BY FIONNUALA BOURKE From Birmingham Mail

Running’s coming home!

And so are these two honorary Brummies who are making the staggering 10,000-mile round trip from their home in the Cayman Islands to take on the inaugural Birmingham International Marathon.

It will take Chris and Kym Bailey 16 hours to travel from their Caribbean haven to join thousands taking part in the 26.2 mile event on Sunday October 15 which starts at the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr.

And they will have double reason to celebrate after passing the Millennium Point finishing post – Kym’s dad David Humphries’ 70th birthday falls on the same day.

Some of Chris’s friends might not recognise him – as he has slimmed down from his 24 stone weight when he left the UK ten years ago, and now tips the scales at 19 stone.

“Chris and I have entered running events in various countries,” explained Solihull-born Kym, 45, a mobile personal trainer,

“So when dad saw that a marathon was coming back to Birmingham, he emailed me the link and said ‘you run all over the United States, so you have to run one in your home city’!

“The fact the first Birmingham International Marathon takes place on his big birthday suggests it was meant to happen. Hopefully, we’ll be going for a massive roast dinner afterwards to refuel and celebrate.”

Chris, a former Hagley RC High School pupil, and Kym, who went to Shirley-based Light Hall School and Solihull Sixth Form College, have been living on Grand Cayman for almost six years.

“It’s going to be an amazing nostalgic run around the city we used to call home,” said Chris, 39, HR director for Price Waterhouse Cooper, who is originally from Harborne.

“Due to the high cost and travelling time, we don’t get back to see our families that often.

“But when my father-in-law asked us to come home for his birthday and run around a city he takes great pride in, how could we refuse?”

The couple first moved to Bermuda when they left the UK and Chris began his weightloss journey.

“I was quite unhealthy, but the last couple of years have seen a huge change in my lifestyle,” he said.

“I’ve lost loads of weight and taken up several charitable challenges, including a 640-mile run/cycle/swim, raising $30,000 for the Guatemala literacy project.

“Last year, I completed three 70.3 Ironman events for local charities and have now entered the full Ironman Florida event in November, just three weeks after the Birmingham International Marathon!

“Kym is also really keen to put in a great time at the marathon that’s bringing us home, if only for a little while.”

Kym, who met Chris at Broad Street’s Sports Café in 1999, has achieved similarly incredible feats since rediscovering her love for running four years ago.

“I ran for my school but stopped when boys and parties became more appealing!” she admitted.

“There’s a big outdoor running community on Grand Cayman and four years ago, I joined some friends in a 5k race and came first in my age group! I then got the bug.

“On the Cayman Islands, I’ve been the female winner of 5k, half marathon and 30k events.

“We make sure any trips abroad coincide with running events. I’ve done the Miami and Havana half marathons and Chicago marathon twice. I also ran a personal best of 3:25hrs at the Boston Marathon in April and plan to run all the world’s big six marathons.

“The funny thing is that Chris hates running with a passion. He much prefers the cycling and swimming parts of his triathlons!

“We’re helping to make it a truly international event, aren’t we?

“Having run the Chicago Marathon, I’ve seen what it does for that city, both in terms of tourism and revenue. There are around 1.5million people watching on the course – there’s not an inch of the route without spectators cheering on the runners.

“Hopefully, the Birmingham International Marathon can also be a major positive for the city.

“Because people are proud of Brum, I’m hoping they will come out and support us. It makes such a difference when you’re running.”

However, training in their Caribbean climate will put them at a disadvantage.

“The temperature never really drops below mid-70s,” said Kym.

“Every time I’ve visited England it’s been summer but it’s still felt cold. It’ll be even worse in October!

“Also, Grand Cayman is completely flat. For hill training, I have to run up car park ramps!

“So it’s going to be tough, but I’m really looking forward to running in my home city.”

Chris and Kym also plan to get reacquainted with Birmingham culture.

“We can’t wait to see our families, who we miss dearly,” said Kym.

“I miss popping into the Bull Ring and although the restaurants on Grand Cayman are amazing, there’s nothing like a Brummie Balti! I have one every time I come home.

“The recent developments in the city centre have been amazing so we’re looking forward to coming back and seeing what else has happened since we last visited.”

Birmingham is widely regarded as the birthplace of open-to-all marathons thanks to the People’s Marathon, which ran from 1980-85 and began a year before the London Marathon.

It was set up by John Walker an attracted up to 5,000 runners and started and finished in Chelmsley Wood.

John, who died of heart failure three years ago aged 75, launched the event to encourage everyday people to get fitter and healthier through running.

How you can sign up for Birmingham International Marathon

The Birmingham International Marathon, already on target to become one of the UK’s top six marathons, will take in iconic city sights like Villa Park, Selfridges, Edgbaston Cricket Ground and picturesque Cannon Hill Park.

But with only 19 weeks to go, anyone planning to enter needs to make a dash for it, as less than 600 places remain.

With the Birmingham International Marathon taking place on the same day as the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run half marathon, Chris and Kym could be running through the city with around 25,000 people.

Anyone who entered the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k will receive a £10 discount for either the Birmingham International Marathon or the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run half marathon.

Sign up for the Birmingham International Marathon by going to web link below

Entries are now open for the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run 2017. See same web link below.

IMAGES:

Chris doing triathlon

Kym with her medal after the Boston Marathon

Kym with her medal after Chicago Marathon

Chris before he lost his weight

For more on this story go to: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/birmingham-international-marathon-couple-make-13131299