Sun puts spring in the step of Ironbridge Half Marathon runners - with pictures and video
They tackled hills, forged muddy paths and ran alongside historic canal paths, but for the 766 runners taking part in the Ironbridge Half Marathon they only had one thing in mind – to cross that finishing line.
First in was 38-year-old John Bowie, a postman from Oswestry. He completed the tricky 13-mile course in just 72 minutes on Sunday .
A member of Telford Athletics Club, John was delighted with his time and said: “I am doing London in a few weeks’ time and this is my first race since January when I won the County Cross Country.
"This was pretty good. It went really well. The weather was perfect and my time was good, which will prepare me well for London.”
The sun shone and brought out the crowds to cheer on the runners.
Starting from Telford Town Park, they made their way along Silkin Way, into Ironbridge and across the famous structure before crossing in to Coalport and Rough Park, where the going was muddy underfoot, before coming back on to the Silkin Way at Old Dawley railway station and entering the park.
Race organiser Jacquie Walker, from Telford Harriers, said the course made it one of the hardest all-terrain half marathons in the country, which no doubt added it its appeal. “We have runners from all over the country competing. Some years we have had people travel from Norway to take part.
“We were very pleased with this year’s turnout. Last year we had 661 competitors and this year we had 766.
"I think this may have been down to a few events being cancelled last weekend due to the snow but the weather for our race could not have been better.”
Second to finish was company director Stuart Hawkes from Kidderminster. The 40-year-old came in with a time of 73 minutes and 18 seconds.
He said: “I was using the run as preparation for the Brighton Marathon that I am running soon. The weather was nice and cool and it was great not to be scraping the frost off the cars.
"I have been training for the marathon since November and it has been going well. You always pick up some injuries and niggles but on the whole it has been fine. I am really pleased with my time.”
Waiting for her 36-year-old son Scott to finish the race was 70-year-old Katrina Langford from Telford.
Scott, who works as a builder, was running the race to raise money for Cancer Research. “He is a very physical man and we can’t wait to see him cross the line,” said Katrina.
“He has been in training for about six or seven months but he is always in the gym so was very fit to begin with.”
