KENYAN Edwin Kipyego may have won the Bristol Half Marathon, but behind him were more than 11,000 people who pounded the streets in an heroic effort.

Kipyego blistered across the damp finish line in 63.08 minutes, a shade over the 13.1 mile course record time of 62.45.

Only nine minutes later Bristol's own Claire Hallisey scorched in, leading the ladies home.

In their wake followed thousands of runners, from elite running club members to those in fancy dress.

They were all clapped and cheered by a supportive crowd as they thundered or plodded to the end, many of them running to raise thousands of pounds for worthy causes.

Drizzle may have formed the bleak prelude to this year's event, but when the going got tough, the tough hared off along the historic harbour, up and down The Portway, through the centre and back to the finish at Millennium Square.

With every footfall of their multi-coloured high-tech training shoes, more and more funds were piling up for the race's official charities CLIC Sargent, St Peter's Hospice and COCO.

Pete Phillips, 31, a Lloyds bank worker from Hotwells, tore around the course with a time of 1.29 and hoped to raise £1,000 for Penny Brohn Cancer Care.

He said: "I started a bit too fast and my legs hurt towards the end but I enjoyed it, the crowd gave me lots of support.

"I broke my elbow in May, so my training was a little bit late."

Elvis Presley, gorillas, Spiderman and Wonder Woman and a caveman all graced Bristol for the run, as well as a team from the Evening Post and giant cockroach "Roachy", also known as Nick Ashton.

Nick, 32, a physiotherapist from Totterdown, managed a time of 1.39 in his impressive insect suit.

He said: "I hope to raise £200 for Friends of Bristol Haematology Centre and Oncology Centre.

"It was really hot and it was a shame it was wet. The crowd was amazing."

Brother and sister Helen and Mark Newberry ran the event to raise £800 for St Peter's Hospice, which gave great support to their grandparents Betty Newberry and Harry Morris.

Helen, 24, a shop manager for American Apparel from Southville, said: "I ran 1.39 and it was my first one. It was quite damp and the last bit was really hard. It was a bit windy towards the end."

Mark, 30, a team leader for N.I.G. insurance from Horfield, finished just ten minutes behind his little sister.

He said: "I struggle with bad knees so I am delighted to have got round in one piece.

"Our brother Phil, from Coalpit Heath, did it with us too."

Sue Evans, 51, an NHS manager from Downend did the run in a personal best time of 2.04, and hoped to raise funds for CLIC Sargent.

She said: "My daughter Sophie had cancer when she was eight months old, and she was 13 last Friday.

"CLIC was fantastic and I'm hoping to raise £1,600.

"The weather was fantastic for me.

"The only problem was that the start on College Green was a bit hectic; the queue for the loo was absolutely terrible!"

Adam Waldram, 27, a physiotherapist from St George, completed the course in 1.37 dressed as a saucy nurse.

His short skirt and fishnet tights proved an interesting accompaniment to his newly bashed-in face from playing rugby on Saturday.

Adam said: "I am raising money in memory of my friend Robbie Stuart, who died of leukaemia.

"I have had a few wolf-whistles. I am hoping to get a few telephone numbers afterwards."

James Appleton, 39, of Taunton, who works for medical insurers W.P.A, ran a personal best time of 2.06 and hoped to raise £2,000 for CLIC Sargent, which has helped his son, William.

He said: "CLIC has been wonderful and doing this has almost been like therapy for me. It means you can talk to people and bring things out in the open."

Kate McCormick, 27, a civil engineer from Totterdown, crossed the line in 1.53 and recalled a special highlight.

"I overtook the caveman," she said. "I was quite pleased with that. There was really good support from the crowd." Adam Magrill, 27, a structural engineer from Redland, finished in 1.36 and had a good run.

He said: "I am raising money for Best Beginnings, which promotes health and equality for children in the UK."

Evening Post reporter Emily Koch completed her personal journey from having both legs broken when she was hit by a car in January 2008, to running the Half Marathon in a respectable time of two hours and five minutes.

She said: "I was really happy with my time. In parts it was hard, but I was quite up and down.

"There was about three or four miles when I felt amazing and I thought I could take on the world, but towards the end the tiredness started to kick in.

"I feel very achy and broken but I'm really proud to have done it. The support from everyone was fantastic."

Fellow reporters Liz Webster and Tom Morris also completed the race, in one hour, 52 minutes and one hour, 54 minutes, respectively.

The event's smooth organisation was only marred by around 900 runners losing their official timing chips, some blaming the wet conditions. Helen Hewitt, a media officer for Bristol City Council, said the chips had been used for several years and an investigation is underway to examine the problem.

The organisers say they do have a back-up method of ensuring all times are known and the times for runners who crossed the finishing line will be announced on the race website www.bristolhalfmarathon. com and in the Evening Post once they are available. It is expected that this will be within the next week.

Christopher Davies, Deputy Lord Mayor of Bristol, said: "Bristol has welcomed runners from all over the country for this event, and the run is a real benefit to charities such as St Peter's Hospice.

"I don't know if I could walk 13 miles, and I think to run it is a great achievement.

"I'm very pleased to be here today."