Ealing Half Marathon wins Silver in Best Half Marathon at The Running Awards
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The Ealing Half Marathon has taken home Silver in the Best Half Marathon category (over 5,000 runners) at The Running Awards 2017.
The West London race was awarded the trophy after receiving votes by runners at the only independent awards ceremony celebrating the best of running and its culture. Taking place on 20th April at indigo at the O2 in London, it is a huge industry event attended by top sporting brands, events, publications, retailers, charities and more.
Race Director Sandra Courtney and Race Founder and Director Kelvin Walker were at the prestigious awards ceremony to collect their trophy, and it certainly wasn’t the first time they have been called up on stage to receive an accolade for the race.
The Silver award comes hot on the heels of Ealing Half Marathon being voted the Best Half Marathon in 2014, 2015 and 2016, proving that this much-loved race really does have a winning formula.
Set up by runners as a legacy to London’s Olympic Games, the Ealing Half Marathon is a Community Interest Company (CIC) which ploughs all profit straight back into the community to make health and fitness available to all. Activities and projects funded by the race include drives to tackle childhood obesity, school visits and free running clubs for children and adults.
The event therefore has the whole community behind it when it comes to race day, evident in the 30,000+ spectators who come out each year to cheer on the runners as they take on the 13.1 mile, traffic-free race. There is a real feel-good factor that comes from people simply wanting to do some good and make a difference.
Now a firm fixture in the running calendar, the Ealing Half Marathon is famous for its huge community support and lively atmosphere, attracting athletes from near and far wanting to soak up the #EalingFeeling. The 2017 race, taking place on Sunday 24th September, will be the sixth Ealing Half Marathon and is expected to be the biggest and best race yet.
It’s not just about the grown-ups, either – the Ealing Mini Mile enables young runners between 6-16 to experience the thrill of a big sporting event and is always a highly anticipated part of race weekend. This year, due to demand, the Mini Mile will take place the day before the half marathon, on Saturday 23rd September, to allow for 1,500 runners and a whole afternoon of activities and fun.
Race Director Sandra Courtney commented, “We were absolutely delighted to collect Silver in the Best Half Marathon category at The Running Awards. Our fourth award at The Running Awards in just five years as a race, it is a huge credit to all the work that has gone into the event and to our many fantastic supporters. We would like to thank everyone who voted for us, whether that’s all those who have run, volunteered or spectated at the race, or anyone who just likes what we do and voted for us. It really means a lot to come away with another award and we are even more motivated to deliver another first class race this autumn!
“Following our success at The Running Awards places are being snapped up for the 2017 Ealing Half Marathon, and we would encourage anyone who wants to be on the start line to sign up soon”.
Kelvin Walker added, “We can’t thank everyone enough for their amazing support throughout the year. This award really does show why Ealing Half is different. We are more than one race once a year – we are here all year round making a difference in the community, and we love what we do.”
The Ealing Half Marathon is looking forward to welcoming 8,000 runners from over 25 countries to West London this autumn. It is expected that general places for the 2017 race will sell out in advance, as they did for 2016, and those wishing to be on the start line in Lammas Park in September are encouraged to secure their place early.
The 13.1-mile single lap, traffic-free course takes runners through parts of Central Ealing, Montpelier, Pitshanger, West Ealing, Hanwell and St Stephens before returning to Lammas Park.
The Lead Charities for the 2017 Ealing Half Marathon will be Cancer Research UK and Alzheimer’s Society.
Entries for the Ealing Half Marathon 2017 are now open. Until 30th April 2017 the fee is £38 for affiliated runners and £40 for non-affiliated runners, and between 1st May – 31st July 2017 this rises to £40-£42. The organisers are expecting the race to sell out by the end of July.
Go to www.ealinghalfmarathon.com to sign up to the 2017 race. You can also like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/ealinghalf and follow @EalingHalf #EalingFeeling on Twitter to keep up to date with all the latest news about the Ealing Half Marathon.
