THOUSANDS of runners took to the streets of Reading for Sunday’s half marathon – some wore singlets, others carried cardboard costumes.
Plenty of worthy causes and charities were represented on the day, including Cancer Research UK, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Mind UK.
One of the first groups to assemble outside the Select Car Leasing Stadium was Reading Hong Kong Runners and Harbour Sports Club. Both groups give Hong Kongers the opportunity to socialise while keeping fit.
Organiser Thomas Yeung said: “To see all the people and the atmosphere is so great. We practised together for so long, four weeks or so, it’s so cool.
“It was intense but fun. We had running and yoga gatherings and everyone was so prepared to do the race.
“For some people, it was their first time to run the half marathon, some people also want to beat their personal records. We are Hong Kongers and we want to show that we are friendly to the community.”
Matt Walbridge was running for Cancer Research UK in honour of his father, who died last year.
Of the experience, he said: “It was absolutely awesome, it felt so good to run for Cancer Research.
“We lost my father in October after suffering with cancer for most of last year and so yeah, this one’s for him.”
Matt clocked a 5-minute PB, coming in at one hour and 33 minutes, a feat he knows his father would have been proud of. The time puts him in good stead for the London Marathon on April 23, which he’ll be running for the same cause.
Matt Rofe and Ryan Lanksford completed the race on behalf of mental health charity Mind.
Matt said: “It was pretty tough. There were a couple of big hills I wasn’t necessarily expecting, but it was good fun and for a great cause as well.
“Running for Mind, mental health is a growing issue and there’s a lot of people who need support, so it’s a great cause to run for.”
Ryan added: “It’s amazing to represent Mind at an event where there are so many people, it’s really well organised.
“We were able to get a really good team together, about 15 or 16 of us, so yeah, we’re really pleased.”
