FLATTER and faster than London, Paris, Chicago and Berlin, the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon hit the ground running from the word go last year.

All 6,000 places were snapped up in just three days and athletes, both professional and amateur, came not only from across the UK, but from France, Spain, Ireland, the USA, Africa and the Caribbean.

Yesterday saw the second running of the race and it didn’t disappoint, either. If anything, the event is getting better. Seven thousand runners tackled the 26.2-mile route around York and into the surrounding countryside, which means there’s a great chance that last year’s astonishing £2 million for good causes will be at least matched, if not beaten.

No wonder it’s such a success. This picturesque run takes participants past some of York’s fine historic sites and along scenic country lanes, which makes it an attractive prospect for runners of all abilities.

But the real reason most take part is personal to them. Some ran in memory of loved ones, others to raise awareness of issues that have affected their lives. All were spurred on by the thought that every mile completed was another step closer to their target.

The early morning fog failed to delay the start, and it certainly did not cloud the issue that the Yorkshire Marathon is a resounding success and we salute everyone who took part yesterday. Let’s hope it will now become an annual event.