Lincoln 10k 2010: Picture Special

Almost 5,000 runners pounded the streets amongst glorious sunshine in Uphill Lincoln yesterday for the 14th annual Lincoln 10k Road Race.

Organisers believed this year's event may well have been the best yet, with everyone taking part thoroughly enjoying the experience - from the serious athletes challenging for the fastest times to those who were there to simply challenge themselves and complete the course.

There was also another great effort this year by those taking part in all kinds of brilliantly daft costumes to raise money for charity.

The race for first place went all the way to the wire this year, but the champion on the day was Bruce Raeside, 28, from Nottingham, who crossed the line with a winning time of 30 minutes and 5 seconds.

Last year's winner and local runner Matt Bowser came in third.

The 2010 Women's 10k winner was Julie Briskoe, 34, from Barnsley.

The winner of the Running Imp sponsored Secondary School's Race was

Haran Dunderdale who crossed the line with a great time of 12 minutes and 41 seconds.

See the photos below for all the action from 10k day!...

This year's 10k began with the Buggy Push, a brand new event taking place here at Lincoln which gave parents of young children the opportunity to take part on race day. Taking part in the Buggy Push was Kate Illsley, Senior Sales Advisor at Running Imp, with her daughter Halle.

Next up was the Primary School Race and the Running Imp sponsored Secondary School Race. All of the children taking part received a specially designed and printed event t-shirt.

All the course signage on event day was provided by Running Imp.

Two 4.15m tall feather flags mark out the 10k starting area.

And we're off! Almost 5,000 runners take off from the starting line.

One of Running Imp's three timing clocks at the event, positioned here on one of the race vehicles.

The trophies and awards supplied by Running Imp, ready and waiting for the first past the finish line.

The battle for first place is close!...

... But it's Bruce Raeside who takes

the title for 2010!

Two runners, mid-recovery, collecting their 10k goodie bags. Each bag contained their special 10k medal, a foil blanket to aid recovery, and a bottle of mineral water. The bags themselves were supplied by Running Imp.

Running Imp's engraving team were at the event to engrave any race entrant's medal with their name and finish time, should they wish. The engraving marquee was marked by this eye-catching feather flag.

One of our engravers, hard at work!

This year's medal was a real crowd pleaser and featured our super wide full colour printed ribbons, brand new for 2010 and never before seen at a major UK running event. To find out more, please visit bespokemedals.com.

Running Imp Receives Investors in Education Award

Running Imp International Sports was presented with an Investors in Education award at a prestigious awards ceremony last night in Grantham.

The award recognises Running Imp's successful demonstration of commitment to working in partnership with Lincolnshire and Rutland schools.

Managing Director and co-founder of Running Imp Chris Illsley is seen here pictured below accepting the award from Rob Mayall, Assistant Director at Children's Services, Lincolnshire County Council.

Running Imp was recognised alongside a selection of regional businesses who have all dedicated time and resources to providing challenging, interesting and genuinely beneficial work experience programmes to young students in the Lincolnshire and Rutland area.

"We are very proud to receive this award alongside these other businesses who, like us, believe strongly in the value of interesting and engaging work experience programmes" said Chris Illsley.

Easter Chicken Fun Run

This Easter, the Rotary Club of Bailgate Lincoln presents the Easter Chicken Charity 5K Fun Run and Walk 2010.

This very special event, in aid of the St.John Ambulance Mobile First Aid Unit and other charities, will take place at the Lincolnshire Showground on Easter Sunday, April 4th. The run starts at 11am.

Also taking place at the Showground will be a Fun Fair, Easter Egg Hunt and Road Safety, Ambulance Service and First Aid displays. Parking is FREE and there will be a prize draw for anyone raising more than £50 in sponsorship.

Everyone taking part also receives a FREE race medal, chicken cap and t-shirt, all provided by Running Imp.

The entry fee is £10, or £5 for those who wish to take part wearing their own costume.

The occasion is terrific fun, a lighthearted race event which is a brilliant opportunity for friends and family to help raise money for some truly deserving local charities at Easter.

You can download an entry form for the event at the link here. Alternatively, entry forms are also available for collection from Running Imp. Details on how to find us can be found here.

New for 2010 - The Mini Golden Boot

New for 2010 are our beautifully sculptured Mini Golden Shoe awards, an exciting and unique alternative to finishers medals.

Reproduced by kind permission of Asics UK, these 135mm long resin shoes are an exact replica of the Asics Gel-Kinsei 2 and exclusively available from ourselves.

