HUNDREDS of people ran in 30-degree heat to raise £13,500 for charity.

The were taking part in the Woking Lions Martian Race, starting at McLaren Park and following routes across Horsell Common.

There were 700 competitors, aged from four to 80 in seven events, in the sixth annual Martian event organised completely by volunteers.

Race distances on offer were 5k, 10k and 21k and, for the first time, a 2k children’s run that attracted 70 youngsters. 

Morning temperatures exceeded 30 degrees but that did not deter the runners taking on the challenge of trail running through the historic sandpits on Horsell Common – famously the site where the Martians landed in HG Wells’ novel The War of the Worlds.

Runners finished downhill back into McLaren Park to receive their iconic Martian Medals, which were sponsored by Trident Honda in Ottershaw.

Race director Gav Jackman said: “There are always too many people to thank, our sponsors, our 70-plus volunteers and the runners themselves. 

“We aim to balance three objectives: make it a great run for runners, make it a great success for charities and bring together the community. 

“Our run committee have worked so hard over the past seven months try to balance that out, and the smiles on the day are one of the biggest rewards we can get.”

Gav added: “This year, we had the added bonus that the Bee-lieve Foundation chose the run as part of their Ten for 10,000 Challenge and organised in the region of 80 runners raising their own money for mental health for kids. 

“We aspire that other local charities will use the Lions’ Martian Race as their fund-raising activity so more needy causes can benefit.”

All proceeds from the race are donated to local charities selected by Woking Lions. 

Last year, more than £10,000 was raised – beaten by the 2023 proceeds.

Leading results from the races were:

2k Kids Race: 1st Matthew Hickman, aged 11, 8min 3sec; 2nd Ryan Munday, 8, 8:39; 3rd Elliotta Fraser, 9, 9min 3sec.

5k Race (Men): 1st Matthew Rackham 19:24; 2nd William Hartley 20:08; 3rd Torsten Wakenshaw 21:48.

5k Race (Women): 1st Abigail Legge 24:50; 2nd Faiza Zulfiqar 29:55; 3rd Abi Stephens 30:56.

10k Race (Men): 1st Richard Burroughs 38:56; 2nd Paul Seuke 40:31; 3rd Ben Rolfe 41:28.

10k Race (Women): 1st Amy Skinnard 44:07; 2nd Liz Rust 45:31; 3rd Lucinda Smith 50:37.

21k Race (Men): 1st David Brighton 1:20:43; 2nd  Matt Jones 1:24:40; 3rd Will Smithard 1:29:27.

21k Race (Women): 1st Mandy Leach 1:40:22; 2nd Ellie Strandling 1:43:53; 3rd Francisca Sist 1:48:03.