In a monumental first, thousands of participants of all abilities and ages crossed the finish line of the Nottingham 10K inside the grounds of Nottingham Castle at the weekend. The 10K returned to the city’s events calendar with a brand new and improved city centre route and it was the first sporting event to be held inside the castle.

Participants enjoyed a route that started in the heart of Nottingham city centre and included a loop around the Park Estate, noted for its Victorian architecture before hitting the historic finish line inside Nottingham Castle.

There was brilliant support and a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish. Spectators lined the route and the finish line was abuzz with excitement. Those that took part were greeted with a goody bag of rewards, including post-run treats and a hard-earned bespoke medal at the finish line.

The Event Village inside the castle was a hub of action as charity partners, sponsors and partners including food and drink refreshments took to Jubilee Square. It was here that participants took the opportunity to catch up with friends and family post-race, soaking up their 10K achievements.

Providing a fundraising vehicle for charities is the primary objective of every Run For All event, ensuring that the money being raised stays local and supports the causes that needs them most. As part of the event, runners had been encouraged to fundraise for their own charity of choice or one of the event’s partner charities. This year’s partner charities included; Notts County Foundation, Trent Bridge Community Trust, Maggie’s, Mind Nottinghamshire and the Jane Tomlinson Appeal.

The first male across the finish line was James Mellor in a time of 34:49. Steven Dowse took second place in 36:18 with Simon Mayes in third in 00:36:20. Sarah Gaunt was the first female across the finish line in 42:39 followed by Irina Kruteniuk who clocked 43:01 for second spot and Becca Peach who took third in 44:33.

Tristan Batley-Kyle of Run For All, said: “Congratulations to everyone that took part in this morning’s Nottingham 10K. We hope participants enjoyed the brand-new city centre route and finish line inside the castle. A massive thank you to everyone who supported the event, you all made the day a fantastic success.

“It was great to see so many supporters come down and show their support, whether it be on the start and finish line or along the route. We are delighted to confirm that entries are open for next year’s Nottingham 10K on Sunday 9 March."

If you'd like to know more, visit the Nottingham 10K website.

Image: Run For All Facebook