3,500 take part in Liverpool half marathon

Mar 3 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

It’s a hard day’s night for city runners

SOME 3,500 runners swept through Liverpool yesterday in a sea of colourful outfits.

Despite early confusion which saw the first swathe of half marathon participants being directed along a different street to that lined by spectators, the run was deemed a great success.

Beatles music warmed up both the crowd and the runners who limbered up in wintry sun.

The theme continued at every mile post, each of which was named after a Fab Four song. The first was at Sefton Park with Come Together and the last was Don’t Let me Down. Each of the markers on the 13.1 mile run was provided by an entrant.

Half marathon runners made their way along Princes Avenue, Duke Street, Park Lane, Upper Parliament Street and Ullet Road, following the first 10 miles of last year’s route. The last three miles followed a revised route.

For the second year running, Blackburn Harrier Ben Fish was first to cross the line, while the first woman was Jenny Blizard.

Competitors came from as far as New York for the 15th Liverpool Half Marathon sponsored by Mizuno and Highland Spring.

Chris May with proud son Harry

The crowd cheer on the runners

Winner Ben Fish

Smiling through the pain

Pushing towards the finish line

Nearly there...

Runner Ben Garrett

Runners pound the streets

Jenny Blizard.

Thousands took part

Kim Chatterley,Emily Whyte,Haidie Scott,Hannah McClean.

Gladiators Jon Lund and Gavin McGowan from Southport.

Running for Water Aid. Jenny Southern and Liz Parsons from Formby.

Bernie Hollywood from Bromborough raising £100.000

James Hughes and John Courtney.

James Hughes and John Courtney.

And they're off....

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In a week dominated by Prince Harry’s tour of Afghanistan, 40 soldiers from the Royal Artillery in Merseyside used the run to pay their respects to a colleague killed in action in the former Soviet republic last year.

Warrant officer Mick Smith, 39, from Hunts Cross, a member of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, died on March 8 last year from injuries sustained when a grenade was fired at the UK base in Sangin, Helmand Province.

Almost exactly 12 months after his death, the soldiers, who all serve with 103 Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers), which has its HQ in St Helens and a battery in Aigburth, took part in the race.

Race director Alan Rothwell, of Run Liverpool, was expecting a 5,000 strong field.

Before the race he said: “The attraction of the city has always been there, but the indications as far as the 2008 half marathon goes suggests there’s likely to be a dramatic increase in participation from runners across the country.”

However, fewer runners joined this year than in previous years.

richarddown