Hundreds of people gave up their Sunday morning routine to pull on their running shoes and take on Carlisle’s very own half marathon.

Runners arrived in their droves at Carlisle United’s Brunton Park, all limbering up ready to take on one of the planned races.

As well as the half marathon, the event also included a 10k run, a 5k run and a family fun run which is supported by Kingmoor Park in conjunction with Carlisle Youth Zone.

The event once again supported the city-based Eden Valley Hospice as its chosen charity.

Keeping fit and challenging themselves was the sound echoing around the stadium.

For the first time wheelchair user Brian Jefferson was taking on the race to raise money for the British Heart Foundation in memory of his mum.

He said: “ I will be doing as much of the race on my own as I can. I have my support worker with me just in case I need help.

“I have been doing lots of training in the gym. I don’t care where I come, I just want to finish the race. So far I have raised more than £100 and I hope I can collect more.”

Support worker Garry English added: “I suggested along with his family to do this 10K road race. Brian plans on doing it all himself - he has great determination.”

Helen Cupac, from Carlisle, completed the 10K. She said: “It’s a great run supporting Eden Valley Hospice. I’m doing The Great North Run next week so this is a nice training run for me.

“I have lots of friends doing it this year so it will be a good day out.”

Ex-smoker Chris Clarke said: “I’m just challenging myself. I have been fairly unfit and this is just an accumulation of the training I have been doing.

“This is the first time I have taken part in a 5K race. I was a smoker for more than 20 years and that made me unfit. I have been stopped for over two years and and I’m fitter than I was.”