IT’S the biggest turnout yet for one of the most popular events in the Worcester calendar as thousands of runners took to city streets.
More than 7,000 people from across Worcestershire and beyond took part in the Worcester City Runs this weekend (September 12/13).
The weekend started with Paula Radcliffe’s Families on Track on Pitchcroft, where 44 families, many in fancy dress, teamed up to run 10km, all aimed at laughter and getting children into running.
Emma Preston (Image: Daniel Kelly/NQ)
Jayne Collins, who dressed as an inflatable dinosaur for team Auntie Jayne Adventure, said the event was all about having fun and getting the children into running.
Yesterday, however, was the big day, with thousands of people taking part across four races: the junior 1 mile, junior 3km, 10km, and the half marathon.
Speaking before the 10km race, 82-year-old David Cockeram said it was his sixth appearance; he was raising money for DEBRA and would be happy if he finished in around 80 minutes.
Sean O’Reilly (Image: Daniel Kelly/NQ)
Meanwhile, Dan Alderton said he had been taking part with friends from university for at least five years to raise money for Papyrus after a friend’s suicide five years ago.
Sean O’Reilly said he was doing the race to support his daughter, who was also running, after she had an ACL reconstruction and this was part of her rehabilitation.
The runs showed they were for everyone, including a participant in a wheelchair and another who was partially sighted.
Juniors 3km Podium: Saffi Reid, Alice Thompson, and Ffion Bidwell (Image: Daniel Kelly/NQ)
A particular highlight for many was seeing Chris Attwood from the Black Pear Joggers pushed along in a wheelchair the 10k with his friends and family. Mr Attwood was an avid runner who sadly had a heart attack at the London Marathon in 2025 and a subsequent stroke in hospital.
Despite cloudy weather throughout the day, the rain held off until around 10am.
Several people were helped by medics at the finish line, with hundreds of people cheering them on.
Father and son, Ben and Tim Caddick (Image: Daniel Kelly/NQ)
Speaking after the race, Emma Preston from Bristol said: “I do a lot of marathons, but I wanted to try a 10k.
“It was a lot harder than I thought, but it was a lovely course.
“I got a much quicker time than I thought I would have, so I’m very happy.”
Don’t forget our special supplement in tomorrow’s Worcester News with all the results and runners.