• Bosworth to race-walk alongside participants at Birmingham’s biggest parkrun on Saturday 10 February.
• First-time participants will enter draw to win tickets for Sunday’s session of the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships
• Volunteers at Birmingham’s biggest parkrun also rewarded with tickets to championships on its return to Birmingham

Britain’s leading race walker and five-time British record holder, Tom Bosworth (coach: Andi Drake, club: Tonbridge) is to finalise his preparations ahead of next weekend’s SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships by taking on the general public at the Cannon Hill parkrun in Birmingham at 9am tomorrow (Saturday 10 February).

Marking one week to go until the championships, which return to the Birmingham for the first time in 15 years, British Athletics and parkrun are inviting locals to register and take part in the Cannon Hill event this Saturday, with anyone who signs up and participates for the first time at parkrun entering a prize draw to win some of the best seats in the house for next weekend’s championships.

Birmingham’s biggest parkrun with over 600 people taking part weekly, local residents will receive an amazing opportunity to take part alongside a world-class international athlete before he goes for gold at next weekend’s championships at Arena Birmingham (17-18 February).

In a move that will also reward the unsung heroes behind the scenes, those who volunteer at Saturday’s event in Cannon Hill Park will also receive a pair of free tickets to see Bosworth compete at the second and final day of the championships next weekend.

Bosworth recently returned for a block of warm weather training in South Africa and spoke of his excitement about participating at Saturday’s event, which is free and for runners of all abilities.

Tom Bosworth said:

“I’m really looking forward to participating in Birmingham’s biggest parkrun tomorrow – hopefully I can surprise a good few of those set to participate by showing the speed at which race-walkers go, plus there is the added competitive edge of not wanting to be beaten by too many runners out there!

“In the same way that we see cross country as the real roots of the sport, parkrun has been huge in encouraging mass participation and the leading of active lifestyles over the years, so to get amongst what is such a popular event this coming Saturday is something I’m really excited for.

“Not only that, but the event on Saturday is a great opportunity to say thank you to the Birmingham residents for their enthusiasm and willingness to participate or volunteer their time on a Saturday morning, so for those doing just that to receive free tickets to come and see me and many others compete at the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships is great news.”

Major Events Director at British Athletics, Cherry Alexander said:

“This is a great opportunity for members of the local community to meet and race against one of Britain’s best athletes. Tom has created some brilliant moments at our major events in recent years which have thrilled the fans, so it is fantastic that he is giving them a chance to see the very best in the country compete at next week’s SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships.

On the offer of free tickets to parkrun’s volunteers, she added:

“The sport would not be able to function without our volunteers and officials who spare their time to make sure events run smoothly, so it is our pleasure to invite them to Arena Birmingham next weekend for what will be an electric championships”

Mary Ross, parkrun’s regional ambassador for the West Midlands, said:

“To have someone of Tom’s profile come along for tomorrow’s Cannon Hill parkrun is great news for both mass participation sport and promoting an awareness of upcoming athletics events here in Birmingham.

“For participants tomorrow to be able to participate alongside a fully-fledged Olympian will be a memorable experience – Tom is sure to surprise more than a few people when they see how quick professional race-walkers are!”

The best of Britain will gather at the Arena Birmingham on the weekend of Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 February as they compete for the prestigious honour of being crowned British champion and battle for a place on the British Athletics team ahead of March’s IAAF World Indoor Championships, due to be held in the very same Arena from 1 – 4 March.