This eye-catching new award was unveiled by Running Imp to the visitors at this year's Triathlon, Cycling and Running Show (exhibition report online here) and was a real crowd pleaser!

Prices start from only £1.49 each. For more information and a full breakdown of prices please visit the product page on our website here.

adidas Silverstone Half Marathon 2010

The official warm-up race for next month's Virgin London Marathon took place yesterday at the home of British motor racing; Silverstone.

The adidas Silverstone Half Marathon features a 13.1 mile course set around the world famous F1 circuit, and is seen by many as the ideal preparation for London.

Our Running Imp clock operators were at the event to organise all the visual timing for the 5,700 runners taking part, just as they will be on the 25th April as an Official Contractor to the 2010 Virgin London Marathon.

18 different timing clocks were set up and in in operation at various points along the course route.

Following famous British winners at Silverstone Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Lewis Hamilton, albeit at slightly slower lap times, was Toby Lambert who crossed the finish line at 1hr 7mins and 26 seconds, the fastest time in the mens field.

Commwealth Games bronze medallist Liz Yelling won the womens race with a time of 1hr 14mins and 50 seconds, in what was her first major event since becoming a mum to daughter Ruby.

Above is the event finish line, set on the famous formula 1 tarmac, featuring the visual timing clocks as operated by Running Imp.

Sport Relief Westminster Mile

MP's were made to sweat in Westminster yesterday, but it wasn't over the latest voter opinion polls or

a Jeremy Paxman grilling, it was all in aid of Sport Relief!

About 40 MP's and peers swapped their suits for shorts and t-shirts to help raise money for Sport Relief by running the Westminster Mile in London's St.James' Park.

Running Imp provided the visual timing clock for the event finish line.

Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said the event "brought everyone together" regardless of their political colours.

The Minister himself took part in the race, but the fastest time recorded on the Running Imp clock at the finish line was 5 minutes and 29 seconds by the MP for Monmouth David Davies.

Also at the mile finish, seen here in the photograph above, is Virgin London Marathon Race Director David Bedford greeting the MP's and peers as they crossed the line.

Since its launch in 2002, Sport Relief has raised over £80million for disadvantaged people in the UK and the rest of the world. This years live BBC TV show will air on 19th March.

Officially Licensed World Cup Collectables

Celebrate this years FIFA World Cup with this range of officially licensed World Cup collectables!

On the 11th June 2010 the biggest event in world football arrives in South Africa, and to commemorate this special occasion we have a range of officially licensed collectable products on page 2 of our football

brochure this year.

The 2010 Premier Trophies football brochure is available to view here.

This special range includes gold plated FIFA World Cup Trophy Miniatures, made in terrific detail to replicate the beautiful World Cup Trophy, and a number of stylish South Africa 2010 metal keyrings.

Football Trophy Sale Day - Saturday 20th March

Coming soon... It's Trophy Sale Day at Running Imp!

On Saturday 20th March Running Imp will be opening the doors to its famous trophy show room to unveil

the comprehensive 2010 football trophy range.

Alongside this year's brand new football trophy designs will be a wide range of special offer trophies and clearance lines, with prices starting at as little as £1!

The sale day is open from 9.00am - 1.00pm . FREE parking and refreshments are available.

Happy 50th Birthday Caroline!

Running Imp Managing Director and co-founder Caroline Birkin has just turned 50 years young, and all

of us at Running Imp would like to take the opportunity to wish Caroline the very happiest of birthdays this

year, and in every year to come.

Happy Birthday Caroline!

Official Medal Supplier to the 2010 Edinburgh Marathon

Running Imp and bespokemedals.com are proud to be able to announce that they will be supplying the finishers medals to this years Edinburgh Marathon.

The event will be taking place on 23rd May 2010.

Last year over 100,000 spectators were drawn to the course to see 16,000 competitors raising over £3 million for charitable causes.

The course is fast and flat, set amongst beautiful scenery and many of Edinburgh's historic sites and attracts runners of all different abilities.

To find out more about the Edinburgh Marathon, please visit the official website for all the latest information.

2009 Lincoln Santa Run Raises £18,000

At Running Imp we are delighted to be able to announce that the Great Lincoln Santa Fun Run & Walk 2009 has raised £18,000 for charity.

Approximately 1,500 runners took to the 3.5km course around Lincoln's historic Bailgate area last Christmas, and thanks to their efforts the event organisers have now been able to hand over this terrific some of money

to the St Andrews Children's Hospice, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance and other regional charities.

We would like to thank everyone who took part and all those who turned up to support Lincoln's running

Santas on what was a hugely enjoyable festive day out.