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Birmingham & Black Country Half-Marathon
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Does 10.30am sound like a good start time for the half? hopefully this will put the majority of us at the finish by 12-12.30 just in time for a bit of well deserved food and drink.
Also how important are changing facilities? A couple of moans about the lack thereof, but I don't remember ever having facilities on offer at a half! Would people be happy to throw on a tracksuit or civvies over running kit at the finish and still hang around for a bit of refreshment? Might be a bit pongy but that's why I was thinking Brindley Place - i.e. sat outside.
Who would be up for a lift share type scheme as well? I was thinking people can use the trains to get back to Wolves but it has been mentioned that the stations are all quite far from Brindley Place. I suggest that getting a train to Wolves would be best if you live in Brum.
The 10k is proving to be a logistical "challenge" but as long as entrants are happy to come to the start of the half and be driven to the start of the 10k it will be easy enough. There will only be a few people doing the 10k, hope people don't mind as you will have half marathon runners to kick past!
Good luck !
Btw Running Caz what time do Cobra AC meet and where exactly? Thinking of trying to get along to a session next week, when am back on daylight shifts!
Enjoy folks...
Hopefully if all goes well, this may be a bigger event next year and offer a medal .... in which case there will be no stopping me. Best of luck.
Oh, and race organiser ...... I'd get some info to MH if I were you. He's starting to get a bit twitchy and hot under the collar ;-)
Instructions to runners as they stand:
Arrive at Wolverhampton train station between 9.45 and 10.15 to hand in your kit bags for transportation to the finish. You will then be directed to the start for 10.30 and the race will begin. Also hand over a torch or head torch with your number attached so we can hand them out on the way into the tunnel. YOU MUST PROVIDE YOUR OWN TORCH WITH WORKING BATTERIES. Without this we have no Public Liability Insurance and the race is off.
10k runners also arrive at the train station, same time. You will be driven to your start line (or you can drive and follow me if you wish). 10k runners also hand kit bags over for collection at the finish, but you don't need torches.
The finish line is BEHIND the Sea Life Centre. I could not get permission to use Brindley Place as there are other events on, but we will end the race on the towpath directly adjoining it.
The course is easy to follow and will be marked out where necessary.
Good vantage points at the end of the race would be found on the bridge between the Sea Life Centre and the NIA. We will be within a stone's throw of lots of different drinking establishments where friends and family can wait for you/rehydrate you.
Good vantage points during the race are hard to describe and can be hard to reach. If you want someone cheering you in the home straight I would recommend that they park for free on or near the St Vincent Street Bridge (near NIA) where they will see you coming from a few hundred metres off. This is also within walking distance of the finish line for them to come and meet you. There are lots of free parking spaces around this area and around Sherborne Street but I would allow a few minutes extra to find a space.
If your supporters want to cheer you on at other points in the race - I will be marking access points on the course map so you should be able to find a few places.
Unfortunately there are no changing facilities available to us so please pack towels, tracksuits and other layers you can put on over race kit at the end.
Transportation back from the race finish is the biggest logistical challenge. I would recommend getting a friend to give you a lift back from the finish. They can park around St Vincent Street as above, and meet you at the finish or in Brindley Place. If you are travelling alone it might be best to park near St Vincent Street in the morning and then go to Wolverhampton by train, so you will have your car nearby at the end.
There is also the option of sharing lifts with other runners - contact other runners through the Runner's World forum.
Have I missed anything?
Cheers,
Andy K
I'll know for 100% by Fri night.
I'm well ready for this - it'll be fun , I'm taking it easy .
Also if anyone wants to drive to Brum and meet at New Street station, I think the first train to Wolverhampton next Sunday is about 9.18, getting in at about 9.40ish
Well it solves thte how to I get my aching limbs back to Wolvo to pick up the car woes.
The route is looking ok, but all the recent rain has left a few deep puddles in places (hope you don't mind getting a bit muddy). The tunnel is also a bit slippery so please take it steady. The first of the drink stations is at the tunnel entrance so it might be wise to enjoy a drink break and a walk through the tunnel. Drink stations are roughly every 5k.
I've put the route into google maps using www.walkjogrun.net for anyone who wants to see a detailed version. Measuring from Wolverhampton train station to the finish line in Brindley Place gives 13.9 miles - so there will be a 0.8mile warm up walk/jog to the start line.
The start of the 10k is between Brades Road and Lower City Road bridges, but it would be easier for the 10k runners to arrive at Wolverhampton along with everyone else and get a lift from me.
Hope you're all ready for this...
Just back from a run along birmingham end of course, and as Andy says there are several puddles!!
All adds to the fun in my opinion!
See ya all on the 15th...
I hope they do come - left it a bit late I think:)
I went to the canal today - just up past Dudley road hospital, it splits in to two up there , a top loop and bottom lop. I can take it we are going the bottom loop ?
We would use the New, because the towpath is a bit nicer, however it is closed for repair. Hence we use the Old bit. If this is where you mean, yes we are taking the bottom loop.
If the race packs don't come in time we will have to improvise. At the end of the day, all we have to do is turn up at Wolvo train station, and run to Birmingham. All the rest is mere details.
Is that a bad motto for a race organiser to have?
EMMA - my wife is driving me tommorrow in our car and not in my van , we have room for 2 adults. Meet me and my wife tommorrow at wolverhampton , run the race and she'll meet us back at Birmingham then drive you back to wolverhampton. it'll save messing about with the train.
We'll have a spare seat too for someone else.
The race is not tomorrow!