Running up grand total for Children's Hospital

On Sunday, more than 1,300 runners completed the five-mile course in bright sunshine to raise money for the charity.

The event, organised by The Oxford Times and its sister paper the Oxford Mail, was so popular that the start of the race had to be delayed as runners queued in their cars to get into the palace grounds.

More than 1,000 people signed up beforehand, including teams from dozens of businesses, but there was a rush from late entrants, with a further 300 signing up on the day.

The race was started by Dale Harris, 24, from Normandy Crescent, Cowley, and his daughter Mya, three.

Mya, who pressed the starting horn shortly after 10.30am, was born with spina bifida in 2002, and has already had at least six operations as a patient on the children's ward of the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington.

Mr Harris, whose T-shirt carried a "Running for my Girl" logo, said: "We have spent a lot of time at hospital with Mya, and she needed a lot of medical intervention from day one, so this cause is obviously very close to our hearts."

Last year's run attracted 720 people, and the event raised £20,000, but this year the total amount raised is expected to be £50,000.

This will make a major contribution towards raising the final £2.5m from the community for the new hospital, which is set to open at the John Radcliffe in January next year.

Race organiser Tom Mitchell said: "This is our best year ever and we have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response from the public.

"Once everyone gets their sponsorship through we will be on target to raise £50,000."

Derek Holmes, the editor of The Oxford Times, who completed the race in just over 42 minutes, said: "The turn-out has been incredible and it's quite staggering that 300 people have registered on the day.

"The OX5 Run has become a real fixture in the calendar."

Oxford Mail editor Simon O'Neill added: "It's a record entry this year by a long way and the event is going from strength to strength. We are really looking forward to next year."

Before the race, instructors from the David Lloyd Health and Fitness Centre, Oxford, held a warm-up for runners.

Competitors who raised £100 will receive a free OX5 T-shirt, those who raised £200 will get a jumper, and those who raised £300 will be given a fleece. Les Newell, 30, from Abingdon Amblers, was first home in 27 minutes 53 seconds and said: "I did the race four years ago. It was hard work, particularly on the downhill bits."

He overtook Tim Wright, 22, from Banbury Harriers, to take the race a short distance from the line, finishing in 27 minutes and 58 seconds.

Mr Wright, from Harewood Road, Banbury, said: "It was tough. I was leading for the whole of the race and Les just went past me right at the end."

Richard Beaumont, 34, who runs for Woodstock Harriers, finished third in 28 minutes and four seconds.

He said: "I won the race three years ago. It was always tough going today and the conditions were testing."

Jill Smith, 24, from Ladygrove Court, who is not affiliated to any running clubs, came home tenth and was the first woman over the finishing line, completing the course in 30 minutes and 15 seconds.

Ms Smith, who works as a vet, said: "I haven't been out training for a few months so I was very pleased with where I came in the race."

Runners John Stocker and Ivan Curtis were back in their cavemen gear for this year's OX5 Run but they left their clubs at home.

"We kept smacking the other runners with our clubs last year, so we thought it would be better to run without them," said Mr Stocker, 26, who runs Evolve Personal Training with Mr Curtis, 44.

"We have dressed up as cavemen in 10k events all around the Bicester area so lots of people look out for us."

Sharon Brown, 40, from Wood Farm, was taking a break from singing with Ivor's Choir, the subject of a Channel Five documentary.

She is one of 40 singers from Oxford who have been chosen to sing in a concert at the Albert Hall.

Running in the race with her husband Kevin, 45, Ms Brown, who has a Children's Hospital Campaign tattoo on her arm, said: "Ivor is very demanding so I thought I would take a break from the singing by running to raise money for this charity."

Amy Giles, 20, Amy Long, 25, and Rachel Pargeter, 19, were among staff from the Midcounties Co-operative who ran in the race.

They work at the new Imagine nursery in Cuddesdon Way, Blackbird Leys.

"We have never done this before and thought it would be great fun to run round the course with our handbags," said Ms Giles.

Sisters Kim Ghuman, 29, and Raj Gill, 24, who live near Bicester, were taking part in the race for the first time.

Ms Gill said: "This is my first OX5 run and I am hoping it will be the first of many. I joined David Lloyd's gym a while ago, so I am working my way up."

Sarah Chapman, from Carterton, who runs with Witney Road Runners, was with her daughter Daisy, two, and her husband before taking part in the race. She said: "It's my first OX5 run. Blenheim is a fantastic setting and it's a very good cause."