A RECOVERY session in a cryotherapy chamber marked the official launch of this year’s Worcester City Run races.

World champion athlete and race founder Steve Cram took advantage of the opportunity for some treatment when he visited new event partner Air Products to launch the 2018 Worcester City Half Marathon and 10K.

A partnership between Worcester City Council and Events of the North, this year’s run is on Sunday September 16.

Worcester based industrial gases firm Air Products has signed up as a partner for this year’s run and employees will be helping out during the races in September.

Air Products has also brought a specialist PolarFit® Care cryotherapy chamber to its Worcester site, designed to improve sporting performance as part of a tailored training programme and help with recovery from sports injuries, and from jet lag.

Steve Cram has just returned from Korea after commentating for the BBC at the Winter Olympics. He also coaches leading British athletes such as middle-distance star Laura Weightman and put the chamber to the test during his visit to launch this year’s Worcester half marathon and 10K.

“Having spent the last few weeks at the Winter Olympics, I’ve got used to the cold, but this was a bit different,” he said. “Cryotherapy is a fascinating subject and definitely an area that I want to learn more about.”

Cllr Jabba Riaz, deputy mayor of Worcester, added:“The Worcester City Run has quickly become one of the most popular annual events in the area. It is really inspiring to see thousands of people of all ages running through this picturesque city, cheered on by a huge army of supporters. I have no doubt that the 2018 events will be the biggest and the best we’ve hosted so far.”

Entries for this year’s events are now open at worcestercityrun.com. Places on the Worcester City Half Marathon cost £35 for unaffiliated runners (£33 for affiliated) and places on the Worcester City 10K cost £27 for unaffiliated runners (£25 for affiliated). Places on the Young Athletes Run (one mile for under 11s and 3K for under 16s) cost £8.