WHAT a pleasure it was to see the 2015 Swindon Half Marathon turn out to be such a triumph.

The greatest thing about events like this is that there are as many unique stories of achievement as there are competitors.

Some run because they simply love running and others because they have made a personal vow to take charge of their fitness.

Still others run because they’re raising money for good causes, chosen for deeply personal reasons or simply because they are good.

There are runners who try to improve on previous times and runners for whom simply crossing the finishing line represents victory; there are runners who travel the distance in their own zone of concentration and runners who would give up without the cheers of friends, loved ones and complete strangers.

Well done to everybody who took part in the half marathon, whatever their story, and well done to all who turned out to cheer them on.

Special praise must go to SEQUOL Charity, though, as without the intervention of this excellent organisation the event surely wouldn’t have happened.

When the British Heart Foundation pulled out of backing the half marathon without warning in February, it initially seemed that there was no option but to accept the cancellation and hope the event could be revived at some point in the future.

Now, thanks to SEQUOL Charity, the half marathon shows every indication of being in better shape than it has been in a long time. There is a real air of dynamism which has spread to include the participants.

Long may it continue.