Hundreds of runners braved the weekend’s cold snap to complete the annual Ely Festive 5K for the Arthur Rank Hospice in Cambridge.
All places were snapped by eager runners 10 days before the event got under starters orders from the Market Place on Sunday morning.
But unfortunately the runners were not able to pick up their medals for completing the city course as they were held up in France.
The terrorist attacks in Paris the week before meant tighter custom controls and the medals were held up on the other side of The Channel - but they should be here sometime this week.
A message on the hospice’s Facebook page said: “Obviously we are disappointed not to be able to hand medals to runners as they cross the finish line, but feel sure that our supporters will understand that this situation is one over which we have no control.”
As well the individual medals, which will be sent out by post, there were also trophies for the fastest runners, team and also for the best fancy dress, which were presented by city mayor Councillor Lis Every on the day.
Among the more hardened runners, imaginatively named teams and fancy dress outfits there were runners with a personal reason for taking part including those whose relatives have received care at the Cambridge hospice in the past.
They included Clare Clark whose mum was cared for by the hospice in 2011.
Clare said: “I felt we had to do something for Arthur Rank Hospice after they cared for mum.
“At my 40th birthday in 2012, I asked for donations instead of presents. After I lost three stone ahead of my brother’s wedding and took up running I wanted to do something more and find a new fitness goal, so when the email came through about Arthur Rank’s Ely Festive 5K that was perfect. I could run in memory of my mum (Ann Walker).”
She added: “I felt very emotional finishing the run because I did it for mum. I know she would be very proud of my determination and courage this year.”
Celia Patterson as Batgirl won the trophy for the best fancy dress outfit; George Collier was the fastest child clocking in a time of 22:24; fastest man was Ben Morris in 18:38 and fastest woman was Ruth Jones in 19:45.
Arthur Rank Hospice charity thanked the businesses and individuals who helped make it a success including sponsors The Cambridge Building Society and Ward Gethin Archer.
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