Boston 'hero' runner hopes he won't be 'villain' in Belfast race
TL;DR
Aaron Beggs, known as a 'hero' for helping a fellow runner at the Boston Marathon, hopes to avoid being seen as a 'villain' during the Belfast race. He plans to assist any struggling runners he encounters while completing the 26.2-mile course.
Key points
- Aaron Beggs helped a fellow runner at the Boston Marathon
- He is known as a 'hero' for his actions
- Beggs hopes to avoid being seen as a 'villain' in Belfast
- He plans to assist struggling runners during the Belfast race
- The Belfast race is a 26.2-mile marathon
Mentioned in this story
Aaron Beggs helped carry a fellow runner over the line in Boston [Reuters]
Boston Marathon "hero" Aaron Beggs has said he is hoping not to become a "villain" in the Belfast race.
After helping to carry a fellow runner over the line in Boston last month, Beggs knows he will be a focus of attention as he runs 26.2 miles around Belfast on Sunday.
If he spots anyone struggling near the finish line, the 40 year old from Bangor in Northern Ireland said he will feel obliged to help them.
"I'll have to pick them up. I know if I run past anyone this weekend I'll be a villain. One week hero, next week villain!" he said.
Beggs can run a marathon in under three hours and he is hoping to do the same again on Sunday in Belfast [BBC]
Since his and Robson De Oliveira's actions went viral on social media, Beggs has done more than 50 interviews with media outlets from across the world.
"It's been crazy. I have just been spreading the word that it's 'nice to be nice'," he told BBC News NI.
Beggs can run a standard marathon (26.2 miles) in under three hours and he is hoping to do the same again on Sunday in Belfast in spite of an exhausting few weeks since Boston.
"It's my home city race and I'm really looking forward to it," he said.
Husband and wife Philip and Debbie McLorina are hoping to complete their first marathon [BBC]
He is one of almost 7,000 runners taking part in the race which begins at Stormont and goes through all four corners of the city.
Among the participants are husband and wife Philip and Debbie McLorinan from Lisburn, both hoping to complete their first marathon.
Debbie said: "He's faster than me but we all run together with Jog Lisburn Running Club."
Alice is running the marathon three years after having a stroke [BBC]
At the age of 29, Alice Cinnamond from Belfast had a stroke, but three years later she has entered the Belfast marathon.
She is raising money for charity and also celebrating her remarkable return to good health.
"Now I'm in full recovery, happy, healthy and ready to run another marathon," said Alice.
One runner likely to stand out from the crowd is Alan Harris, 46, from east Belfast as he runs in a gorilla suit with a pink top and skirt.
"I wanted to do something to grab attention as I run for my favourite charity," he said.
"I ran the London Marathon last week. The suit gets a bit warm after eight miles but I'll cope."
Alan Harris is running for his favourite charity [BBC]
As well as the full marathon runners, there are more than 3,200 relay teams, made up of five people each running around five miles.
There is also a wheelchair race.
The field includes runners from Ethiopia, Morocco, Canada and USA as well as many runners from the European mainland.
However, the majority of entrants are from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
There is full coverage of the Belfast Marathon on BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio Ulster, and the BBC NI Sport website from 08:45 BST on Sunday.
The latest weather forecast suggests a rather cloudy day with a moderate, north-easterly wind.
Q&A
Who is Aaron Beggs and why is he called a 'hero'?
Aaron Beggs is a runner recognized as a 'hero' for helping a fellow participant cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon.
What does Aaron Beggs hope to avoid during the Belfast race?
Aaron Beggs hopes to avoid being perceived as a 'villain' while running the Belfast race.
What is Aaron Beggs's plan if he sees someone struggling in the Belfast race?
If he spots anyone struggling near the finish line, Aaron Beggs plans to help them, as he feels obliged to do so.
When is the Belfast race that Aaron Beggs is participating in?
The Belfast race that Aaron Beggs is participating in is scheduled for Sunday.
