Durant and Smith take the England half marathon titles in Manchester

The England half marathon titles were decided in Manchester on Sunday, on a bright, still morning that gave the field about as good a chance of fast times as you get in October. Alex Durant of City of Sheffield & Dearne won the men's race in 1:02:51 and Molly Smith of Herne Hill Harriers won the women's in 1:11:42.

What I like most about this one is where it happened. The championship races were part of the ASICS Manchester Half, which had its biggest field yet, with more than 23,000 people taking part. Club runners chasing a personal best were on the same streets, on the same morning, as the athletes racing for an England title.

A close men's race

Durant had only recently come back from competing in the NCAA in the United States, and he made the most of the conditions. It wasn't a procession, though. Omar Ahmed of Birchfield Harriers was second in 1:02:57 and Max Milarvie of Dulwich Runners third in 1:03:03, so the top three were covered by 12 seconds.

That kind of depth is good news. Three men within a few seconds of 1:03 at a domestic championship in October says the road scene is healthy, and it gives all three a good base heading into the winter.

Smith holds off Gummow

Smith won in 1:11:42, with Annabel Gummow of Herts Phoenix second in 1:12:01 and Verity Hopkins of Tonbridge AC third in 1:12:11. Three different clubs on the podium, and three athletes who will all have plenty to build on.

The wheelchair races were held alongside, though they weren't part of the England championships. Nathan Maguire of Kirkby AC, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist this summer, won the men's race in 47:01, and Roz Delap of Harlow AC won the women's in 1:12:13.

What's next on the road

The next big date for endurance runners is the UK Athletics 10 mile championships, held as part of the Great South Run in Portsmouth on 18 October. After that the season turns to cross country, where clubs really come into their own.

If Manchester has given you the itch to race, the simplest next step is a local club. Most have road and cross country sections and train on a track at least once a week. You can find a track near you and see which clubs use it.

Source: England Athletics