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Steve gets on his bike for a marathon day

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Date25 May 2021
Published date25 May 2021
Publication titleEvening Chronicle
Veteran athlete Steve Parr, 62, represented England at cross country and on the roads, was ranked the UK's No.1 steeplechaser and famously beat world mile recordholder Steve Cram in 1987.

Yet despite winning countless medals and honours in his career, he could not resist one fresh challenge from his son Chris - to start the Gateshead Half Marathon as "Lead Bike."

On race day on Sunday, Parr senior returns to 'racing' as the star turn - on his bicycle, leading off the pack lining up at the iconic Gateshead Stadium.

Son Chris, 36, a fellow Gateshead Harrier like his father before him, also a distinguished athlete and a former Great Britain international middle-distance runner, is the half marathon's Race Director.

He said the new 13.1-mile event has seen sign-ups boom in the weeks since lockdown restrictions on outdoor sports events were lifted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the end of March.

His dad will lead off the 1,200 or more runners taking part - riding a new £1,000 racing bike bought specially for the occasion - and will act as official guide ensuring participants stick to the course.

Parr junior, who lives in Gateshead, said: "After people have been cooped up at home for months, huge pent-up demand from runners has built up and we have seen a major surge in interest and bookings - over 500 in the past six weeks.

"Hundreds of tickets are still being sold and people can rest assured we...

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