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| Thousands take part in city run | Thousands take part in city run |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Crowds packed the streets of central Manchester to cheer on 31,000 runners in the Bupa Great Manchester Run. | Crowds packed the streets of central Manchester to cheer on 31,000 runners in the Bupa Great Manchester Run. |
| Runners of all abilities were taking part in the 10km road race, which has grown in popularity. | Runners of all abilities were taking part in the 10km road race, which has grown in popularity. |
| Runners and spectators lined up in the sunshine as football legend Denis Law and Olympic cycling hope Rebecca Romero started the event on Sunday morning. | Runners and spectators lined up in the sunshine as football legend Denis Law and Olympic cycling hope Rebecca Romero started the event on Sunday morning. |
| Jo Pavey became the first woman to defend her title with a convincing victory in the woman's race. | |
| She headed off her challengers in the final kilometre by 10 seconds in an unofficial time of 31 minutes and 56 seconds. | |
| Austrian Gunther Weidlinger won a thrilling men's race in a time of 28 minutes 10 seconds. | |
| Popular event | |
| The elite athletes were followed by thousands more runners, many of whom are raising money for charity. | The elite athletes were followed by thousands more runners, many of whom are raising money for charity. |
| Organisers were forced to turn away thousands of applicants for the 2008 event, which was also being shown later on television. | Organisers were forced to turn away thousands of applicants for the 2008 event, which was also being shown later on television. |
| A series of roads were closed for the event and traffic diversions put in place. | |
| Some of the city's main road - Portland Street, Chepstow Street, Great Bridgewater Street, Princess Street and Oxford Street - were expected to reopen at about 1245 BST. | Some of the city's main road - Portland Street, Chepstow Street, Great Bridgewater Street, Princess Street and Oxford Street - were expected to reopen at about 1245 BST. |
| A full list of affected roads is available on the official website of the Great Manchester Run. | A full list of affected roads is available on the official website of the Great Manchester Run. |