Best local performance of the 37,500 runners in Sunday’s London Marathon was arguably Mick Brearley’s 2hr 55min 16sec.

The Undercliffe resident was 26th in the over-50 category, which ranks him 23rd in the country. He was barely a minute off his lifetime best.

However, he had to give best to local rival Jonathan Sinclair (Ilkley Harriers) in 2:54.41, three category places ahead of Brearley of Saltaire Striders.

Sinclair achieved a personal best, having run the Coniston 14 and East Hull 20 as warm-up races in the past five weeks.

Bingley’s Stephen Broadbent was 157th overall in 2:39.27 as he accelerated over the final 10km, quickening five seconds per kilometre to 3min 41sec at the close, which suggests that he can improve further still.

Nigel Bedell was first Keighley & Craven finisher in 2:53:03.

The benefits of distance running, particularly for mental health, were emphasised this week by the charity, Mind. Its study of 1450 women showed that most refused to attend gyms, and over a half exercised alone at times and places where they weren’t so visible.

The biggest fears about joining existing groups included feeling worried about being left behind, looking silly, that the group would be cliquey, and concern at being seen exercising in public.

Baildon Runners are one of several local clubs which challenges these fears. They are a growing club with over 100 members, and a beginners group that meets on Saturday mornings at 10am at Roberts Park, Saltaire.

Their coach, Ian Ferris, ran 3:26.35 on Sunday. He was quickly followed by Nicola Empson (3:28.47) and Diana Campbell (3:30.42). Their 13-strong posse included Hester Stefanuti (5:12.11), who was fund-raising for Mind, knowing relatives and friends who have suffered from depression.

Registrations for next year’s race need to be completed shortly but those aiming to run a spring marathon in 2013 (in London, Rotterdam or elsewhere) are well advised to sign up now to a ten-month training preparation starting in June, and not leave the hard mileage until the New Year.

Details on Bradford’s Adult Endurance programme are at info@sportsshare.org and www.sportsshare.org/training.