Tom Grennan hosts city run club ahead of gig

Charlotte Benton,BBC News, West Midlandsand
Richard Williams,BBC CWR
News imageBBC Two women who are taking a selfie with a man, singer Tom Grennan, who is wearing a black hoodie and has the hood up. They are outside before a run. BBC
Hundreds of people headed to War Memorial Park on Friday morning to see the singer

Hundreds of people joined singer-songwriter Tom Grennan as he hosted a run club in Coventry ahead of an "intimate" gig later - his final rehearsal before his UK tour.

The Little Bit of Love star took to social media on Thursday evening and invited residents to join him on a two-lap run around War Memorial Park at 08:00 BST on Friday.

Grennan, who has been adopted by the city where his grandmother is from, said: "It was amazing to see how much great spirit there is. It's a great turnout."

He is set to play his "Final Night Of Tour Rehearsals" show in the Exhibition Hall at Coventry Building Society Arena from 20:00.

BBC Radio WM and CWR presenter Trish Adudu got the crowd moving when she hosted an energetic warm-up session ahead of the run.

"It's been absolutely brilliant. We thought nobody was here because everyone was in their cars, but we got them out to do a workout," she said.

Despite the rain, the crowd chanted the singer's name as they prepared for him to get the two laps underway.

Trish added: "I am not Mrs Motivator, but I have tried my best, and the crowd has been fantastic.

"This is a proud day to be from Coventry and Warwickshire."

News imageThe back of a woman who is leading a warm-up before a run in a park. A crowd are gathered in front of her in a car park, and they all have their arms up.
BBC Radio WM and CWR presenter Trish Adudu hosted a warm-up before Grennan got the run underway

Andy, who organises a regular run club in the city called Chase Life, joined in with the morning exercise and said the singer had brought people together.

"Grennan's been around Coventry for ages. He's a big advocate for the city, and it's nice to do something in the local park with the community."

News imageA young girl and her mum before a run in a park. They have their arms around each other and are standing in a car park.
Trudy decided to surprise her daughter Georgie and take her along to the run on Friday morning

Trudy spotted Grennan's invitation late on Thursday evening and decided to surprise her daughter Georgie.

"I woke her up at seven and said, 'Do you want to run around the park with Tom Grennan?' She jumped out of bed and was so excited."

She added: "It's not every day that you get to run around the park with Tom Grennan."

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