106 Year Old Fauja Singh to Start Birmingham Marathon
04 October
2017
The world’s oldest marathon runner will be one of the
honorary starters at the first-ever Birmingham International Marathon on
Sunday, October 15.
Known as the ‘Turbaned Tornado’, 106-year-old Fauja
Singh BEM took up running when he was in his 80s after moving to London from
Punjab in northern India.
Fauja shot to fame at the sprightly age of 89 when he
completed a marathon in six hours and 54 minutes. This took 58 minutes off the
previous world best in his age bracket.
In October 2011, Fauja became the first 100-year-old
to complete a marathon when he crossed the finish line of the Toronto
Waterfront Marathon in 8 hours and 11 minutes.
He was one of the torchbearers for the Athens Olympics
in 2004, 2010 Commonwealth Games Baton Relay runner, and torchbearer for the
London 2012 Olympic Games and in 2015 he was awarded a British Empire Medal in
the New Year’s Honours for services to sport and charity.
The running legend will be joined by another
world-famous athlete at the Alexander Stadium start-line, Birmingham
International Marathon ambassador Liz McColgan.
Scottish-born Liz is a two-time gold medallist over 10,000
metres at the Commonwealth Games and winner of the 1991 New York Marathon, 1992
Tokyo Marathon and 1996 London Marathon.
The appearances in Birmingham of Fauja Singh and Liz
McColgan will help the city’s ambition to host the Commonwealth Games after the
Government last week officially endorsed Birmingham’s bid to welcome the sports
spectacular in 2022.
And to celebrate Fauja’s visit to Birmingham, his
family are aiming to enrol 106 children from schools in the city for the
Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Junior and Mini Runs, which take place on
Saturday, October 14, the day before the 26.2-mile run.
The Birmingham International Marathon reached capacity
months ago, with its 9,000 individual entry places snapped by runners from
across the world.
Starting at the Alexander Stadium, the marathon takes
in city sights such as Selfridges, Edgbaston Stadium, Cannon Hill Park and
Bournville.
Fauja said: “I feel privileged in being part of
Birmingham's first International Marathon because it makes me feel as if I am
still running myself.
“Although I felt I still had many running years left
in me when my coach and family wisely made the decision to retire me from
running, I am proud to be part of the diverse Birmingham community that has
always shown me love whenever I visit this great city.
“I can already feel the positive energy of all the
runners and their families too as they prepare to take on personal challenges
as I used to before each race – I wish everyone the very best and can assure
them that their elation after crossing the finishing line will be worth the
months of effort they put into their training.”
The marathon takes place on the same day as the
Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run half marathon, which still has a limited
amount of entry places available.
Entrants who sign up for this year’s Simplyhealth
Great Birmingham Run are offered a guaranteed entry window for the Birmingham
International Marathon 2018 to make sure they do not miss out on what is
already one of the country’s top six 26.2-mile runs.
Harmander Singh, Fauja’s running coach, added: “When I
learnt that Fauja was going to be the starter for Birmingham's first
International Marathon, as his coach I just had to enter the race myself.
“As the Club President of ‘Sikhs In The City’ (Fauja
Singh’s running club) which, like Birmingham, is the most diverse running club
in the country with members from nine different faiths, I wanted to lead the
way for our club members and have ensured many from the club also take part.”
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