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Thousands All Set For 10th Mersey Tunnel 10K

A staggering 3,200 runners will hit the streets of Liverpool and Wirral this weekend as they run through the Mersey Tunnel.

This is the 10th annual BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K – and the event is a sell-out.

The race takes runners on the unique route through the Kingsway Wallasey Tunnel – the only time runners can actually run underneath the River Mersey.

Runners will gather on Blackstock Street in Liverpool city centre, where the race will start at 9.30am. They will then head into the Kingsway Wallasey Tunnel.

After emerging from the tunnel on the Wirral side of the River Mersey, the runners will make their way along the Wirral waterfront from Seacombe, past the Fort Perch Rock landmark and Marine Lake.

They will then head towards the grandstand finish area on Ian Fraser Walk in New Brighton.

The race is organised by BTR Liverpool, the leading independent organisation for creating, managing and delivering headline race events in Liverpool City Region. Its growing portfolio includes the Vitality Liverpool Half Marathon, BTR Liverpool Santa Dash and the 52-mile BTR Tour Of Merseyside.

BTR recently won the title of Event Of The Year at the Wirral Tourism Awards 2015 for the Wirral Half Marathon/10K.

BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell said:

“The BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K continues to prove popular with runners of all abilities, including charity runners, those running their first 10K; and others chasing a personal best. Running through the Tunnel is unique and always generates a fantastic atmosphere which adds to the overall experience for those taking part.

“We changed the course slightly last year and it proved very popular, and I’m confident that has played its part in the race being a sell-out for 2015. The grandstand finish area on Ian Fraser Walk at New Brighton is ideal for spectators, so we look forward to seeing the crowds cheering on the runners.”

This year’s participants include a married couple from Australia – Jim and Sue Beisty, aged 81 and 76, respectively. Jim and Sue are two of the most senior runners in the race.

Originally from Bootle, the couple now live in New South Wales and are visiting the UK for six weeks, spending four weeks with family and friends in Liverpool and Wirral. During their trip, Jim has already taken part in the Princes and Croxteth Parkruns and the Liverpool Running Club Walton Park 5 Mile.

Jim took part in the BTR Liverpool Half Marathon last year while on holiday in Liverpool just weeks after his 80th birthday. But due to extreme weather conditions, he was unable to finish and retired from the race with just one mile to go. He has since developed friendships with local runners via social media and is looking forward to meeting them and also completing the Tunnel race with Sue and collecting with their medals.

One of the youngest runners is 16-year-old Nathan Brady from Liverpool. Nathan usually helps on race days as part of the cadet team, but this time he is taking part and will be running with his dad Eamonn.

In addition to Jim and Sue Beisty, the field includes a further three senior runners aged between 73 and 87:

Dorothy Fairhurst, aged 73 from St Helens (St Helens Sutton); Dennis Adelsberg, aged 85 from Skelmersdale (Skelmersdale Boundary Harriers) Eddie Naisby, aged 87 from Ruthin, Wales (Prestatyn RC).

As well unattached participants, the race has attracted entries from running clubs across the North West region including Liverpool Harriers AC, Liverpool Running Club, Kirkby Milers, Knowsley Harriers, Mossley Hill AC, Penny Lane Striders, Village Road Runners and Wallasey AC, as well as Bramhall Runners (Manchester), Ellesmere Port RC and Manchester Frontrunners.

The BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K race is the latest event in a year-long joint fundraising partnership between BTR Liverpool and its five official charities.

The BTR Footsteps Fundraisers initiative will bring the charities together to benefit financially through BTR’s key race events over a 12-month period by encouraging participants to fundraise and support them.

The five BTR Footsteps Fundraisers official charities are Radio City’s Cash For Kids, Claire House Children’s Hospice, Everton in the Community, Jospice, and Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Erica Dillon .