Christine Ohuruogu waves 15,000 runners off at Great Newham London Run, photo courtesy of Great Run Company
RunBlogRun opines: The Great Run company is the finest and largest company in the UK managing and promoting large participation sporting events. They do runs, swims and bike rides. They have found a wonderful way to combine elite events and mass participation events. We could learn much from them. What follows is a release on their event, the Great Newham London Run.
CHRISTINE OHURUOGU WAVES 15,000 RUNNERS OFF TO STADIUM FINISH AT GREAT NEWHAM LONDON RUN
Olympic Gold Medallist and former World Champion, Christine Ohuruogu MBE, started the Great Newham London Run 10km and Family Run 2km today (July 17) which saw 15,000 runners become some of the first to run on the new track in the former Olympic Stadium.
Christine, who was brought up less than a mile from the Stadium and is set to run for Great Britain at the Rio 2016 Games in a few weeks, was an Honorary Starter for this year’s Run alongside the Mayor of Newham, Sir Robin Wales, and inspirational 8-year-old Rio Woolf. She was supporting the Great Run Company and Newham council’s drive to get more people active and was proud to be involved with the event. She commented:
“It was fantastic to see all these people running in the Olympic Stadium at the Great Newham London Run. Olympic athletes are often focussed on our own form and fitness, but it really is inspiring to see all these local people enjoying their running. It’s a fantastic event and I would love to see even more people taking part. It’s a real legacy of London 2012 and demonstrates the commitment that my borough, Newham, has made to use the Olympics to get more people into sport and fitness.”
More than 11,000 people took part in the 10km Great Newham London Run and 3,500 children and parents ran in the 2km Family Run, organised by the Great Run Company in partnership with Newham Council. To download images of today’s event visit: https://we.tl/
Both runs looped around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park before giving runners the only opportunity to run into the Stadium and cross the finish line where Mo Farah and Jess Ennis-Hill won gold in 2012.
Among these runners were 1,500 Newham residents who were able to take advantage of the 1,000 free places in the 10K and 500 free places in the Family Run.
Rio Woolf had the opportunity to test his new running blade on the new track, taking part in the family run with his parents, before heading to the Rio 2016 Paralympics as a guest of the organisers. Rio was born with a deficiency in his lower right leg and underwent an amputation at 14 months of age. He has a new running blade which he was thrilled about using on the new super-fast track.
James Denne, 30, from Honiton in Devon was the first male finisher across the line in 32 minutes 44 seconds. He said: “The atmosphere at the Great Newham London Run was incredible. I was in the stadium to see David Rudisha win gold at the Olympics and to think that I have followed him onto this track is amazing. I was going to sprint the last 300 metres but decided to slow down and enjoy the moment. It’s been a phenomenal day.”
The first female runner across the line was Katie White, 35, representing Garscube Harriers, Glasgow, who finished in 36 minutes and 31 seconds.
Entries are already open for next year’s Great Newham London Run on Sunday 2 July at www.greatrun.org/London where this year’s results are also available.
Brendan Foster, Chairman of the Great Run Company which organises the Great Newham London Run, said: “While I love seeing the majestic performances of legends like Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill for me today is what running is all about. At the heart of our sport is thousands of people getting their trainers on and getting out there for the challenge and the fun of running. What better place than the former Olympic Stadium in Newham to celebrate the achievements of every single runner, from the thousands of kids and parents in the Family Run today through to Usain Bolt who will run on the track next weekend.
“As the only chance to run on the Stadium track, the Great Newham London Run is fast becoming a must-do event in the running calendar and we want to work with Newham Council to make it the biggest running event in the country.”
Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham, said: “It was a fantastic sight to see so many Newham residents and others from across the country taking to the track at the former Olympic Stadium. These events are precisely why our investment in the Stadium to make it a multi-purpose venue benefitting our local community was the right thing to do. We are committed to ensuring a lasting legacy from the 2012 Games and this event, which is growing in popularity every year, is part of this ambition.”
Ends
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a place unlike any other. Spread across 560 acres of beautiful parklands with historic waterways, famous sporting venues and vibrant arts and events programme. At the Park’s centre sits the former Olympic Stadium, a world-class, multi-use venue that will play host to Premier League football, concerts and international athletics and, coming soon, The Slide at the ArcelorMittal Orbit. As the new heart of east London, the Park will provide future homes, jobs and an unrivalled education and cultural district housing Sadler’s Wells, V&A East, UAL’s London College of Fashion and UCL East.
The London Legacy Development Corporation promotes and delivers physical, social, economic and environmental regeneration in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the surrounding area by maximising the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
For more information visit our website (QueenElizabethOlympicPark.co.
