CASTLE Point Joggers' Kat and Ade Orr took on the Kempton 5k Reunion Race which was featured on ITV news on Saturday.

Runners took part in a reunion 5K at Surrey's Kempton Park, the only running event in the government's Events Research Programme.

That programme is piloting a series of events to see how mass gatherings might work in the future.

The Reunion 5K will help provide scientific data on Covid-19 transmission levels, with both socially-distanced and non-socially-distanced runs being trialled.

Approximately 1,000 socially-distanced runners took part in the first race, watched by socially-distanced spectators - but in the second race there was no social distancing among the 1,000 runners, nor were the spectators asked to stand apart.

All those in attendance had to provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test and were asked to take a PCR test both on Saturday and five days later.

Organiser Hugh Brasher, who took part in the non-socially-distanced 5K, said he was surprised at "how normal it felt".

He said: "I thought it would feel different and it didn't - and it was lovely to be able to do it and get inspired to run faster than I've run in quite a number of years."

Kat completed the race in 32 minutes and six seconds with Adrian running 20.38.

Meanwhile, over in Colchester Joanne Barton went animal crackers taking part in the Colchester 10k Stampede at the Zoo.

This event, which supports the charity Action for the Wild, runs through the Zoo for 1k before heading out onto the closed roads before finishing back inside the Zoo.

Jo said: “My official chip time was 1:10:56 so a PB for me. Kev's training has most definitely paid off!

"Once out on the closed road route, there were plenty of tambourine weilding marshalls with a water stop at 5k.

"The Scenery was lovely, although the weather frightful with rain and hailstones - but it didn't stop the locals coming out to cheer on 2,000 runners on.

"It was then back into the zoo via a hill for the final 1k!

Over in Reading, Natasha Webb took part in the Goring Half a beautiful route which was rain free.

Natasha is still waiting for her official time but clocked 2:06 which is an excellent PB for her.