Runners shivered in special blankets at this year’s Wilmslow Half Marathon.
Thousands of charity runners and elite athletes braved the cold to run the course which left from Wilmslow Rugby Club.
It was quite a contrast to last year’s race which saw temperatures over 20 degrees.
With 36 hours of snow forecast leading up to the race, organisers bought 4,000 blankets and marshals wore double layers to keep out the chill
While 5,200 people entered, the conditions meant that 3,679 completed the 13.1 miles around the leafy lanes of Wilmslow and Mobberley.
The race, in its 29th year, raised tens of thousands of pounds for runners’ charities and the main beneficiary East Cheshire Hospice.
And it was a home victory for race winner Joe MacDonald, pictured, 27, who grew up in Wilmslow, crossing the line in a time of 64.54. It was an impressive achievement for the distance runner, a former Ashdene Primary School pupil, who is used to running 5,000 and 10,000 metres but had not competed in a half marathon before.
He travelled from his home in London for the race, staying with parents Doug and Anne.
His brothers, Colin, manager of the Coach and Four, and Alistair, who works at British Heart Foundation and the Riflemans Arms, were also on hand to cheer him on.
Joe said: “It was a great feeling to win back at home in Wilmslow and with my family there.
“I went in thinking I had a chance at winning but didn’t expect anything.”
Second place went to Patrick Martin of Stockport Harriers in 65.24, and third was Ben Fish of Blackburn Harriers, just three seconds behind in 65.27
The first woman home was Julie Briscoe of Wakefield Harriers, in 27th place in a time of 75.15. Second was Kelly Crickmore of City of Chester Tri Club in 77.05, and third was Louise Gardner of Lancaster and Morecombe in 77.10.
The first man to cross the line for Wilmslow Running Club was Rob Downs, finishing 18th in a time of 73.42, narrowly holding off the challenge of teammate Peter Speake who finished 20th in 73.56.
The winning woman for the club was Diane McVey, 7th lady and 133rd overall in a time of 84.22.
