'Tough, warm and hilly' - runners enjoy city races

Hundreds of runners in Coventry have been taking part in the city's annual half marathon and 10k race.

The city's mayor wished entrants good luck ahead of it starting at 09:00 BST with the 10k kicking off half and hour later.

Half-marathon winner Warwick University student Adam Hudson said he found it very warm but thanked organisers for putting on the event.

Kelly Edwards, from Coventry, who runs with Leamington Cycling and Athletics Club, was the first woman to finish and said the support around the course was amazing.

"I was rather nervous before the race because I have been out with injury," Ms Edwards said.

"But I thought I'd give a local race a go because it's my home half marathon.

"So I was surprised with how it went. My team mate took it out quite hard and I decided to go with her and then kind of regretted it but had to commit then and just tried to keep going."

She and her team mate finished third and others from the club also took part.

"All the support has been amazing and being local there was obviously quite a few people shouting my name and that kept me going."

Mr Hudson, from Sutton in south London, who had never competed in a half marathon before said he could not have got round the course without the support from the crowds.

"People of Coventry coming to support was amazing - don't think I could have got though without being cheered on," he said.

"Of course the other runners, they gave me a good run. It was a strong battle to half way and a strong uphill course in the first half and I just really tried to crank it to the top."

Although he felt out of his comfort zone he said he "thoroughly enjoyed it".

"I've got one more year at uni so I hope I will still be around next year to do it again," he added.

Nick Woolley won the 10k race and said it was "tough, hilly and a little bit warm".

Roisin Quinn was the female winner of the 10k race.

Mr Woolley also said he appreciated the support from the crowds.

He and his partner had recently had their third baby so he had been quite sleep deprived which made his finishing time of 33 minutes all the more rewarding, he said.

The event is organised by Jane Tomlinson's Run For All in partnership with Coventry City Council, and expected to generate thousands of pounds for charities.

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