Next weekend is your last chance to join the mad dash whilst deciding whether to enter the 5k or 10k Knowle Fun Run which is on Sunday 20 May.

Knowle and Dorridge Lions, organisers of the Solihull’s ever popular community fundraising event, the Knowle Fun Run, are expecting the usual last minute scramble for places and warn runners they have to have made their decision and entered by midnight on Monday 14^th to give them to time to order the personalised timing chips and runners numbers. “It seems giving runners a choice of 5k or 10k slows down entries as they have to make a decision when they enter,” says organiser Lion Richard Buckley.

This year’s event, which will see Solihull’s new Mayor-elect Cllr Flo Nash get the runners underway promptly at 12noon and present the prizes, will raise funds for Headway – the brain injuries charity, Solihull’s new Breast Cancer Haven as well as local causes. The Lions hope that individuals as well as companies have been getting their efforts sponsored and hope to raise over £35,000 for these worthy causes.

As usual there will be 4 KIDSruns for those under 9 years olds in Years 1-4 from 11:00 followed by the main event at 12:00 at Arden Academy and as usual we shall close the course to traffic for the 2 hours of the Fun Run, 11.45am to 2pm. Please see our website for details of the road closures.

“Not running? Join the crowds lining the roads create a fantastic atmosphere which attracts many new runners every year,” says Richard. “As usual we shall be welcoming runners from all over the country, not just the Midlands. With the run the Sunday after the Royal wedding we have introduced it as a theme for those wishing to run in fancy dress, and like last year we are introducing an element of noise – with Knowle Church ringing its bells as the runners pass and a number of other attractions around the route. Get online now at www.knowlefunrun.org.uk to complete your entry today”

Not running why not help the organisers:

With a surge of entries over this last weekend we are delighted to find we have more entries for both the 5k & 10k runs than at this date last year, and more Kidsrunners as well. Once again 10k runners are outnumbering 5k by 3 to 2. But there is still time for things to change

Keep it up and pass the message on to all your friends, colleagues and family – entries close 2 weeks today!

It is no surprise the change in the weather brings a flood of entries for this year’s Fun Run.

Let’s hope we see more teams and KIDsrunners

Here is the latest on the teams front

Adult 5k

Adult 10k

We look forward to the first Junior 5k team

What’s in a name: 40, 39, 38, 37? Apparently they are hoping to finish in age order.

We heard from Helen Martin of Oktogon, the bar behind Solihull Flooring on Station Road in Knowle

Oktogon are taking part in the Knowle Fun Run as part of, and to support the local community.

We have had such a fabulous take up on places by staff past and present that we have had to enter two teams and have individual runners.  

We have chosen Springfield House as it’s a local school for young school children with difficulties. They are delighted that we’re running for them, due to the nature of the school they don’t have a PTA to organise fundraising activities.

The money raised will be go towards an outside gym which they want to install. 

Next part – training and fund raising!

That’s wonderful Helen. Where is your entry?

Things are coming together well for this year’s Fun Run, and entries are flooding in now the weather has improved. Don’t forget to order your lime green tech shirt when you enter

As always we have vacancies for anyone not running to volunteer for jobs on the day to marshal the route, or anything else. Volunteer now

As in many years Spire Parkway Hospital are offering massages from 11:00 before and after the Fun Run, in return for a donation to the Fun Run charities.

This year they will be on the stage in the Registration Hall. Be sure to bring your donation

This year’s Knowle Fun Run programmes are back from the printers and being delivered across B93 over the coming days! 

Be sure to give it a read – our advertisers and sponsors would appreciate your custom

Even if you are not a runner you can find out how you may be affected by the Run and how you can help us ensure the day goes well

Responding to requests for better quality t-shirts we have decided to introduce new Tech style t-shirts for 2018 in Lime Green. We hope this will encourage more runners to buy one.  

Today Jon, the Solihull Observer photographer, met us at Packwood House and took some images for his paper to promote the Fun Run.

Here is Lion Bob Thurtle sporting one of this year’s lime green tech t-shirts behind the metal sign which will be displayed at Arden Academy soon, with Matt Price from the Breast Cancer Haven & Julie Wedgbury from Headway holding one of this year’s lamp-posters sponsored by Taylor Wimpey

Team entries seem a little slow this year.

Entries so far:

10k

4 Amigos

Hampton Pre-school 1

Hampton Pre-school 2

5k

Marvellous Mitchells

Don’t hold back. Usual Timpson glass engraved trophies and prize vouchers to be won, by the first team of 4 home, total time.