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Race axe an insult to Jane's memory
When Leeds City Council announced they were to scrap the Leeds Half Marathon event after 22 years and replace it with the Jane Tomlinson 10K Run For All a storm of protest broke out. Below is just a sample of the many letters and e-mails that bombarded the YEP and its website.
I find it disappointing that the true legacy of Jane Tomlinson will be the cancellation of Leeds' only half marathon.
This seems highly inappropriate as a legacy for someone for whom endurance running was such an important part of life.
While the Jane Tomlinson 10k is a laudable event, especially judging by the number of people taking part, it is not a fit replacement for a half marathon. Do the members of Leeds Council who made the decision know the distance of a half marathon? It isn't 10 kilometers. These are entirely different events and one cannot be incorporated into the other.
Shame
It is a shame that Leeds Council stoop to manipulating the public interest around a charity event such as the Jane Tomlinson 10k in order to save themselves the trouble of organising the half marathon, when the real reason the half marathon is being cancelled is surely the gripes of local residents who evidently have the ear of Council members.
The half marathon is an event that caters for all abilities and such events have been growing in popularity around the country. It is also a distance that attracts many people who are preparing for full marathons. Many people in Leeds will be disappointed that they cannot support a local race and will be forced to divert their support to races in other towns and cities, which in turn will no doubt be delighted at the chance to raise their profile at Leeds' expense.
Over 6,000 runners supported last year's half marathon. What a shame their loyalty to their city is not repaid by their councillors.
Peter Franklin, e-mail
A mockery
I'm a 56-year-old "casual" runner who has graduated over the past three years from the Abbey Dash to the Leeds Half, which I have run with my sons.
The Leeds Half has made a huge difference to our fitness and health – the motivation from having a graduated series of events to aim at is crucial.
Leeds residents already have to travel to other cities for major entertainment events, top flight football, international standard swimming, ice skating, track cycling – the list is endless.
Can we not now even manage to organise a decent race around the streets?
I had the privilege of finishing alongside Jane Tomlinson on one of my races. This decision makes a total mockery of her intentions with the Run for All.
Mark, Roundhay, Leeds
Bandwagon
Disgusting, the council are jumping on the publicity bandwagon at the expense of a serious and much respected race.
The country is awash with 10k road races, and there is a shortage of half marathons, further exacerbated by the City council's selfish appetite for publicity.
Many, many runners will have made their racing plans and devised their training schedules to gear up for the Leeds Half Marathon. It is thoughtless to disrupt the plans of so many runners at such short notice. It takes months to train and prepare seriously for a big race such as the Leeds Half Marathon
Brian Hilton, for and on behalf of Faithful+Gould Commercial Services
No justification
THE council have recently closed down my local gym (Leeds International Pool) and now they are cancelling a sports event which is attended by thousands.
How can this be justified?
Warren Thompson, e-mail
Out of touch
The fact that the council think a half marathon can be replaced by a 10k just goes to show how out of touch they are. Are there no genuine sports people working in the Sport Development department?
Anyone with even a basic understanding of the sport would know that the two distances are not inter-changeable. Whilst commendable, the 10k Run for All is fundamentally a fundraising event, whereas the half marathon is a sporting event.
Are all our true races to be slowly decimated by the almighty charities?
Xanthe Hannah, e mail
The Leeds Half Marathon is an ideal event in any (fun) runner's calendar – a checkpoint for one's fitness and recovery, and it's not just runners from Leeds who take part. Read comments from runners from all over the country in Runner's World – they are always positive. This event should be an important date on Leeds City Council's calendar. Nathalie
Is it down to hard cash?
I suspect money has a lot to do with this decision. Last year we saw at least one local club running their last 10K race because the police would not police the event. We will end up losing all our local events if we do not make a stand now and protest to the coucil to reinstate the Leeds Half Marathon.
Kevin Harrison, e-mail
Small minded
Are we a BIG city or not? In some ways yes, but in many sadly lacking.
Somehow, I don't think Jane Tomlinson would have been too happy at the loss of this well established and popular race.
I sincerely hope the decision to scrap the Leeds half marathon is reconsidered.
Steve Linsell, UK veteran high jump champion & record holder
Let down again
I fail to see the justification in this. Local runners and local running clubs have been strong supporters of Leeds half marathon over many years and we deserve better than this. Once again the council lets the city down.
Jill Stocks, Kirkstall, Leeds
TypicaL council, why look into moving one of the runs to stop them being a little difficult to organise when you can just cancel one and save time and effort?
They can't be bothered to get off their fat behinds to run so I suppose we shouldn't expect to get off them to help us run.
Carl Lockwood, e-mail
Leeds City Council, why not cancel your daft radio advertising and put the money you currently waste from this into the Leeds Half Marathon. This is what the runners and voters of Leeds want. One other thing, where do you get your Jack Boots from? Out of Touch! Out of Step! Out of Order! Local Government at its BEST!
Mr J Brownbill, e-mailThis is a kick in the teeth for taxpayers
Since the New Year, I have never seen so many runners on the streets, even in the awful conditions. With people becoming more conscious about their health and wellbeing, running has never been more popular.
It is irresponsible of a city council to withdraw sporting events from their own constituents who have shown nothing but enthusiasm for an event which promotes healthy living and shows Leeds in such a positive light.
I therefore request that Leeds city council reinstate the annual half marathon or create a new event for those who enjoy running or inspire to run organised races over long distances.
James Murphy, e-mail
We must make this council listen to us
The council say they will listen to the views of the wider public regarding the reinstatement of the half marathon for 2009.
I would suggest that if, as a running community, we wish to attempt to save this event we should make our feelings known, in writing, in the strongest possible terms to the council immediately, to leave them in no doubt that the half marathon event matters very much to the runners, people and city of Leeds.
Ian Park, Horsforth Harriers
Save it...and name it after Jane
I would just like to point out that I think it is disgusting how Leeds City Council has cancelled the Leeds Half Marathon like this.
I work in one of the large city law firms and we always have a good turn out from here alone, of all abilities.
Jane Tomlinson was an inspiration to millions of people but I think even Jane would be upset at the cancellation of the Leeds city half Marathon to support her 10K run for all isn't a good Idea. Why can't Leeds city council change the name of the Leeds half marathon to the Jane Tomlinson Leeds half marathon?
That way it is bigger and better and not forgetting that Jane Tomlinson was also a Marathon runner!
The race this year will be missed by thousands of people, not only the runners but all the people who make the effort every year who stand at the side of the roads to come and support all of us who run the Leeds Half Marathon.
Rob Wells, e-mail
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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