Twinning Town Firefighters Set to Go Head to Head at Coventry Running Festival

Firefighters from two twinned cities will swap fire engines for running shoes this April as they take on the Coventry Running Festival in a spirit of friendly international rivalry.

Around ten firefighters from Cork City Fire Brigade will travel to Coventry to join colleagues from West Midlands Fire Service at the festival on 19 April, where both the Half Marathon and 10K will take place. The visit marks a special milestone for the Cork City Fire Brigade Athletic Club, which has been re-established in the past year. As part of their comeback, the club wanted to select a race in one of Cork’s twinned cities – and Coventry was the perfect choice.

The two brigades will take part in a light-hearted competition as they race through Coventry’s historic streets and picturesque surrounding countryside.

Among Cork’s runners will be Alex O’Shea, a firefighter renowned for his extraordinary racing achievements – including holding the world record for running a marathon in full fire kit.

As organisers of the event, Run For All are delighted to welcome both teams to the event, describing their involvement as ‘a brilliant example of camaraderie, teamwork, and the power of sport to bring workplaces and communities together.’