More Exclusive Pics from the Virgin London Marathon

runningimp.co.uk have continued the 30th birthday celebrations of the UK's largest running event by bringing you another gallery of exclusive pictures from the Virgin London Marathon 2010.

Photographs taken by Molly Illsley, aged 12.

Branding Special Offers

Today, event branding is used at events of all different sizes to generate brand awareness, advertise a sponsor, mark out key areas or just to help build an atmosphere amongst spectators and participants.

At Running Imp we know how important event branding can be, and we have these very special new branding offers to help save you money. But make sure to order soon, these offers end 1st September 2010!

Feather Flags

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Size

This offer applies only to 3.2m tall feather flags.

Set Up

There is a design set up charge of £29 per design, and you can have up to four different designs.

Full Colour Printing

Feather flags can be printed with your design/logo(s) on one side in any amount of colours (including full colour photographs if required), showing a mirror image on the reverse with metal spike attachment for placement into soft ground.

Aero Banner

Buy 3 get 1 FREE

Price: £99 each

Aero banners are becoming very popular due to their quality, economy and versatility, and are great for advertising or as crowd control and visibility screens.

Size

This offer applies only to 10ft by 3ft aero banners.

Set Up

There is a design set up charge of £29 per design, and

you can have up to four different designs.

Full Colour Printing

Aero banners can only be printed on one side but are digitally printed in either single or multiple colours, including in full colour showing pictures/ photographs.

Photographic Banners/PVC Banners

3 for the price of 1

Price £129 for three

Digitally printed photographic banners in full colour to your very own unique design. Made from reinforced PVC, eyeleted and hemmed.

Size

This offer applies only to 10ft by 3ft banners.

Set Up

There is a design set up charge of £29 per design, and you can have up to three different designs.

Full Colour Printing

PVC banners can only be printed on one side but are digitally printed in either single or multiple colours, including in full colour showing pictures/ photographs.

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To see these offers in full, with full colour images of the flags and banners available, please click here to view our Spring & Summer Super Savers PDF brochure.

The Virgin London Marathon 2010

The 2010 Virgin London Marathon took place on Sunday with over 36,000 runners crossing the finish line.

Sir Richard Branson set 36,984 runners off from the start line, the largest ever field for the event in its first year sponsored by Virgin Money.

The fastest man on the day was Tsegaye Kebede from Ethiopia who recorded a winning time of 2:05:19. Kebede became the first non-Kenyan to win the men's race since his compatriot Gezahegne Abera reigned supreme in 1993.

It was a Russian 1-2 in the women's race, Liliya Shobukhova crossing the line in first place and smashing her own personal best with a time of 2:22:00. Inga Abitova came second in 2:22:19.

As usual, the marathon line-up included a range of famous faces and hundreds of people taking part in fancy dress to raise money for charity.

"I had a running duel with a man dressed as a banana for 20 miles and eventually he beat me" admitted comedian Russell Howard, after finishing in 4 hours and 15 minutes.

Running Imp was named as an Official Contractor to the Virgin London Marathon, with the responsibility for erecting and operating all 55 timing display clocks set at key markers along the 26.2 mile course.

Below are a selection of photos from the 2010 Virgin London Marathon...

Our clock operating team hit the streets in the capital during the early hours to set up the timing clocks along the marathon course.

Two of our team are seen here, hard at work at one of the mile markers.

And they're off! The time is set on the start line clocks, the flag is waved, and over 36,000 runners begin to set off on their 26.2 mile journey.

One of the costume-wearing runners in particular faced a tall order, this fund raiser having to complete the marathon dressed as the Angel of the North.

The record breaking field fly through the starting area.

Amongst those taking part was Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, who finished in 5:02:24. Also seen here is Princess Beatrice, who crossed the line in 5:13:03 as a part of a 34-person human caterpillar, claiming a Guinness World Record for the most linked runners to run a marathon.

At Running Imp we would like to congratulate everyone who took part in this tremendous sporting challenge and we wish you all a speedy recovery!

We would also like to thank all those behind the scenes who helped make the 30th London Marathon such a success.

Brighton Marathon: Picture Special

On Sunday morning, 7,589 runners arrived at the start line for the very first Brighton Marathon.

It was a gloriously sunny day on the south coast, and it's thought over 80,000 spectators took to the sidelines to cheer on everybody taking part in the all-new event dubbed 'London by the sea' .

Mongolian Ser-od Ba-otochir, a four-time World Championships runner, claimed the inaugural Brighton Marathon title in 2:19:05. Second place went to Medway's Michael Coleman in a time of 2:24:54, and local boy Chris Thomson of Brighton and Hove AC came third in 2:29:54 in what was his debut marathon.

