I hope to get out running again before too long, but for this year I was a spectator for the first Birmingham International Marathon, run in October 2017, which was followed later in the day by the Half-Marathon – the Great Birmingham Run. It took several hours for all the runners to pass through Selly Park and Stirchley but there was consistent support throughout both races. Some of the photos I took around Christ Church can be viewed on the Christ Church website.
A member of the leading pack in the Marathon
The faster runners pass the water station in Selly Park
It’s not every day you get to run a marathon alongside a viola
Support for the race outside Selly Park Baptist Church
Extra calories on offer outside Selly Park Baptist Church
More enthusiastic support
A personal greeting for a club runner
On the outward leg through Stirchley
The race provides real family entertainment
High-fiving a runner on Bournville Lane
The leaders about to come along Bournville Lane on their second lap
It helps with fundraising if your aunt lives by the course
The marathon runners had to complete two laps of a large loop around South Birmingham
High-fives in the middle of Pershore Road
The faster runners heading back through Stirchley
Someone At The Door: this band drummed away the morning opposite the former Fitness First
Autumn scene on Pershore Road
Running with a guide
Streaming through Selly Park
Age is no barrier…
… and nor is species
More wildlife on the course
Heavy traffic along Pershore Road
It’s not usually this hard to cross Pershore Road on a Sunday
Passing the water station in Selly Park
Alternative drinks are available, if you’re in the know…
Helping the runners keep going past Christ Church
There’s a burst of fresh energy as the leaders in the Half-Marathon come past
The leaders in the Half-Marathon come through Selly Park
The sun has come out, making it hot work for the runners
An inflatable runner
Coming down Bournville Lane
Noisy support outside Stirchley Community Church
The runners pass Stirchley Baths
Is that really Mo?
The crowd of runners in the Half-Marathon builds up
Pershore Road and thousands of feet taking a pounding
Not everyone finds the race so compelling
There were massive cheers for these two
More applause for this campaigner
What a team! They’re in the race every year
This young man put in a marathon performance, high-fiving runners all day
Autumn sunshine
Bloco Louco took over the afternoon drumming shift
A member of Someone At The Door does overtime during the half-marathon
A never to be repeated image: Bloco Louco with the remains of Fitness First in the background
A drumming encore from Bloco Louco