Top accolade for the Ealing Half Marathon

It may be a fairly new event on the official runners calendar, but the Ealing Half Marathon is rapidly becoming well established as one of the best.

In its first year, the prestigious Runners World magazine voted it in the Top Ten UK Half Marathons for 2012.

Now, the September 2013 Ealing Half Marathon has been picked as number one for atmosphere.

The magazine says ' Rarely a street corner or front garden was without a cheering face as race day doubles as party time here.''

It praises the work of the organisers for putting little extra touches into the race like happy birthday messages and welcome flags for all the different nations that participated.

It concludes '' This leafy London suburb may have closed off its roads, but it has clearly opened up its heart.''

Ealing Half Marathon Event organiser, Kelvin Walker, is pleased Ealing has been recognised and says :

''"We are delighted to be voted the race with the best atmosphere in 2013. In 2012 we were voted one of the top 10 races in the country & it's just great that we were able to build on that.

''Over 5,000 runners signed up this year, 500 people volunteered and more than 10,000 people came out to watch.

''From the churches that hosted water stations to the volunteers that gave up their Sunday morning to all the runners, to the amazing Organising Committee and to the spectators - Thank You for helping us show people what a special place Ealing is. It looks like we are now an established race on the calendar and we look forward to September 28th 2014. The party returns ! "

Well done to all from Ealing Today ed - I can certainly vouch for the great atmosphere!

1st January 2014