It was practice makes perfect for the organisers of the Birmingham Running Festival (Sunday 16 May) as their well established series of Covid measures resulted in a safe and successful event for everyone. Hundreds of runners couldn’t wait to take part in a mass participation event after 15 months of lockdowns.

Organisers RunThrough created their ‘Covid Safety Protocol’ last year and this comprehensive set of procedures has been fine tuned during that time making them a leader in hosting Covid-safe races. In a nod to that famous catchphrase “I love it when a plan comes together”, their system with its social distancing, plastic sheeting as screens for their support desks and coloured cones to keep runners two metres apart at the start before setting off in waves of 4 or 6, set the standard for event management in this pandemic.  

Runners went from ‘straight outta lockdown’ to straight on the (socially distanced) start line in the 5K, 10K and Half Marathon, all of which were chip timed and in the attractive Sutton Park. They ran 1 lap/2 laps/4 laps on paths, trodden by famous athletes such as Sir Mo Farah with marshals in PPE keeping them safe whilst cheering them on. 

For the 5K, Matthew Missen was first home in 16:29. Hermione Green of Lichfield RCA was the first female in 19:36.

Over in the 10K, Ian Allen of Spa Striders was the winner in 33:13. Victoria Shaw of Stubbington Green Runners was the winning female in 41:28.  

Jonathan Tindall of Team Carling won the Half Marathon in 1:16:31. Victoria Williams of RAF Athletics was the women’s winner in 1:26:23.

All the results can be viewed via the RunABC Race Listings page. 

Over 800 runners took part, their smiles saying it all as they crossed the finish line... They collected their bespoke medal, water and post-race snacks before heading off home. 

Image courtesy of Alec Lom (RunThrough).