Ub40 To Fire Starting Pistol At Great Birmingham 10K
Sign up for the Great Birmingham 10k at greatrun.org/great-birmingham-10k
It’s reggae, steady, go… for thousands of runners after city music legends UB40 have been confirmed as honorary starters for this year’s Great Birmingham 10k in May.
The band will be firing the starting pistol for the annual run which will see more than 7,000 people hitting the city streets on Sunday, May 1.
The Great Birmingham 10k has quickly become one of the city’s biggest sports events alongside sister event the Great Birmingham Run half-marathon which takes place on Sunday, October 16.
UB40 stars Robin and Duncan Campbell, Brian Travers, Earl Falconer, James Brown and Norman Hassan will be cheering on the thousands of 10k runners who will pass the Jennens Road start line in different waves depending on their choice of music from 70s, 80s, 90s or present day, creating a fantastic atmosphere for runners of all abilities.
Duncan said: “It’s a great event for the city and we’re delighted to be starting the run and offering our support to the thousands taking part.
“I’ve actually been involved in the run every year – but only because it comes past my house!”
Brother Robin added: “Sadly, neither of us can run it as our knees are shot! But we’ll be there at the start and finish, cheering everyone on.
“It’s such an important event as many of the runners will be raising money for great causes, like cancer charities, a cause dear to our hearts after our dad passed away a few years ago.”
The Great Birmingham 10k continues the music theme throughout the whole run with bands and performers along the route, which takes in several iconic landmarks such as the Bullring and Edgbaston Cricket Ground.
All finishers receive a technical t-shirt, medal, finisher’s pack and chip timing and this year’s event has a walking wave; perfect for first-time participants.
The Great Birmingham 10k start line is just yards away from the recently reopened Eagle and Tun pub, where UB40 filmed the video for the classic 1983 chart-topping single Red Red Wine.
The band recently returned to the Eagle and Tun to congratulate its owners on the pub’s reopening.
UB40 will be back in Birmingham to start the 10k during Bank Holiday weekend after touring the continent in April, with further European and UK dates throughout the summer.
“We’ve reinvigorated ourselves and probably tour more now than we have for 20 years,” added Robin.
“But it’s always great to come home to Birmingham and we’re looking forward to starting the 10k.”
Sign up for the Great Birmingham 10k at greatrun.org/great-birmingham-10k
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