Reading 10k, 3rd September 2006
TOM Mellor joined almost 900 runners by taking part in the Reading 020 10km road race.
The event bills itself as in the top five per cent of UK road races, according to a Runner's World survey last year.
The race route takes runners from Thames Valley Park, the home of race sponsors, the Oracle Corportaton, to the Oracle Shopping & Leisure complex, right in the heart of rading town centre and back.
The race took in the recently refurbished Forbury Gardens and historic waterfront area of central Reading on a one-lap course.
With the race using chip timing for the first time, Tom took over a minute to get over the start line and managed to finish in a time of 59min 20sec for 594th place.
There were a total of 898 runners, with Charles Coleman from the most long-winded running club in the UK, Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow AC, winning in 33min 2sec.
Lesley Whitley from Reading Road Runners finished in 21st place in 39:18 to win the ladies' race.