THE winner of the Bayer 10k race in Newbury was competing in his first run in four years.
Julien Lhomme won with a time just under 38 minutes.
The Headington Roadrunners athlete opened up a lead by the time he hit the eight kilometre mark.
"I wasn’t expecting to win as I’ve been coming back from a four-year break from racing," he said.
"I’ve only got back into training in the last six months. But I work in Newbury, so I liked the idea of doing a local 10k."
Amongst the racers were the town's firefighters who competed in full uniform carrying a nine metre ladder despite the scorching 25 degree heat.
A dripping crew manager, Mike Wilson, said heat had been the biggest factor.
"Our kit is very good at keeping the heat out, but that also means it’s good at keeping it in," he admitted after the race.
The junior races produced highly impressive winners Jacob Woods and Aimee Dickson in the 900 metre race, and George Ferguson and Emma Downie winning the 1.5km event.
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