HUNDREDS joined celebrity marathon runner Paula Radcliffe for some family fun to mark the start of the Worcester City Runs.
In total, 45 families of all ages took part in Paula’s Families on Track at Worcester Racecourse.
The fourth annual event is run by Events of the North, with the special guest each year being three-time London Marathon winner Paula Radcliffe.
The start of the race was postponed slightly to allow Radcliffe, whose flight from Nice was delayed, to arrive and take part in the fun.
Teams of between three and five people worked together to complete a total of 10k around the Worcester Racecourse track.
Teams got very inventive with their running costumes, donning everything from pirate outfits to cowboy hats and fake moustaches.
Every team who competed won a medal and got to have a picture and a chat with Radcliffe afterwards.
The Oliver family, whose team name was Poppy Power, managed to finish the run first.
Jason Keyte, who came as a pirate for the day alongside his son River and wife Kirsty, was competing in his serving families on track event.
Mr Keyte, from Malvern, told the Worcester News: “This is a great family event and the weather is lovely for it.
“Me and my family love it, we are all keen runners so this seemed like an ideal event for us.
“I am taking part in the half marathon as well, I’m really looking forward to giving that my best.”
Radcliffe told the Worcester News: “It was a real shame I couldn’t be here for the start but when I got here and I saw the number of people wearing the pink Paula’s Families on Track t-shirts it was amazing.
“It has been brilliant, Worcester always brings a great atmosphere to these events and families who have been coming here since the very first one love it so much.
“This is definitely bigger than last years event and it’s been a wonderful day all round, it’s great to see families enjoying having a run.”
Around 5,000 people will be taking part in the Worcester City Runs across today and tomorrow, (September 14 and 15).
Radcliffe will be opening the junior run, 10k and half marathon tomorrow.
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