Praise for specatators at city's half marathon
BBCRunners in the 20th Potters 'Arf Marathon in Stoke-on-Trent have praised the support they received from the local community.
More than 2,000 people took part in the run, which was started by the former Stoke City manager, Lou Macari, alongside Great British long jumper, Jazmin Sawyers.
Sawyers, who is from Stoke-on-Trent, said: "Coming into the city centre today and seeing how many people not only have showed up to run but have showed up to support the runners, it just shows the power of sport to bring communities together."
Macari added: "It was great to see so many people up in Hanley".
Matthew Knight was running in memory of his father, Tony, known as "Tony the Tiger", who died after taking part in the same race last year.
He described his father as a "legend" who was "loved by the Stoke-on-Trent running community".
He added: "Stoke-on-Trent is a little bit more hilly than I remember when I left the area about twelve years ago."
Jules is 67 and was running her second Potters 'Arf.
She said: "I think the support this year has been even better. From about halfway point it was nose to tail people shouting 'ay up duck' and 'ay up flower'."
Julie said it had inspired her to come back as a duck next year.
"I've got to, haven't I?" she said.
Sue from Breathe Easy North Staffs was taking part in a walking relay for the charity and said she "thoroughly enjoyed it".
"I'm not one for walking in the heat, so it suited me going early, to be perfectly honest," she added.
Alison was taking part in the Breathe Easy relay and said it seemed "really organised this year".
She said: "Last year with the traffic and the road closures, people were a bit confused.
"It was so relaxed this morning listening to music, people sitting outside the Berwick pub."
She also praised the local turnout, which she said had been "just amazing".
Laura said she has done 200 parkruns previously and told herself: "If I can do a parkrun, I could do a half marathon."
She added: "Everyone had told me, that the support from the crowds is incredible and everyone spoke to me as if they knew me personally and it was just amazing.
"I've done lots of 10k's and things like that. I've never known anything like it in terms of the crowd support."
Sawyers noted the number of good causes people were running for and said: "Everybody's got a goal and a purpose for being here and I think every single person can relate to that and wants to support it."
"It's a beautiful thing to see and to be a part of, and I'm really proud of everybody that's out there running," she added.
Macari hoped the half marathon would shine a spotlight on the city and said: "After being at this event I'm hoping people say 'yeah, Hanley's not a bad place' and spend a lot of time up here."
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