'We're optimistic it will be a very good race' (From Watford Observer)

Strong competition for Watford half marathon

5:28pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in Sport By Simon Mail

The Watford half marathon returns on Sunday morning after the annual event was cancelled last year due to bad weather.

There were fears that the event could again be ruined after the recent snow but the weather forecast is positive for the weekend and the half marathon will go ahead as planned.

Turnout is slightly down this year due to the poor weather and last year’s cancellation but there are still a number of notable athletes in the field.

Martin Williams won the last time it was held two years ago and the Tipton Harriers runner is back to defend his title.

Ethiopia’s Yared Hagos is also taking part and the Wallsend athlete has a personal best half marathon time of 63.31.

David Mitchinson is another runner who is expected to be in contention as the Newham & Essex Beagles member has clocked 64.22 before at the distance.

The 2011 women’s winner Becky Penty will not be competing because she is doing warm weather training in Kenya. But Herts Phoenix’s Laura Cowley is taking part and will be hoping to go one better after finishing runner-up a couple of years ago.

Almost 2,000 runners will compete in the half-marathon which gets underway in Cassiobury Park at 10.30am. Race organiser Richard Parles said: “It was a huge disappointment last year and we had concerns recently with the snow but the weather will be fine for Sunday and it’s expected to be dry. We’re optimistic it will be a very good race among the men with some good quality runners.”

Parles added: “There will be congestion on the course and we would ask people to support the runners and also accept that there will be some delays around the course.”