NOT to be outshone by the Swindon Half Marathon runners, more than 200 competitors lined up in Pipers Way for the five-mile multi terrain event on Sunday.

The shorter, off-road sister of the headline race is traditionally set off 30 minutes after the main event, and allows aspiring half marathoners the chance to sample the atmosphere without the gruelling distance.

British Heart Found-ation’s regional events organiser, Alistair Hills, said the event brings in its fair share of sponsorship for the charity, despite its shorter distance.

“One of the things we like to focus on each year is the progression of runners as they enter our events each year,” he said.

“The start and finish for the five-mile event is in the same place as the half marathon, so they get that uplifting experience there, as well as the pleasure of running around Coate Water park.

“It’s a great experience for the runners, but the event does suffer from low numbers some years.

“It has the challenge of being too short for some of the more serious runners and too long for those families and younger children who want something more manageable on the day.

“The British Heart Foundation is still very committed to growing the race and hopefully get more people here next year too.

“Every challenge for each runner is individual and for one person, the five-mile distance might be enough for them to ask for donations.”

One of those runners to have had that progression through the events which lead into the Swindon Half Marathon was Sunday’s winner Nyle Clinton, of Rye Close in Middleleaze and Swindon Harriers.

Nyle, a 19-year-old student at Brunel University, finished more than three minutes clear of second-place to win the race for the second time.

As a runner growing up in the town, Nyle has won the two-mile fun run too in the past.

“It’s quite a tough course,” he said. “It’s tough. It gives you a good work out, with the hill at the start and the multi-terrain makes it quite difficult.

“It’s a bit quiet once you get into the woods, but when you come out onto the roads it does get pretty loud.

“The shorter events are good because you get a lot of local support. Everyone is getting cheered on, whoever you are, through both races. “The support keeps you coming back each year. You get inspired too. I saw David Roper break the course record here a few years ago, which was good for me.”