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The British 10km, . JULY 2 Run, remember, rejoice 2006

Reversing convention, this is the approaching the start line walk British 10km that takes place in westward, take a U turn and then London – not the London 10km that start the run flanked by outsize takes place in Britain. As race Union Jacks draped from mobile director Mike O’Reilly points out “It cranes along both sides of the road. is a more than a race in London. It is As back markers of the 13,000- a national event, and one with strong field approach the start, they international appeal. People come are already applauding the front from all over to take part.” runners as they click off the first kilometre. In the last edition people came from all continents: Brazil, Cayman Before there is any hint of the grand Islands, almost all countries of architectural backdrop that follows, Europe, Singapore, Japan, the stage is set. Patriotic, often Australia. “They don’t travel here martial, music creates a celebratory just for the race,” said O’Reilly, but atmosphere, with a good dose of they do see it as a significant event pomp. After passing The Ritz and plan to be here at the time it runners swoop down to Pall Mall – takes place to better experience all establishment London’s clubland – that London has to offer.” and past St James’s Palace, home of the heir to the British throne. By That experience involves running a now the race at the front is taking course entirely within the heart of shape, as the leaders pass through the city. The London Trafalgar Square, just before 2km, cuts a similar track through the British capital over its last 3km, but Perhaps inspired by Portugal’s the British 10km, throughout its World Cup quarter-final win over entire length, uses the urban England the previous afternoon, grandeur of the surroundings as a Helder Ornellas took up the early sporting arena – almost like a running in the sixth edition of this stadium writ large. race. It was the the hottest day of the year so far, 26°C at the race The starting straight – all 800m of start. After a restrained opening it – is from Hyde Park Corner kilometre of 3.04, the second alongside Green Park and up kilometre was slightly quicker. towards the Ritz Hotel. Runners Ornellas led a group of seven as

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MEN: 1Patrick MAKAU KEN 29:52 2John NYASINJYA BUR 30:09 3 Helder ORNELLAS POR 30:48 4Taylor MURPHY CAN 30:55 5 Huw LOBB GBR 30:56 6Toby LAMBERT GBR 31:16

RESULT 7 Antonio SOUSA POR 31:21 8 Darren FOWLIE GBR 32:52 9 Matthew BLUNDEN GBR 33:09 10 Graham BROOK GBR 33:13 WOMEN: 1Cathy MUTWA KEN 34:19 2 Victoria WEBSTER GBR 35:57 3 Sarah STRADLING GBR 37:07 4 Jessica PYGALL GBR 37:36 5Jodie FORBES GBR 38:29 6 Dee NUSTEDT GBR 39:18 7Becky MCNICHOLAS GBR 39:19 8Elaine PHIPPS GBR 39:27 9 Rebecca GALBRAITH GBR 39:40

WOMEN’S 5KM RACE 1 Jody WHYMAN GBR 20:46 2 Lily ANGUS GBR 22:23 3Margaret GREENE GBR 22:31

The race is held over the same territory that will most likely be trod in the 2012 Olympics as a multi-lap marathon course.

landmarks. Runners make the final London is as close to the ultimate turn on the north side of Parliament running experience that is on Square, with , the Houses of regular offer in London. Parliament and Winston Churchill’s statue as the backdrop. They then As such there is always a feeling of run back past the Centotaph, celebration in the air, and there is commemorating the war dead, and often an appropriate occasion to past the gates of Downing Street, celebrate. In 2002, it was Queen where the British Prime Minister Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee; in 2005 resides. To all this Patrick Makau it was the 60th anniversary of VE was oblivious, intent only upon Day. getting under 30 minutes for the they started their outward journey together back along the distance, which he managed to do Two other happenings in the along the Embankment, and passed Embankment with the with relative ease. following week, one much through 3km in 9 minutes exactly. to their left and Big Ben in front of anticipated and the other not, gave them, until they turned together to The finish lies alongside the new the 2005 race an added historical Patrick Makau, who had won the cross Westminster Bridge. At the memorial to women in war, and at resonance. Three days later London Vidovdan 10km in Bosnia only four second turn, on the far side of the the finish funnels disgorge runners won its bid to host the 2012 days before in temperatures as high Bridge just after 8km, Makau led right in front of Horse Guards, one Olympic Games, and the populace as 37°C, then ran the fourth by a few metres. His lead did not of London’s most-photographed rejoiced. Only a day after that the kilometre in 2.50. He took John really grow until he was about tourist sights. In the women’s race transport system in the British Nyasinjya with him and the two 600m from home. This is just Cathy Mutwa had a runaway win, capital was hit by multiple bomb Africans ran together after making before runners turn into Whitehall, and perhaps had more time to attacks. the first of several U-turns at the political heart of Britain. After appreciate the sights. She made a 4.5km. the final U turn on the course, with point of commenting on the great One year on, the 2006 race was little over 200m to go, the finish reception that the back markers very much an occasion for The pair of them steadily moved straight encompasses some of the gave her as she returned along the remembrance. It offered an away from Ornellas, running most resonant of London’s Embankment, and after each of the opportunity no less powerful than race’s four U-turns. those held annually at the Cenotaph. At the same time it also The race is held over the same offered yet another opportunity to territory that will most likely be rejoice, and to celebrate the trod in the 2012 Olympics as a resilience of civic spirit, in London multi-lap marathon course. There and elsewhere. Running can be a may be some room for improvement powerful means of expression, and when only 100 runners have to be events like this one provide a accommodated instead of 13,000 of suitable public stage upon which them, but running the British 10km emotions can be shared.

RACE CONTACT DETAILS BRITISH 10K LONDON RUN, JULY Michael O’Reilly, Union Jack Sports Ltd, 18b Charles Street, London W1J 5DU Tel: 44 207 667 6894 Fax: 44 207 667 6895 Email: [email protected] Inet: www.thebritish10klondon.co.uk Full race contact listings start on page 68

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