RUNNERS have praised the Great Cumbrian Run’s route and the “great” support along the way.

The event which started and finished at The Sheepmount Stadium, Carlisle saw many people clock a personal best.

About 1,300 people signed up for the race.

First-placed male Marc Brown, 27, of Whitehaven beat his time from last year by 30 seconds, this is the fourth time he has won the race.

He said: “It’s a personal best for the course and I’m pleased with it.

“It’s great conditions. I’m really pleased to have won it for four years and I’m the first person to have won it this many times consecutively.”

Marc completed the course in one hour, seven minutes and 52 seconds.

Richard Anderson, 29 from Scotby closely followed Marc in a time of 1:10:07.

He said: “I tried to stick with Marc. He was strong and I was really pleased to keep up with him.

“It was nice to run through Scotby. There was lots of support there.”

Steve Littler came in third with a time of 1:13:44.

Runners were cheered on from Mayor’s Drive, through the city centre and up London Road before heading out into the countryside.

Supporters gathered in Cumwhinton, Wetheral and Scotby and lined parts of the route back to the city, while crowds of families and friends waited at the Sheepmount to give runners that last burst of enthusiasm they needed to cross the line.

Karen Smith, 32, of Whitehaven was the first woman home. She finished the race in 90 minutes, taking a personal best which she had hoped for.

“It’s amazing. I did not expected that,” explained Karen.

“It’s not what I set out to do. I just ran for fun.”

Fiona Todd, from Carlisle, was the second female to cross the line.

She said: “It’s fantastic. I had a great run. There was great support all the way round. This is my eighth year, I love the Cumbrian Run.”