Thousands take to the streets for Great Bristol Run
The half marathon was established all the way back in 1989 - with the event celebrating its 35th anniversary
After months of training, thousands of people are heading to Bristol today for the city's famed half marathon - the Great Bristol Run.
It's a race which shows off some of the best locations of the city, with runners making their way toward Hotwells, before meandering under the Clifton Suspension Bridge, along the Portway, around the Cumberland Basin, towards St Mary Redcliffe, and finally back to Temple Circus, the city centre and Anchor Road.
Organisers of the event say this year's edition is a 'complete sell out and shaping up to be an amazing day' - and if the weather's anything to go by - it surely looks like it.
They add the event is actually one of the UK's most popular running events, with more than 20,000 runners expected to cross that finish line later today.
And they're 'pulling out all the stops' for 2024, with timed pacers on hand to give runners the best chance of meeting that time they've been working so hard to achieve - all the way to bands helping to soundtrack the 10k course, and a first-ever Mega Mascot Race.
In that one, no less than seven mascots will be taking part just before the Family Run, with representatives from the local sports clubs battling it out for glory.
As well as the more fun events - organisers of the Great Bristol Run add our city's edition is also staging the UK's only dedicated Visually Impaired Race, thanks to their work with VI Runners Bristol.
Lee Zurybida, from Bradley Stoke (pictured above) is one of the Solgar pacers at this year's event.
It’s his 150th race as a pacer, and he was inspired to start running after he was diagnosed with a very rare form of leukaemia in May 2014 - making this year a decade since his diagnosis.
Lee said: “After the treatments, I needed to get myself strong both physically and mentally, so I challenged myself by putting on a pair of trainers and running to my local duck pond … a distance of one mile - could I do it? NO!
"So the next day I tried again, and again, and again until I did it. Then I ran there and back and so it began with my fitness and confidence levels building every week. I then joined a local running group who I still run with today.
"My most most memorable golden racing moment was in 2015 after I'd just completed a round of chemotherapy.
"My brother then signed me up, with him, to run the Bristol half marathon.
“We promised to cross the finishing line together in 2 hours and did it! All the emotions were present.
"My tip for those taking part - always dress for the second mile.
"Enjoy yourself - run with the people you get on with. Find a running group – you’ll make friends for life and have fun whilst getting fit!”