Race-day runner-up Coleman said "It was a really good event. The course was surprisingly fast , and the conditions were perfect, if a little hot. I was very pleased with my run, and will definitely come back next year."

The women's winner was Jo Bryce of Burgess Hill in a time of 3:05:20, followed by Brighton's Cathy Ulliot in 3:05:42 and Polly Mosely in third with 3:11:58.

Running Imp was able to provide the marathon with a wide range of essential items for all the competitors and event staff on the day, many of which can be seen in the event photos below...

Feather flags, designed and produced especially for the Brighton Marathon and its sponsors by Running Imp, lined the home straight on the marathon course.

Here's just a few of the hundreds of course volunteers who helped make the marathon possible, striking a pose in their staff t-shirts, as produced by Running Imp.

Directing the crowds and competitors throughout the marathon course were correx signs, custom printed for the event by Running Imp.

Running Imp was able to produce a wide range of customised gear for the event staff, including the security cards and lanyards as shown above.

Hundreds of metres of outdoor branding, produced for the event by Running Imp, decorated the Brighton streets and helped add to the excellent event atmosphere.

The competitors take in some brilliantly eye-catching landmarks along the 26.2 mile course.

The people of Brighton come out in force to encourage the finishers in the final push towards the finish line.

Event staff ready the finish line for this year's winner.

The branded finish tape was designed and printed by Running Imp.

The competitors finally cross the line after a terrific effort under the April sun. And just like the runners themselves, the Running Imp digitally printed colour-coded race numbers have stayed strong until the end!

Everyone who took part received a kit bag and event t-shirt, which were also provided by Running Imp, amongst other goodies for finishing the very first Brighton Marathon.

Former England international right-back Danny Mills completed the marathon in a wheelchair to raise money for ASBAH and raise disability awareness. He powered over the line with a finishing time of 2:43:14.

Running Imp Managing Director Chris Illsley was there to lend his voice to the event, working as a race-day commentator, and is seen here interviewing Danny Mills at Commentary HQ; a red double decker bus!

Official Contractor to the 2010 Virgin London Marathon

On Sunday 25^th April, thousands of runners will take to the streets of the nation’s capital in the 2010 Virgin London Marathon, and Running Imp will be at the centre of all the action.

Running Imp International Sports has once again been named as the Official Contractor with the responsibility for the erection and operation of all the visual timing clocks along the marathon course.

A 25-man strong team from Lincoln will begin work in the early hours of the morning to position

the 55 timing clocks at key marker points along the 26.2mile course.

These clocks will help this year’s field, including reigning champion and course record holder Sammy Wanjiru as well as the thousands of charity runners raising money for good causes, to pace themselves whilst taking on this terrific sporting challenge.

The London Marathon is the largest annual fundraising event in the world and will celebrate its 30^th anniversary this year.

In 2009, the marathon raised an estimated £47.2million for charity. This year, with the support of new official sponsor Virgin, the event will aim to have raised over half a billion pounds for charity since the very first race in 1981.

Co-founder and Managing Director at Running Imp Chris Illsley said “we are very proud to continue our excellent working relationship with one of the most prestigious marathons in the world. It is testament to our event timing team and organisational staff that one of the largest and most watched sporting events in the world has again awarded this contract to Running Imp.”

Easter Chicken Fun Run 2010: Picture Special

Hundreds of chickens went on the run on Easter Sunday at the Lincolnshire Showground, all to raise money

for charity.

The Easter Chicken Fun Run & Walk was organised by the Bailgate Rotary Club to generate funds for St. John Ambulance.

The event was a great success, with over 200 people putting the chocolate eggs down for the afternoon to take to the 5km course, more than doubling the number of entrants from last year's event which was the very first of its kind.

The money raised by the event will go towards paying for a £40,000 mobile treatment centre acquired by the Lincoln and district branch of St.John Ambulance.

Take a look at the pictures below to see some of the egg-citing action from this year's event!...

A 4.15m feather flag, designed and produced especially for the event by Running Imp, marks the entrance to the event.

The participants stretch their legs and flap their wings to warm up!

Everyone taking part was provided with a printed Chicken Run yellow t-shirt and baseball cap.

The durability of Running Imp's competitors numbers are tested on fur and feathers!

The runners and walkers take to the start line beneath the red Running Imp inflatable gantry...

... and the feathers fly as the race begins!

Running Imp Managing Director Caroline Birkin takes part in the fun run with her husband Paul, daughter Kate, and grand-daughter Halle.

Absolutely everyone who took part, whether they competed on two legs or four, received a finishers medal; one of Running Imp's centre holder collection.