A SPORTING icon inspired a record number of runners to power through the Oxford Half Marathon yesterday.

Sir Roger Bannister, the first person to run a mile in under four minutes, sounded the starting horn to get the 13.1-mile race under way.

But his influence did not end there. More than 6,000 runners completed their own timed mile around Iffley Road running track, where the 85-year-old achieved the feat 60 years ago.

North Oxford resident Sir Roger, who signed copies of his autobiography Twin Tracks before the race, said the event was part of a “revolution in sport”.

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He said: “When I was running in 1948 there weren’t more than 100 runners in the national marathons but now up to a million who have taken part at some point.”

Sir Roger, who this year revealed he is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award ahead of the race by hurdler Jon Ridgeon, who won silver in the 1987 World Championships in Athletics.

It was the fourth time the Oxford Half Marathon has been held, but it was delayed by 20 minutes as participants – some arriving nearly half an hour after the start – were caught in traffic due to a broken down shuttle bus.

Once they finally set off from outside the Kassam Stadium in Grenoble Road at 9.50am, the cool and dry weather conditions were ideal for running.

The route, slightly altered to accommodate the track detour, took athletes along Iffley Road, the Thames path and by Cowley’s Mini Plant.

Six music acts performed at various points to energise tired minds and bodies alongside hundreds of spectators.

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Martin Realy runs for Restore

David Bruce, 29, of Stanway Road in Risinghurst, won the race for a second time in one hour, 11 minutes and 26 seconds. He said: “It’s always a great feeling to win and having so many people supporting us was a great boost.

“It’s a beautiful course around Oxford and pretty special running round the track on the 60th anniversary.”

Oxford University student Kate Niehaus, 26, was the first woman to cross the finish line of her first half marathon in one hour, 18 minutes and 52 seconds. She said: “I usually do track running so wasn’t sure what the competition would be like.Halfway through I thought ‘maybe I could win’ and it feels great.”

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The track takes in the MINI plant

Many people were running for fun and to raise money for chosen charities. Lisa Rayner, running for Cancer Research UK in memory of a friend’s father, was given a bunch of flowers by her 18-year-old son James Whitaker as she crossed the finish line in the stadium.

The 55-year-old, from Haddenham, near Thame, said: “It was a total surprise. It felt brilliant but I was exhaused.”

Motor neurone disease sufferer Andrew Spriggs, from West Sussex, was pushed by family members in a wheelchair to raise cash for the MND Association.

The 65-year-old, who once lived in Great Rollright, said: “I used to run and did 39 marathons and about 50 half marathons, so it’s fantastic to be able to take part in a race again – I thought those days were over.”

East Hendred resident Martin Realy, 36, ran with an 11ft fake tree on his back for mental health charity Restore, for which he is chief executive.

He said: “I had to go sideways through the underpass and on my knees by the river embankment because of overhanging trees.”

About 250 children from eight Oxfordshire schools took part in the first Mini Plant-sponsored Schools Challenge, a 1.1-mile run to add to another 12 miles they had run in the weeks leading up to yesterday’s big event.


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