Inaugural Run Hackney half marathon: photo gallery

More than 12,000 runners from all over the UK and abroad took to Hackney’s streets on Sunday as supporters came out in their droves, to cheer and wave flags for participants in the borough’s first ever half marathon.

The sun shone down as Kenyans Peter Emase and Gladys Yator won the inaugural Vitality Run Hackney men’s and women’s races, completing the 13-mile route in just over an hour.

The concept came from the council’s cabinet member for health, social care, and culture, Jonathan McShane, to celebrate and promote the borough while encouraging physical activity and enriching the lives of the community.

The fastest of the elite runners set off at just after 9am from the start line at Hackney Marshes, and along the route they passed cultural and historical landmarks including the Hackney Empire and the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

In shape

The wheelchair races were won by Ashley Archer in the men’s event, with a time of 59 minutes and 40 seconds, and Susan Cook in the women’s, with a time of 1:19:54.

Thousands of runners signed up to keep in shape and raise money for good causes, including official race charities Cancer Research and the East End Community Foundation business and charity partnership.

Roads in the race area were closed all morning until the last runner passed by, and buses were put on diversion.

Cllr McShane congratulated all the participants.

“After so many months of planning, it was great to see the runners out on our streets and the thousands of residents and visitors who lined the route to support them,” he said.

“There was a real buzz about the place, evoking the spirit of 2012.

“It was a brilliant showcase for Hackney, taking in some of the borough’s most iconic sites and I hope that, despite the intense heat, the runners enjoyed it as much as I did.”

The huge amount of people taking part placed Run Hackney in the top 10 largest half marathons in the UK.