Yorkshire Double On Sunday

3 MAY2011

Yorkshire is the focus on Sunday, May 8 with two big city half marathon's being staged in Sheffield and Leeds. Over 10,000 runners have entered both events and organisers are expecting big crowds in Sheffield where the SIG Insulations Sheffield Half Marathon will incorporate the Yorkshire Half Marathon Championships and the South Yorkshire Half Marathon Championships.

Natalie Farrow, 26, from Cleethorpes, won the Sheffield race in 2010 with the time of 1hr:23 and the Lincoln Wellington athlete has been training hard with the aim of beating her time from last year and retaining her title.

Veteran Richard Pethen, who is running on behalf of Sheffield Wildlife Trust, is also looking forward to the event and a return to race action: "I'm hoping for a good run on Sunday, May 8 and to be securely under 2 hours, but I'm now 65 and so I'll get nowhere near the sub 1hr:30 times I used to manage in the 1980s."

Organisers of the Sheffield Half, who want participants to be as prepared as possible, are advising runners to start hydrating in the days up to race day. The recommended water in take is two litres a day.

Ian Thomas, entries co-ordinator for the Sheffield Half Marathon, said: "We want runners to be on top form when they run the course so they can get the best possible time in the race. We have drinks stations throughout the race but hydration can really boost performance. Every runner is unique, so listen to your body and drink as much water as it needs in the build up to the race."

Over in Leeds the challenging 13.1 mile course starts on the Headrow and finishes on Millennium Square in the city centre. Visit the Leeds half marathon website for advice about how to get the most out of the day and an opportunity to check out the route.