini Great Birmingham Runs click here
Anyone who took part in the 2017 Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k will automatically receive a £10 discount off the entry fee to the marathon or half marathon.
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