THE GREAT SOUTH RUN 2007
Charitable event organized by BUPA to raise funds for research in medicine including breast cancer, and diabetes.
The weekend weather was awful..(trust me) but I must applaud these marvelous people to still commit themselves to this events making sure it went on despite the heavy rains and wind...
The 10-mile race began in Southsea in intervals, between 1025 GMT and 1055 GMT, before ending at the Pyramids.
Kenyans Luke Kibet and Rose Cheruiyot won the men's and women's races, while Tushar Patel and Anne Wafula-Strike won the men's and women's wheelchair races.
Other runners included Portsmouth Football Club owner Sasha Gaydamak and chief executive Peter Storrie.
All 18,500 places were snapped up within six weeks of the launch.
British trio Liz Yelling, Mara Yamauchi and Tracey Morris sought unsuccessfully to keep the women's title in British hands after defending champion Jo Pavey was injured.
Many roads remain closed until late on Sunday afternoon, including parts of Clarence Esplanade, Jack Cockerill Way, The Dell, Avenue de Caen, Victoria Avenue and Victoria Spur.
Several thousand more runners took part in the young people's races and the Portsmouth Mile on Saturday
All types of people participated making it a wonderful time for all to be united and work together for a great cause..
THE 2007 BUPA Great South Run champion Luke Kibet blamed strong winds for hi-jacking his bid to set a new course record.
The Kenyan stormed to victory in Europe's biggest 10 miler on his first visit to Portsmouth.
But Kibet's 47min 31sec time was outside of Benson Maysa's long-standing course record set 12 years ago.
Kibet never looked troubled and delivered a controlled and classy display as he stepped down from his usual marathon distance.
Terrible weather greeted a record 12,000 crowd who took part in the race.
Heavy rain fell from the start of the event with winds also whipping in off the Solent.
Kibet explained that killed any chance of setting a new mark around the streets of the city.
He said: 'It was windy and it was hard but I enjoyed it.
'The conditions made it really difficult to push so I wasn't able to go for the record.
'I thought a record would have been possible but it just wasn't in the end.
'I'm Kenyan and perhaps I'm not quite used to weather like this.
'I was looking for speed and I managed to get that from this race.
'It is a very well organised race so I'm pleased to have taken part.'
Tens of thousands of supporters turned out to back runners despite the rain falling.
They lined all of the course's 10-mile circuit.
Kibet said those who got behind him made a big difference as he battled to hold off Chema Martinez, Yared Asmeron and Jonathan Maiyo.
The 24-year-old waited until the seven-mile mark before opening up a five-second lead at the front.
Kibet took advantage of a fall by rival Martinez to make his move.
He looked stronger and stronger as the race hotted up and had a 11-second lead going into the last mile. Martinez recovered from his fall to overtake Maiyo over the final two miles.
No one could get near world marathon champ Kibet though.
He explained he had loved his visit to Portsmouth and thanked the fans for their backing.
references: The news, and bbc news.. and my eyes...
TOTW/F/M Award(s): 2
Linear Mode
