The Elysium Healthcare Great West Run currently comprises three events to bring the running community together in Exeter. The original Elysium Healthcare Great West Run Half Marathon is now supported by GWR 10K and the newly introduced MOKI Community Mile – more about that later.

With 1,722 finishers in the half marathon and 281 taking on the 10K there were well over 2,000 people active in Exeter on Sunday 21 May 2023 – just what the doctor ordered at headline sponsors Elysium Healthcare.

The Great West Run Half Marathon started and finished at Exeter Arena sports complex at Whipton Barton on the outskirts of the Devon city situated on the River Exe. The course passes through the ancient city centre and alongside the River Exe towards Stoke Hill, returning via the University of Exeter.

The pace was as hot as the weather, with three men beating 70 minutes. First back to Exeter Arena was Alex Carter (Team Bath, 1:07:33 PB) followed by Simon Fox (Exeter Harriers, 1:09:04) and Ben Neale (1:09:18 PB). South West Road Runners' Rosie Mew (1:21:21) and Lucy Coad (1:23:54 PB) led the women's race – the latter setting a huge new best by more than seven minutes. Ellie Reed (Heaton Harriers, 1:24:47 PB) – who ran the Killerton parkrun the previous day – was third.

The 10K was run over the opening and closing miles of the half marathon course. The top three men were Adam Walker (South West Road Runners, 36:32 PB), Ryan Palethorpe (unattached, 37:35) and Harry Binks (Team Bath/University of Exeter AC, 37:33). The women's rostrum was filled by Exeter University's Millie Porter (40:00), Pamela Bowman (unattached, 45:56) and W35 Rachel Flinders (Cheddar Valley, 46:02 PB).

So, returning to the brand new MOKI Community Mile. The new partnership between MOKI and the Elysium Healthcare Great West Run aims to promote the benefits of physical activity within the local community, with a particular focus on young people.

MOKI combines a simple and robust wearable wristband that measures steps and active minutes, with a downloadable desktop app. Individual, class, year, or whole school activity reports are then generated in real time. This new insight can then be used to evaluate progress on an individual, class, or year-group basis, or shared with staff, parents, and even OFSTED.

The MOKI Community Mile is a great way to get active, by working towards walking, running, or simply moving for one mile, all whilst having fun! Read more about MOKI here.

Results are available via runABC South race listing here.

Image courtesy Great West Run on Faceboook