It was a weekend to remember for Portsmouth and Southsea as the South Coast played host to 25,000 runners for the Great South Run, with that total including a number of Islanders who made the journey across the Solent.
Staged for the 27th time, the Great South Run comprised of 4 events across 2 days for all ages and abilities. The weekend of sporting action began on the Saturday with the Great South Run 5K, which was started by Olympian and former Islander Jess Andrews. Jess also started the Junior run which followed shortly afterwards on Clarence Esplanade.
Inspirational Islander Natasha Lambert BEM took part in and completed the 5k event, cheered on by the strong crowds.
On Sunday it was time for the 10-mile event, where an estimated £4million was raised by runners for a variety of charities.
The Wight Brainy Bunch – set up by firefighter Mark Grimes and his wife Kathryn following his diagnosis of a brain tumour – had a total of 8 people taking part in the run. Their team kit was sponsored by IOW Computer Geek.
Sue Clerkin of Wootton and 4 members of her family all ran for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice, as did 5 Hospice nurses headed up by Jackie Whiller and Theresa McNamara.
Richard Bunday from Cowes ran for MacMillan nurses, whilst Tracy Dove from the Isle of Wight Zoo ran ‘fortheloveoflemurs‘.
Jess Andrews started the 10K run but pulled up when her legs ‘locked up’ following a small back problem earlier this week. Jess has said that her ‘head said yes, legs said no’.
Next year’s event will take place over the weekend of 21st-22nd October 2017.
