Thousands take part in Wolverhampton marathon
Wolverhampton was a mass of runners, cyclists and their supporters as almost 2,000 people took to the streets for the city's 15th annual marathon.
As competitors crossed the line there were 'Mobots'– the M sign performed by Mo Farah as he won his two Olympic golds – screams as some allowed cramp to finally take hold, and, in one particular case, a look of disbelief.
Sunil Claire, aged 24, of Appleton Crescent, Penn, rubbed his eyes and sank half to his knees as he saw his time of 3hrs 1min and realised he had come third – in only his second marathon.
Sunil, a Phd student who is not a member of a running club, finished behind James Murray, of Bideford Athletics Club, Devon – who won in 2hrs 55mins – and Ben Pitman, of Lordshill Road Runners, Southampton, 2hrs 58mins.
The bewildered runner said: "My dream is to try and complete a marathon on every continent and this kind of thing makes me think that's possible."
Sunil 's first marathon was last year's in Wolverhampton where he came 34th while raising £760 for Compton Hospice. He put his progress down to "training well" – seven to eight hours working out a week and runs of 16 miles or more every weekend. The young runner, who is studying for a bio-science related Phd at The University of Birmingham, said it was painful.
Sunil's performance wasn't the only remarkable one in the top three as winner, James, aged 41, of Bideford, had only been able to return to training two weeks before the race after recovering from a corneal transplant on his right eye.
The victor, for whom it was his 75th marathon, said: "I think the rest must have done me good." In total, 358 took part in the marathon, 886 in the half-marathon, 530 cyclists and one wheelchair in the 19.4km cycling race, and 23 teams in the relay, all starting and finishing at West Park yesterday.
Those in fancy dress may have looked foolish but their efforts were for serious causes, including one team of five men dressed as the Jamaican bobsledders from the film Cool Runnings. Stuart Bailey, aged 40, of Bilbrook; Patrick Cleary, 19, of Pendeford; Aaron Rogers, 32, of Bilbrook; Andy Newman, 41, of Fordhouses, and his brother Ian Newman, 37, also of Fordhouses, spent 60 man hours building the sled for the half-marathon. They have raised about £500 for the accommodation for families at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Mr Bailey said the team had taken about 4hrs and 35mins to get round as they regularly stopped to entertain the crowd.
Also dressed to amuse was Earl Edwards, 39, of Bilbrook Road, Codsall, who turned out dressed as superhero The Flash, to raise money for Leukaemia Lymphoma Research.
He was inspired to take part by little Ethan Mitchell, a three-year-old boy, of Heathbrook Avenue, Wall Heath who was diagnosed with leukaemia at 18 months old.
Wolves legend Steve Bull, former cycling world champion Hugh Porter, Wolverhampton South West MP Paul Uppal, and Henry Carver owner of the event's main sponsor, Carvers Building Supplies, took part.
Prior to the race, Mr Carver said that each businessman aged over 40 who was able to beat him to the finish line would get £100 from him for a charity of their choice.
It was a promise that he could have lived to regret as he, at one stage, fell off his bike. But the 53-year-old pulled the ride around to finish in just over 40 minutes. Half-marathon winner was John Wadelin, of Erewash Valley Running Club, in 1hr 15mins.
Audrey Wilson, of Wolverhampton, was the women's half-marathon winner.
