Hundreds raced in Reading half marathon
West Berkshire groups and individuals who ran in yesterday's (Sunday's) race can send in their pictures
HUNDREDS of West Berkshire runners will be nursing achy legs and blistered feet today (Monday) after taking part in the Reading Half Marathon yesterday.
The race, which started at 10am from Green Park, Reading, with the finishing line at the Madejski Stadium, saw approximately 15,000 runners take part.
The winner was Kenyan Simon Kasimili in 63 minutes and eight seconds.
Fellow Kenyan, Edith Chelimo, was the first woman to finish in a time of 71 minutes and 22 seconds.
Many competitors, such as Newbury siblings, Matt and Louise Bailey, were running for the Vision Charity, which raises money for blind and visually-impaired children, and using the race as a warm up for the London Marathon next month.
A total of 24 competitors were running for Newbury charity Swings and Smiles, which aims to build a recreational facility in West Berkshire special needs children.
Founder of the charity, Sian Cook, said the event has so far raised £4,000 for Swings and Smiles but that figure is likely to rise to more than £10,000 once all the money has come in.
Former Newbury Weekly News reporter Ben Johnson, and his brother James (both pictured), ran the course dressed as Brownies for Swings and Smiles.
The brothers were supporting the charity because their 14-year-old sister Emily is profoundly disabled.
The Newbury Weekly News was one of hundreds of West Berkshire business taking part in the 13.1 miles race.
Elaine Broadhurst, who works in the paper's tele-sales department and completed the course in three hours, two minutes and 31 seconds, was running for Christians Against Poverty.
The 25-year-old, who volunteers for the charity's debt counselling centre in Newbury, said: “It was my first ever marathon and I managed to run all the way.
“The charity offers money management courses which teach people how to budget effectively.”
If you ran the half marathon please get in touch with our reporter James Williams via email james.williams@newburynews.co.uk
Please include your contact details and photographs from the event.
