Hundreds laced up their running shoes for a ‘race against the sun’ this evening as the annual Twilight Race made its way though Ipswich.
Around 1,500 runners set off on the gruelling 10k course around Suffolk’s county town - starting off from Rope Walk, outside Suffolk New College, at 7.30pm.
Runners followed the scenic route through Ipswich towards Portman Road, where they cut through the football club’s Fanzone and headed back towards the start/finish line.
The runners completed two laps of the course to earn their medal and goodie bag.
The heat was a big factor in tonight’s race, with temperatures hitting near 30C, so race organisers added an extra water station on route, outside the Ipswich Town Football Ground.
Ipswich Harrier Jack Millar set a new course record tonight, clocking in at 30 minutes and 39 seconds. The previous record was 33 minutes and 31 seconds.
Mr Millar said he was ‘relatively happy’ with how it went.
“I was hoping to go a bit faster but it was hot out there today,” he said.
Helen Davies, from Ipswich JAFFA running club, set a new women’s course record at 34 minutes 14 seconds, smashing the previous time of 36 minutes 22 seconds.
“It was so great to beat my 10k PB that I set in 2011,” she said.
“I was feeling fit and I knew I could do it.
“It was hot, so hot, but I’m really happy – and really tired.”
Carl Ashton, Race director, said: “The event is just going from strength to strength, we’ve seen more runners every year for the last four years and we’re up to 1500 now.
“We have runners from all over the east of England here this evening, and even one from Abu Dhabi.
“It has been getting better every year and we think it’s even got an economic benefit for the town; the spectacle of a road race is great for lining the streets with customers for businesses.”
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