Alex Robinson ran for the Northern Ireland U15 school team on Saturday 20th April in the British Athletics Road Championships. His race was the one of a number of races in the London Mini Marathon where the best young athletes in the country get to compete against each other. He was selected on the back of his performance at the Ulster School Cross Country Final earlier in the year when he was competing against fourth and fifth years. As well as the championship races up to 14,000 children and young people run, walk, jog or push their way around either a one-mile or 2.6K course around St James’s Park in central London.
The Mini London Marathon was first held in 1985 and took place on the same day as the full London Marathon. In 2022 to make it more accessible it became a standalone event and now takes place the day before the London Marathon.
The Mini Marathon championships has given the UK’s most promising young athletes the chance to compete against the best new talent in British road running. Over the years, the event has launched the careers of international athletics stars including Laura Muir and Josh Kerr. Sir Mo Farah won the Mini Marathon three times.
Alex’s race was over the same last 2.6km as the main marathon route and passed in front of Buckingham Palace before finishing on the Mall. There was a mad dash at the start and the finish line came sooner than expected. It was an honour to race against the best the UK has to offer at his age and he was pleased with his 8.44 time given his nerves.