Thousands take to the streets in Brighton Marathon

Winner of the women's race Helen Reid said the support of the crowd got her through

More than 12,500 people took part in the Brighton Marathon earlier in "glorious sunshine", organisers have said.

Now in its 15th year, Sunday's race started in Preston Park at 09:45 BST, with the finish line at Hove Lawns.

The Brighton & Hove 10K (6.2 miles) event was also being held on Sunday.

The men's race was won by Sam Cook, from Horsham, who completed the race in two hours, 26 minutes and 47 seconds, while the women's race was won by Helen Reid in two hours and 53 minutes.

Sam Cook said the wind made the race harder

Mr Cook described his victory as "unexpected", adding: "It was hard out there with the wind.

"But the crowd all the way round kept me going. You never know how far back the guys are behind, they were on my heels, I think."

Winning her second Brighton women's race after victory two years ago, Ms Reid said the support was "incredible".

"Around 35k, it started getting a bit rough and I slowed down a bit," she said, adding: "But the crowd really carried me through, the support is so amazing.

"I don't think it's started hurting yet, it hasn't sunk in, but I'm sure my thighs will be telling me something tomorrow morning."

Friends Grace (right) and Amy were running the Brighton Marathon together

Best friends Grace and Amy told Radio Sussex that running alongside each other would get them through the event.

Simon Nichols was running his second Brighton Marathon, having first taken part 10 years ago.

He said: "I've tried triathlon, I've tried cycling, I've tried swimming and I've come back to running in the last year.

"You can always run one minute further, every time you feel like stopping you can always do another minute. Don't think about the finish, it's too far away."

Simon Nichols said he would "run one minute further" every time he feels like stopping

Ian Davis chose a colourful outfit to take part in the event

Emily Marchant combined the marathon with a hen weekend

Also taking part was Kristina Goodsell, from Married at First Sight, who is raising awareness of the condition premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Another competitor, Matt Clayton, will walk from Brighton to Paris after completing the event, then run the Paris Marathon the following Sunday.

More than 150,000 people are estimated to have taken part since the first event in 2010.

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