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Runners set for
52 mile BTR TOUR of Merseyside
THE 52 mile BTR Tour Of
Merseyside is back for 2014; with over 200 runners set to take on
the challenge which starts this Sunday, 6 July 2014, with a Half Marathon
in Southport.
The week long event takes a tour of the county with 6 races over 7
days, covering an impressive 52 miles in Southport, Walton, Wirral
and Knowsley, as well as Hale.
The event is the brainchild of BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell, who
has previously taken part in a similar event in Tameside. That event
no longer exists so Alan took the opportunity to develop a new event
for the region.
The 1st BTR Tour Of Merseyside
took place in July 2013, with 73 runners; or Tourists; being the
1st to complete the inaugural event.
This time round, the number of entries has almost tripled. Runners
unable to commit to the full week are again welcome to sign up as
guest entries to take part in individual events during the week.
BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for race
organisation and delivery in Liverpool City Region. Its portfolio of
annual events includes the BTR Liverpool Half Marathon; BTR Wirral
Half Marathon; BTR Port Sunlight 10K; and the spectacle of the BTR
Liverpool Santa Dash.
BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell
commented:- "The BTR Tour Of Merseyside really has captured
the imagination of runners. I'm delighted with how positively the
event has been received for the second successive year. 6 races over
7 days covering 52 miles is no mean feat.
Last year's runners totally embraced the overall experience. Many of
them had never taken on such a challenge, but they went away with
great memories and new running friends who had all experienced this
unique event. The camaraderie and support for each other really was
incredible to witness.
This year, the race field has almost tripled in size, with runners
quite literally queuing up to enter so they could share in this
experience. A large number of last year's Tourists signed up again
straight away, and this year we're welcoming lots of new faces keen
to be part of the 2014 event."
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The 6 BTR Tour Of Merseyside
events take place in Southport; Thurstaston; Walton; Hale; Knowsley;
and Wirral, and cover a variety of race terrains including beach,
road and cross country.
The week starts with the 13.1 mile
Southport Half Marathon this coming Sunday (6 July), and finishes
with a 12 mile Wirral Coastal run the following Saturday, 13 July
2014;
covering the 52 miles during the course of the week.
At the end of the last race the
Tourists, guest runners, and spectators will then gather for a
special celebration event at New Brighton's Floral Pavilion Theatre
to mark their special achievement.
Last year's winning male and female, Anthony Taylor and Hayley
Winder, will again race to defend their titles. Both live in
Manchester and are Liverpool Football Club supporters.
Anthony, 39, is a health and
fitness instructor/personal trainer. Hayley, 38, is originally from
Wallasey. Anthony said:- "I had run in the old Tour Of
Tameside, so when the BTR Tour Of Merseyside was launched last year
I just had to be part of a similar race series running around the 'Mecca'
of Merseyside.
It was a special feeling crossing the finish line to take first
place in the overall rankings, but I was a little sad that such a
great week had come to an end. It's a superb event and this year's
new Tourists will thoroughly enjoy it. The chance to race on my home turf and revisit
places I've not been since I was younger was great. The atmosphere
and camaraderie were the reasons I signed up again. The bonds formed
are hard to describe, we were like one big family on a journey
together.
The first ever Tour Of Merseyside will always hold a special place
in my heart and nothing will beat that. I cannot wait to experience
it all over again, see last year's Tourists and meet the new ones."
Each runner has their own reason for taking part and story to tell.
Some are participating as a personal challenge, while others are
taking on the Tour to raise funds for their chosen charity.
Charities set to benefit include Mind; Cardiac Risk In The Young;
Arrowe Park Hospital's Neo-Natal Unit; Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust;
Marie Curie; The Stroke Association; and Sense.
...FULL RACE SCHEDULE...
Race 1:- Sunday, 6 July
2014, Southport Half Marathon 13.1 miles
(9am start).
Race 2:- Monday, 7 July 2014, Thurstaston Multi-Terrain 6 miles
(7pm start).
Race 3:- Tuesday, 8 July 2014, Sustrans Cycle Trail 10 miles
(7pm start).
Rest day:- Wednesday, 9 July 2014.
Race 4:- Thursday, 10 July
2014, Halton 5 miles
(7pm start).
Race 5:- Friday, 11 July 2014, Knowsley Cross Country 6 miles
(7pm start).
Race 6:- Saturday, 12 July 2014, Wirral Coastal Run 12 miles
(10am start).
Full details can be found at:-
BTRLiverpool.com.
Also if you are running in this event, please do let us know, so we
can drum up some support for you along the way! Email the
newsroom via:-
news24@southportreporter.com today!
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