Post by SheWolf on May 15, 2006 14:17:23 GMT 1
From Sheffield today.
'It's the taking part that counts' towards running up cash for charity
THERE are many types that enter the Sheffield half marathon.
Firstly the serious runners, with all the proper gear who eagerly check their watches as they pound to the finishing line to ensure they have beaten their personal bests.
Then come those that are never going to win, but know they will break the two-hour mark and finish looking almost as fresh as when they started.
And then - way, way, way behind - are the ordinary folk who, for a whole host of reasons, decide to set themselves a challenge.
They were the ones still pounding the streets when the winners had received their medals and were heading home.
They were the ones who had started to walk a little, jog a little and feared no-one would be left in the Don Valley Stadium to see them cross the finishing line.
But the huge crowd at the stadium did not desert the runners at the tail end of the race - they stayed also and clapped the cheered the slower runners just as loudly as they had the winners
Actor Chris Chittell, alias Emmerdale's Eric Pollard was one of the runners who was never going to finish in under two hours, but cheerfully pointed out he was raising money for Safe@Last to help homeless young people.
"It's all about taking part and there has been a great spirit here today," he said.
Eric Bennett was in the stadium cheering on his 23-year-old son Howard. "I've never been here before and have to say it's a wonderful atmosphere," he said.
Proud seven-year-old Callum Wisewood was there to see his uncle Peter cross the finishing line.
"I'm going to go into the fun run next year because I can run fast," he said. There were 680 runners in the fun run. Sheffield schoolboy Landl Taylor, 15, led the field home. First girl was Robyn Lanceley, 14, of Wath.
'It's the taking part that counts' towards running up cash for charity
THERE are many types that enter the Sheffield half marathon.
Firstly the serious runners, with all the proper gear who eagerly check their watches as they pound to the finishing line to ensure they have beaten their personal bests.
Then come those that are never going to win, but know they will break the two-hour mark and finish looking almost as fresh as when they started.
And then - way, way, way behind - are the ordinary folk who, for a whole host of reasons, decide to set themselves a challenge.
They were the ones still pounding the streets when the winners had received their medals and were heading home.
They were the ones who had started to walk a little, jog a little and feared no-one would be left in the Don Valley Stadium to see them cross the finishing line.
But the huge crowd at the stadium did not desert the runners at the tail end of the race - they stayed also and clapped the cheered the slower runners just as loudly as they had the winners
Actor Chris Chittell, alias Emmerdale's Eric Pollard was one of the runners who was never going to finish in under two hours, but cheerfully pointed out he was raising money for Safe@Last to help homeless young people.
"It's all about taking part and there has been a great spirit here today," he said.
Eric Bennett was in the stadium cheering on his 23-year-old son Howard. "I've never been here before and have to say it's a wonderful atmosphere," he said.
Proud seven-year-old Callum Wisewood was there to see his uncle Peter cross the finishing line.
"I'm going to go into the fun run next year because I can run fast," he said. There were 680 runners in the fun run. Sheffield schoolboy Landl Taylor, 15, led the field home. First girl was Robyn Lanceley, 14, of Wath.