‘Running’s coming home’ was the message being relayed from a medal ceremony organised by the Great Run Company today as general entries opened for the inaugural Birmingham International Marathon.

Tony Audenshaw, who plays Bob Hope in Emmerdale, is a keen runner who holds world records for running in fancy dress and plans to run the marathon on behalf of official Birmingham International Marathon charity Bloodwise. Tony was joined by Handsworth-born Olympian Ian Stewart and Cllr Paulette Hamilton, Cabinet member for Health and Social Care, at Birmingham Town Hall as the countdown to Brum’s first marathon since 1989 gathered momentum.

The city is widely regarded as the birthplace of mass participation long-distance running events and the Birmingham International Marathon will cement the city’s position as the European Capital of Running. It also promises to be a medal of honour for Birmingham’s bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, announced last Friday.

Anyone can now sign up for the inaugral event, to be staged on Sunday 15th October 2017 (the same day as the Great Birmingham Run), by checking the Birmingham International Marathon website.

The 26.2-mile route will start at Alexander Stadium, the home of British Athletics, and take in landmarks including the iconic Selfridges building, Westley Richards; one of the oldest gun manufacturers in existance and Edgbaston Stadium; the oldest test cricket ground in the world. Brendan Foster, chairman of the Great Run Company, said:

"We aim to make the Birmingham International Marathon a world-class event that attracts runners of all abilities and it has already had huge levels of interest.

"With over 15,000 people signing up for the event reminder service, the response from the people of Birmingham has been magnificent. We’re looking forward to seeing stories about inspirational entrants – from top athletes right through to people running for charity – in the coming months".

Birmingham staged one of the country’s first open-to-all marathons, the People’s Marathon, which ran from 1980-85 and was organised by late Solihull-based elite runner John Walker. The debut People’s Marathon was held a year before the first London Marathon and Athletics Weekly predicted at the time that it would be ‘the event which triggered off the mass long-distance running movement in this country’.

Entry for the Birmingham International Marathon costs £55 and entrants must be 18 or over on the day of the event. The provisional entry limit is 10,000.