Record turnout for tenth anniversary of R U Taking The P...?

Our unique York charity fun run marked its tenth birthday with a record entry when it took to the streets on Sunday.

R U Taking The P...?, the males-only 5K, attracted 526 men and boys to Bishopthorpe Road, beating its previous record by more than 100. Just under 400 took part in 2018.

The runners, many of them fathers and sons, were taking part to increase awareness of prostate cancer and to fundraise for research and for the work of York Against Cancer.

Addressing them before the race, Professor Norman Maitland of the University of York thanked them for ten years of support for his research. He said that as he was retiring, future funds would assist the work of his close colleague Dr Fiona Frame at Hull University.

He told them that he himself was diagnosed with prostate problems last year. “Nobody is immune,” he said.  He praised the runners for raising more than £150,000 in the decade since the race was founded by Brian Hughes of Knavesmire Harriers.

Brian, who was inspired by the loss of a friend to prostate cancer, said he was overwhelmed by the response to this year’s race. “It’s wonderful,” he said.

The race was won by Rob Ward, a member of Knavesmire Harriers and one of the directors of the weekly Knavesmire parkrun, who crossed the line in just under 18 minutes.   

He and a group from the York Beer Runners, a casual social running club, headed a field which included many in fancy dress including Simon Starkey, a regular participant who this year tackled the course in an inflatable triceratops costume.

“I got it for £50 from eBay!” said Simon, who has previously run dressed as Chewbacca from Star Wars and as a T-Rex.

Phil Burton, Rich Parkinson and Lol Parkinson, nine, were dressed as Romans for the race which saw Lol beat Phil and Rich to the finish line. “It’s always a good fun run,” said Phil.

Barry Dean took part dressed as Spider-Man, cheered on by his daughter Polly, three. “I do a lot of charity runs, and I think this one is fantastic, raising awareness of prostate cancer,” he said.

Other runners included Richard Romaniak and son Reuben, eight, York Against Cancer Chairman Ian Yeowart and charity founder Professor Steve Leveson with his dog, Rusty, and Jeremy Fothergill, who dressed as a squirrel for the occasion.

The race was followed by a vibrant street party held by traders in Bishopthorpe Road.