RUNNERS had perfect conditions for a cross-border challenge which saw more than 500 competitors weave their way from England to Scotland.

A sea of brightly-coloured runners flocked to Kingmoor Park in Carlisle for the 9am start of the 10km event.

It was the first time the X Border 10K Challenge event, now in its fifth year, had been held ‘in reverse’.

Usually the race starts in Gretna but this time round the route left the business park and headed on the road which runs parallel to the M6, with runners crossing the finishing line at the Greens at Gretna Hotel.

Runners were faced with a chilly, drizzly start which brought a smile to the face of organiser Mike James.

Mike, of Endurance Sports, said: “We did the event last time in the summer so we thought we’d do it differently this time round.

“It’s in reverse and we’ve got 500 runners out on a winter’s day and to be honest they are perfect conditions for running.

“We’ve got a great mix of people taking part too. Many are fun runners but we’ve probably got about 20 per cent that are club runners.

“It’s great to have a good range of abilities taking part on the flat course.”

Sarah Wardle, 44, of Etterby in Carlisle, was taking part in her first competitive event with her daughter Sophie and friends from the city club DH Runners.

She said: “It’s my first competitive 10k. I did do the Race for Life last summer but that was a completely different ball game. We all went out in a group and walked some of it.

“It’s my first one today so I’m really nervous.”

Fellow DH Runner Rebecca Birkett, 45, of Belle Vue in Carlisle, was also at her first ‘race’.

“We’re really nervous about it but we’re hoping that some people will be walking a bit so we don’t come last,” joked Rebecca, who works for Cumbria County Council.