Stories to inspire as thousands of runners take to city streets

THOUSANDS of runners took to the streets yesterday as the Swansea Half Marathon returned for its 11th race.

- SHAURYA SHAURYA

While the main race attracted more than 5,000 runners to the quick, flat seafront course, there was also the Front Runner 5 Miler, and the Freedom Leisure Family Fun Run for those who did not fancy the full 13.1 miles.

Omar Ahmed, of Birchfield Harriers, was first home in the main race in a time of one hour, three minutes and 13 seconds, followed by local favourite Dewi Griffiths, of Swansea Harriers, in a time of 1.05.04, with Ollie Lockley, from Leeds City AC, in third place, some 53 seconds further back.

Natasha Wilson was the first woman to finish, in a time of 1.12.13, followed by Louise Small in 1.12.59 and Sasha Martin, who finished 1.13.32 after the gun, but with a chip time of 1.12.40.

The wheelchair half marathon was won by Coventry Godiva Harrier Josh Hickinbottom, with a time of 1.01.18, followed by clubmate Mel Nicholls in 1.05.34 and Newport Harrier Owain Terrell in a time of 1.07.34.

As well as the athletes leading the field, there were hundreds of people running to raise awareness and money for good causes.

Among them was mother-of-four Louise Horton, who was given a diagnosis in 2022 that left her unsure if she would live to see the birth of her grandchild.

Three years later, she is raising money for the National Autistic Society, a charity she said had been like an "extended family."

Louise was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, which came as a "shock" to her. Fortunately, after months of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and a mastectomy, she was finally declared "cancer-free".