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Runners battle wind and rain in Yorkshire Marathon

The Yorkshire Marathon Two smiling women wearing white and blue Pocklington Runners tops raise their hands in the air as they start the Yorkshire Marathon among a crowd of other runners. The Yorkshire Marathon
All ages and abilities competed in the event, which began in 2013

The winners of the Yorkshire Marathon faced a battle against wind and rain to finish in a "decent time".

Thousands of people took part in the race, which started at the University of York Heslington campus before heading to the city centre, then out into the surrounding countryside and back.

A wheelchair marathon and the Yorkshire 10-Mile (16km) race were also staged.

Heather Townsend, who won the women's race, said "it was quite mentally challenging with the weather, but where there were crowds it was phenomenal".

The Yorkshire Marathon The first, second and third-placed runners in the women's race wear pink hoodies and their race medals on pink lanyards. They are smiling and the winner is raising her arms. They stand in front of a pink Yorkshire Marathon banner.The Yorkshire Marathon
Winner Heather Townsend (centre) with Alice Bourne (right), who came second, and Chloe Malcolm, who finished third

Organisers said Ms Townsend set a new record time of two hours, 39 minutes and 14 seconds.

Reflecting on her achievement, Ms Townsend said: "It was really, really good out there today, but it was quite lonely at points."

However, she described going past York Minster as "epic" and said the crowds at a turnaround point 19 miles into the race "really lifted my spirits up and got me going until the end".

Speaking about the weather conditions, Ms Townsend said: "It was pretty horrible today, very windy, so it slowed me down a little bit."

However, she said she was "thrilled to get the course record" and wanted to say "a massive thank you to the volunteers, because it's horrible standing in that today".

The Yorkshire Marathon A group of runners and spectators at the start of the race. They are all smiling as they set off. At the front are two young women, one with blonde hair and a black running jacket, the other with brown hair and a dark-pink jacket.The Yorkshire Marathon
Runners raced through the city centre of York, Stockton on the Forest, Grange Wood, Stamford Bridge, Gate Helmsley, Murton and Osbaldwick, before finishing in Heslington

George Ravenhall won the men's marathon in a time of two hours, 21 minutes and 41 seconds.

"It's been a tough day with the weather, but I'm glad to have come through in a decent time," he said.

"I saw some good support out in Stamford Bridge and in Dunnington and saw some people dressed as Vikings out there cheering us on, shouting loudly, which was nice to see."

The Yorkshire Marathon The winner of the men's race shows off his medal while flanked by the runners who finished second and third. All three are wearing pink hoodies and smiling. They are standing in front of a pink Yorkshire Marathon banner. The Yorkshire Marathon
Men's winner George Ravenhill (centre), with George Mallett (right), who came second, and David Queenan, who finished third

Alongside a field of elite athletes competing for a £10,000 prize, thousands of fun runners raised money for multiple charities.

As part of the event, which was in its 11th year, some roads in the city were temporarily closed. University Road was due to reopen at 23:00 BST on Sunday.

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