THE FUTURE OF RUNNING ON MERSEYSIDE LOOKS BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE
It's been a great start to 2025 for BTR with both the Liverpool Half Marathon and Mersey Tunnel 10K selling out in record time.
It's a trend that has been increasing over the last two years and it's looking set to continue with the running community buoyant across the UK.
As many of you will know, Alan Rothwell who is the Race Director at BTR has been looking to activate a 'retirement' plan for the last 18 months or so as he approaches his 70th birthday in October.
Well that time has now arrived for Alan to take a step back from front line duties having agreed a long term working arrangement with Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All.
BTR will be linking up with Run For All who will be bringing a wealth of event experience to Merseyside and helping develop the race portfolio that is already in place and maybe even some new events.
Alan Rothwell said..."I've been involved in race and fun run events across Merseyside for more than 30 years now and there comes a time when age catches up with you and you have to make decisions with your head and not your heart.
This is a decision I have made with my head. If I listened to my heart I'd just keep going!
I'm pleased to be bringing the Run For All team to Liverpool for all the right reasons. Their attitude toward race events, their experience, their knowledge, their willingness to work with local charities and above all their respect for what Yvonne and I have created and hosted over the last three decades."
As much as it seems like a retirement plan it's not really as Alan will still be involved in the day to day working of event planning and organisation and on race day itself. It's just that there will be a lot more shared responsibility which can only enhance and improve the quality of the race day experience BTR provides for runners.
Mike Tomlinson who founded Run For All alongside his late wife Jane said “Firstly, thank you to Alan and Yvonne for this opportunity. What they have achieved over the past 30 years has been remarkable.
Liverpool is somewhere close to our hearts, with Jane having grown up in Crosby and so it feels a perfect addition to the Run For All series. Our aim is to ensure these events continue to raise vital funds for charities across Merseyside and that we look at opportunities to increase accessibility and highlight this incredible city.”
On the face of it nothing will seem any different at any of the BTR events for the foreseeable future and of course Alan and Yvonne will still be front and centre of everything that happens on race day. They won't be going anywhere!
It's behind the scenes where there will be a big difference with greater scope and more support to help bring new ideas about sustainability, innovation and improvement which is what every professional event company needs to consider.
Run For All is part of the lasting legacy of the late amateur athlete and fundraiser Jane Tomlinson CBE. Jane, who grew up in Liverpool, made headlines around the world by taking part in a series of incredible endurance events - despite being diagnosed with an incurable cancer.
The mum-of-three defied her devastating diagnosis to complete challenge after challenge – from marathons and triathlons to ironman contests and cross-Europe cycle rides.
By 2007 her declining health meant she was unable to take part in any more extraordinary undertakings. However, using the money she raised on her epic American adventure, Jane was able to sow the seeds for the Run For All Leeds 10K – the cornerstone of what would become her continuing legacy.
Today that one run has grown into one of the UK’s biggest not-for-profit events companies, providing a fundraising vehicle for a huge number of local and national charities.
Every year tens of thousands of people take part in the series of popular events – running for charity, for a personal challenge or just for fun.
While the organisation has changed since that first Leeds 10K – not least by growing significantly, Run For All’s philosophy remains exactly the same; high-quality, great fun events for all abilities.
So the future of running across Merseyside is in great shape with a great mix of local knowledge and experience combining with regional profile and a massive portfolio of 26 race events.
As for Alan and his retirement plan he said..." This working arrangement with Run For All is a great opportunity for me to continue to support the running community across Merseyside by using my 30 years of experience with the backing of another amazing event organisation who will be bringing something different to Merseyside.
It's not quite time for me to put my feet up but this new opportunity will allow me to relax a little bit and... maybe take up a bit of running again!"
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FIRST AND LAST MARATHON!
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Well 2025 is shaping up to be a year of both change and challenge for me as I look to further my retirement plans and review the BTR portfolio of events this year. The change is already underway (and more on that as we work our way through the year)... and now the challenge has landed on my doorstep. Yep, I've got a charity place in the London Marathon this year.
Now many of you will know that over the years I managed to run a good number of marathons between 1981 and 2007 but the last one I did was London 18 years ago (!!) and I've not even attempted one since. In 2007 I didn't quite have a Steve Redgrave moment but I did say that it was unlikely I would ever do one again... however, if I was looking at a final hurrah then I think it is now to tie in with my retirement plans over the next 12 months.
So there you have it. I've committed and I'm in for one last time and I couldn't have a better running mate than my youngest daughter Abbie. Yeah, she's been reeled in as well and serve her right for having a level of curiosity about this magical distance that meant she has 'agreed' to do it with me.
So, the story is we will be running as FIRST and LAST with it being her first marathon (she's only ever run 10K before) and most definitely my last marathon. We will be running for local charity Claire House and I will be setting up a JustGiving page so any help from the local running community will be a great source of inspiration to keep me going until the big day. I'll give you updates along the way and let's see if I drag myself around London for one last time.
Wish me luck.
Alan
Race Director, BTR