Latest news with #GreenParkChallenge
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thousands take to the streets for half marathon
About 7,500 runners are taking part in the Reading half marathon, according to the organisers. 18-year-old Team GB Biathle champion Carys Westcott officially started the Green Park Challenge fun run at 08:30 GMT, ahead of the main race. Road closures were put in place along the route from 07:00 and will be lifted later in the day. The 13.1-mile (21km) race route takes runners through Whitley, the centre of Reading and the university campus, before finishing at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. Matt Wise has previously run two half marathons and took part in the Green Park Challenge with his daughter Lyla, who said she had been training "hard" and wanted to complete the race in 20 minutes. "I have done cross country a few times and I'm part of a running club at school," she told the BBC. Mr Wise said: "It's really good conditions today for running. "Towards the end, you get a second wind when running the half marathon and the crowds of people cheering you on at the end definitely helps." Berkshire Healthcare Charity, which supports community mental health teams, has 15 people running in the half marathon to raise funds. Fundraising manager Jo Ramsey said: "One of our runners, Karen Jacobs, is running today and will be running the London half marathon for us so this is a practice run for her. "Hopefully, this will be a walk in the park." Sir John Madejski, at the half marathon start line to set the runners off, said it was "fantastic" to be back again and "kicking things off". He said: "It is a wonderful day for it, just perfect conditions, not too hot, not too cold, no wind or rain, just absolutely perfect. "I think everyone gets a thrill out of running the Reading half marathon, especially at the end when they come into the stadium with all the applause. "It's just fantastic, I think it's one of the best half marathons in the country due to that brilliant finishing line." The best thing about the race, he said, was that it "gets everybody outside into the fresh air, motivated and they get this feel good factor". Vicky Maunder from Reading charity Daisy's Dream has a stand near the finish line which she said was "full of lots of bananas, water and a good bags for when our runners come in". The charity provides support for children and young people who have been affected by bereavement. Ms Maunder said: "It is our first year partnering with Reading half marathon and really exciting. "This year, we have more than 20 runners, so it's amazing for us." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. GB athlete to start town's green challenge run Thousands compete in half marathon Reading Half Marathon
BBC News
23-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Thousands take to the streets for Reading half marathon
About 7,500 runners are taking part in the Reading half marathon, according to the organisers.18-year-old Team GB Biathle champion Carys Westcott officially started the Green Park Challenge fun run at 08:30 GMT, ahead of the main closures were put in place along the route from 07:00 and will be lifted later in the 13.1-mile (21km) race route takes runners through Whitley, the centre of Reading and the university campus, before finishing at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. Matt Wise has previously run two half marathons and took part in the Green Park Challenge with his daughter Lyla, who said she had been training "hard" and wanted to complete the race in 20 minutes."I have done cross country a few times and I'm part of a running club at school," she told the Wise said: "It's really good conditions today for running."Towards the end, you get a second wind when running the half marathon and the crowds of people cheering you on at the end definitely helps." Berkshire Healthcare Charity, which supports community mental health teams, has 15 people running in the half marathon to raise manager Jo Ramsey said: "One of our runners, Karen Jacobs, is running today and will be running the London half marathon for us so this is a practice run for her."Hopefully, this will be a walk in the park."Sir John Madejski, at the half marathon start line to set the runners off, said it was "fantastic" to be back again and "kicking things off". He said: "It is a wonderful day for it, just perfect conditions, not too hot, not too cold, no wind or rain, just absolutely perfect."I think everyone gets a thrill out of running the Reading half marathon, especially at the end when they come into the stadium with all the applause."It's just fantastic, I think it's one of the best half marathons in the country due to that brilliant finishing line."The best thing about the race, he said, was that it "gets everybody outside into the fresh air, motivated and they get this feel good factor". Vicky Maunder from Reading charity Daisy's Dream has a stand near the finish line which she said was "full of lots of bananas, water and a good bags for when our runners come in".The charity provides support for children and young people who have been affected by Maunder said: "It is our first year partnering with Reading half marathon and really exciting."This year, we have more than 20 runners, so it's amazing for us." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
GB athlete to start Reading half marathon's green challenge
An 18-year-old Great Britain athlete will be starting the Green Park Challenge fun event ahead of the Reading Half Westcott, from Reading, is a Team GB Biathle champion with multiple junior World and European Reading Sports Awards described Carys as: "A true role model, she juggles elite sport, academics and mentoring others."Ms Westcott said she has "never started a race before" but hopes that "it will be good fun". Ms Westcott explained that she knows lots of people doing both the Green Park Challenge and the Reading Half Marathon on said: "It will be really nice to be able to cheer them on afterwards."It's really good fun, especially at the end when you get to go into the stadium, it's usually quite thin on the ground about 09:00 GMT but it is still a really great feeling to have people cheering for you."After excelling at the biathlon she switched to the triathlon but said "it wasn't easy"."Basically, all you have to do is ride a bike but I did crash about four times, so it was harder than you might think," she Westcott is at Reading Abbey School and preparing for her final wants to go to the University of Leeds as she said they "have great facilities". Like many athletes she has been inspired by the Olympic medal-winning triathletes, the Brownlee said: "It's incredible how they managed to balance the sport and academics."I think you hear a lot of stories of sports people who focus only on sport and for me it's really important to do well in my exams because I want to think about life after sport."When they realised it wasn't feasible to go to another area of the country to study they basically started up the triathlon hub at Leeds University and that's where they trained.""It's an amazing centre," she Westcott explained that this year "has been a big step up" as she changed age groups compared to last said: "Basically the distance doubles so it's a big difference."Her dream is to take part in the Olympics which she said would be "fantastic because it is the pinnacle of any athlete's career.". You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook and X.
