Hundreds of runners took to the streets of Motherwell and surrounding areas as the North Lanarkshire Half Marathon returned for its second year.
The flagship race welcomed 644 runners, alongside participants in the 5K, 1K, 400m and Toddler Dash. The event also featured a family fun zone, offering free entertainment and activities for spectators and participants to enjoy throughout the day.
Ross Macdonald claimed victory in the men’s half marathon, crossing the finish line in a time of 1:12:41, Stuart Mitchell finished second in 1:12:50, with Jamie Traynor taking third place in 01:13:30.
In the women’s race, Jo Williams took first place with a time of 01:27:21. Elaine Boyle finished second in 01:30:30, while Amanda Burns secured third place in 01:32:32.
Provost Kenneth Duffy was there to support the runners. He said: “The North Lanarkshire Half Marathon is a fantastic event and it was great to see it return for a second year.
“I’d like to sincerely thank everyone who took part, cheered the runners on, volunteered, or helped make the event such a success.
“From the runners and organisers to the volunteers and spectators, the energy and enthusiasm throughout the day really demonstrated the strength of our community spirit.
“A special thanks also goes to our sponsor, Albert Bartlett, whose generous support helped make the event possible.
“There was a brilliant atmosphere throughout the day, and I hope we can continue to build on the success of the North Lanarkshire Half Marathon in the years ahead.”
As well as the half marathon, runners of all ages could take part in the shorter 5K, 1K and 400m races, as well as the Toddler Dash, giving the whole family the opportunity to get involved.
Friends and families also turned out in force to cheer on the runners and enjoy a range of free activities in the family fun zone. These included live entertainment on stage, bouncy castles and a variety of sports and activities.
The event was sponsored for the second year by Albert Bartlett, with a number of other local organisations also supporting the event, including Specsavers.
John Hicks, Brand and Marketing Director at Albert Bartlett, said: Albert Bartlett was pleased to sponsor the North Lanarkshire Half Marathon for the second-year running. There was such a positive energy throughout the day, it was especially heartening to see such a mix of ages and abilities from seasoned runners to youngsters tackling their first race.
Well done to everyone who participated and thank you to the NLC team for organising such a brilliant community event, bringing together people from the local area and beyond.
Half Marathon runner Marc said “The route was challenging, but it made crossing that finish line even better. The support along the way was amazing, from the signs cheering us on to the residents who came out to support us. The resident with the hose was a particular highlight and very much appreciated on a warm day!”