EXHAUSTED runners punched the air and breathed a huge sigh of relief as they successfully crossed the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon's finish line.
Around 7,000 men and women, dressed in everything from shorts and a T-shirt to ambitious fancy dress outfits, poured over the start in glorious sunshine and modest temperatures.
They had fallen silent moments earlier in memory of David Colley who died at last month's Great North Run but set off in good spirits for their gruelling course around the city and its suburbs.
The route took them from the University of York, through Walmgate Bar, Parliament Street and past York Minster, before turning out of the city and heading through Stockton-on-the-Forest, Upper Helmsley, Sand Hutton, Stamford Bridge, Murton and Osbaldwick.
Celebrities including BBC Look North's Harry Gration and Nicola Rees, former Leeds Rhinos player Keith Senior and Educating Yorkshire's Matthew Burton all set off from The University of York in the sunshine.
This year's winner was Edwin Korir who completed the 26-mile course in 2 hours and 15 minutes. He was followed by Nathan Kilcourse with a time of 2 hours and 24 minutes. Third place went to Jackson Biwatt in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The first three elite women to cross the finish line were Joasia Zakrzewski, Rose Nicholson and Tori Green.
The first man back from York Acorn Runners was Chris Poulton, 34, from Knapton, who completed the race in 2 hours and 44 minutes.
He said: "This is my third Yorkshire Marathon and I feel exhausted and absolutely atrocious with horrendous cramp. My aim was to do it in under 2.45 so I could qualify for Berlin and get a championship time for the London Marathon.
"I'm so happy I managed to do it, but didn't think I would manage it at one point because at 17 miles I got cramp. I was pretty despondent because I could feel the cramp coming on, but I did it even though it was unbelievably hard."
The second place man from York, David Smithers, 42, who trains with York Knavesmire Harriers and is from Holgate, completed the race in 2.46.
He said: "I have done all three Yorkshire Marathons and I always enjoy them. The second half of the race was pretty tough and my legs were tightening up a little bit, but I really enjoyed my home town course."
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