Liverpool Half Marathon
JMU to introduce a bit of science to the Half Marathon this year and 2007 official event charity announced – IMAGINE at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
LIVERPOOL’S MAIN EVENT HAS DOUBLED IN SIZE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND THE CITY CONTINUES TO ADD TO THE ATTRACTION – DESPITE THE ROAD WORKS!!
The good news for 2007 is that the Liverpool Half Marathon is likely to continue to grow in size and stature on the back of the excellent work put in by the London Marathon Company over the last two years. The only disappointing thing is that L.M.C. won’t be here to see it. Having taken a decision to not manage the event next year due to logistical difficulties the event has been gifted back to L1310K to carry on the good work.
Ongoing problems with the use of Strand and Wapping in particular has meant that the course will have to be reviewed in 2007, although it is anticipated that the majority of the route will remain intact.
The event has benefited from having the London Marathon Company involved in the planning and delivery since the combined L1310K race was staged in October 2004. At that time the London Marathon Company was looking to raise their own profile outside the capital and Dave Bedford and his team saw Liverpool as an ideal opportunity to deliver a first class mass participation race. Unfortunately, the plans of L.M.C. have collided head on with major works in the city and it has not been possible to work around the obvious physical difficulties in the city centre. Nevertheless the event will still go ahead and use as much of the existing course as possible.
The event will also continue to act for those runners who will be going on to do the London Marathon itself some four weeks later. In keeping with the trend over the last four – five years the event is attracting runners from across the U.K. and beyond with growing interest in Liverpool prompted by the 2008 European City of Culture profile.
This year the event is being supported by John Moores University who will be taking more of a scientific look at the race by providing information about diet, nutrition and training. Highland Spring will again be involved, as they have been with most ‘runliverpool’ events in 2006 and a new sponsor for 2007 will be Taut. They will be providing an isotonic rehydration drink which was first sampled in the Liverpool 10K last October.
The Liverpool Half Marathon is especially pleased to announce that the official charity for 2007 will be Imagine from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. It is sure to be an extremely popular appointment not only with local runners but everyone taking part on the day as the Hospital already has a national reputation for the first class work it does with children from all parts of the U.K. The local connection is also reinforced by the fact that the charity has Yoko Ono as Patron. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if she would come over and start the race! So here’s to another great race in Liverpool and may we first and foremost welcome the many runners from outside the city who may be visiting for the first time.
Early entries have come in from Shrewsbury, Bristol, Colchester, Ipswich, Leeds, Wolverhampton, Knaresborough, London – and Manchester!