LISTEN: Scotland's marathon elite help launch Great Scottish Run
The Hawkins brothers and Tsegai Tewelde took time out of their training for the Rio Olympics to help launch the 10k and half marathon races in Glasgow
Scotland's elite marathon running brothers Callum and Derek Hawkins have been joined by Tsegai Tewelde, at the launch of the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run in Glasgow.
The trio, who qualified for the Rio Olympics, are likely to compete against each other over the half marathon distance in Glasgow on 2nd October.
Younger brother Callum, running only his second marathon, sealed his place for Rio with an eighth place finish in London and was the first British finisher in an outstanding time of 2:10:52, whilst his older sibling Derek came home as third Brit finisher and 14th overall in an impressive 2:12:57. Meanwhile Tsegai will also go to Rio after finishing in twelfth place in 2:12:23 despite running his first ever marathon.
Scotland's biggest weekend of running, which this year will be staged on the 1st and 2nd October, will feature up to 30,000 runners of all ages and abilities and the half marathon will be televised live.
Our Chief Reporter Linda Sinclair spoke to the Hawkins brothers.
Mark Hollinshead, Chief Executive of organisers the Great Run Company said, "Callum, Derek and Tsegai all ran outstandingly well in London and did Scotland proud. We are delighted that they are set to become a part of the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run weekend following Rio."
Bank of Scotland has sponsored the event for eight years and this will be their second year with BBC Children in Need as its chosen charity of the year.
Mike Moran, Director of Community Network, Bank of Scotland (Retail), will be taking part in the event this October. He said: “This will be my fifth year running in the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run. I love taking part in this event as it brings thousands of runners of all levels together and year on year it raises an incredible amount of money for many worthy causes. Alongside hundreds of my Bank of Scotland colleagues I will be proud to run on behalf of our Charity of the Year, BBC Children in Need. It will push me across that finish line knowing that every pound I raise will make a worthwhile difference to disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.”
Deputy Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow Life, Councillor Archie Graham OBE, said: “The Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run is one of the highlights on Glasgow’s annual sporting calendar, bringing together thousands of people of all ages and abilities for a an incredible weekend of running.
“As well as being Scotland’s largest mass-participation running event, it is also always hugely inspiring. Each and every participant has their own unique story, from first-time runners to those raising money for a good cause close to their heart, making it one of Scotland’s best loved running events.”
For more information and to enter the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run visit www.greatscottishrun.com
You can follow the event on Twitter @GreatScotRun using #greatscottishrun or on Facebook by searching Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run.