Thousands warming up to take part in popular half-marathon

THE fifth Ealing Half Marathon will be taking place on Sunday, with more than 7,000 covering the 13.1-mile route.

The race, which was voted best half-marathon in the UK in 2014, 2015 and 2016, starts and finishes in Lammas Park and is a single lap through Central Ealing, Montpelier, Pitshanger, West Ealing, Hanwell and St Stephen’s.

The half marathon starts at 9am, with the Ealing Mini-Mile taking place at 9.15am.

The Mini-Mile will see runners aged six to 16 running a one-mile route around Lammas Park.

Spectators are encouraged to watch their friends and family take part in the race at the following vantage points in Uxbridge Road, Drayton Bridge Road, Pitshanger Lane and Cuckoo Avenue, some of which benefit from seeing the runners pass twice.

Kelvin Walker, the race director, said: “As in previous years, the Ealing Half Marathon has sold out its public places well in advance of race day – and this year’s race is looking to be the biggest and best yet.

“We would like to thank everyone who has supported the race to make it such a fantastic community event – our partners, local businesses and residents.

“A big thank you also goes to the runners who keep coming back to support Ealing Half Marathon year after year, and we wish them all the best for their race on Sunday.”

The organisers of the Ealing Half Marathon are hoping to beat previous fundraising figures for the race’s three headline charities – Alzheimer’s Society, Cancer Research UK and CLIC Sargent.

In the past two years the race has raised more than £900,000.