Podium place for Kelly at Heaton Park half-marathon

Report: Don Hale

Athletes Kelly-Marie Alford and her partner Cai Roberts crossed the English border to Heaton Park in Manchester on Sunday to take part in a “live” half-marathon event where Kelly claimed a deserved age-related podium place.

In a popular race that would still be prohibited in Wales due to current Covid-19 restrictions on running events, Kelly battled the weather and a series of challenging hill climbs to earn a silver medal position as 2nd in her F35 age category.

The half-marathon was part of a welcome three-race programme, including both a 5k and 10k, and recording nearly 800 finishers in total

Despite a lack of endurance training and race fitness, both Kelly and Cai, who were representing NWRRC, ran well and enjoyed their first major race competition for over a year, with Kelly running home in 2 hours 8 minutes 39 seconds.

She was less than a minute behind the age cat winner Caroline Evans, and was the 39th female runner and 218th overall. Cai also found the course hard at times but finished well in 2.26.01 in 308th place.

*The half-marathon results included: 1st Andrew Kirk 1.18.03, 2nd Nick Hamlin 1.19.26, and 3rd Joshua Andrew 1.20.36.