Runners dressed as vegetables take on half marathon

10 minutes ago

Aimee Dexterand

Tom Williams,in Cambridge

News image — Katie Harris and Ruth Nye are two of the 21 vegetable runners taking part

Aimee Dexter/BBC Katie Harris is standing on the left and is wearing a costume which is a piece of sweetcorn. Ruth Nye is on the right and is wearing a potato costume. They are both standing next to each other outside of an old building. — Katie Harris and Ruth Nye are two of the 21 vegetable runners taking part

A group of mental health campaigners promoting gardening will tackle a half marathon dressed as vegetables for a second time - but with quadruple the runners.

More than 20 vegetable runners are expected join in the Cambridge Half Marathon, which will take participants on a 13.1-mile (21.1-km) route through the city.

The group is running for Cultivating Change, a charity that aims to engage communities through gardening to support mental health.

Vicky Knight, who will be running dressed as a pea, said she had participated in several half and full marathons over the years, which all brought different challenges, but had "never done one dressed like this".

Aimee Dexter/BBC A group of people are dressed up as different vegetables. They are running on a walkway towards the camera. There is a building on the left and trees in the background on the right. — More than 20 people will be dressing up as vegetables for the charity

Aimee Dexter/BBC Vicky Knight is standing off centre to the left and is wearing a costume of a pea. She is smiling and is standing in front of a row of trees. — The charity says Vicky Knight is attempting to break a world record

Last year, five people dressed as vegetables took part in the event to raise money for Cultivating Change.

A year later and Knight is trying to break the world record for the fastest woman to run a half marathon dressed as a vegetable.

Knight said: "My aim is less than an hour and 46 minutes, that is the record to be beaten."

She said the outfit "was pretty hot" but was "hoping it will be OK".

The fastest woman to run a half marathon dressed as a vegetable was Elizabeth Thayer from the US, who achieved a time of one hour, 46 minutes and 51 seconds on 19 September 2021.

Thousands getting set for Cambridge Half Marathon

Aimee Dexter/BBC Sally Nye has short blonde hair. She is smiling and is wearing a grey jumper and a blue and white necklace. She is sitting in front of a building which is blurred in the background. — Nye said the charity has worked with about 2,000 children within schools and communities

Sally Nye, the co-founder of the organisation, said the charity has worked with communities and schools across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

"It is amazing to see their brains really working and the energy they have to be fulfilled in a different space," said Nye.

"It is just amazing to hear the feedback from teachers that we get to say they can't believe the difference they see in some of the pupils, and that is what it is all about and makes it so rewarding for us.

"That is why we do what we do," she added.

Aimee Dexter/BBC Clare Laidler is off centre to the left and is smiling. She has blonde hair in a plait and is wearing black framed glasses, a black top and a pink and red cardigan. She is standing in a small garden which is situated in between a building. — Clare Laidler said the charity has helped children with SEND

One of the school's the organisation has been invovled with was Castle School, a special educational needs and disability (SEND) school in Cambridge.

Clare Laidler, its sixth form co-ordinator, said the work of the charity had helped children within the school and even provides produce for their food tech lessons.

"We have noticed when the charity comes in our pupil's mental wellbeing is much calmer, and we can see a massive difference with the children in the school," Laidler said.

Traffic measures would be in place across the city on Sunday and organisers have recommended people plan any journeys in advance.