A RUNNER who entered Worcester half marathon by mistake, thinking the event was taking place in her home city in the US, will receive a race finisher’s medal and T-shirt after completing the distance on the same day.

Sheila Pereira, 42, booked a place on last Sunday’s Air Products Worcester City Half Marathon only to realise that the event was taking place in Worcester, England and not her home city of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Undeterred, Sheila ran the half marathon distance near her home and sent details to the organisers of the UK event. In response, they have sent her a race finisher’s pack.

Sheila said: “Participating even though I was some distance from the Worcester City Run event was awesome.

"The love of running crosses boundaries and I hope to have the opportunity to take part in person in the future. For now, I am so pleased that I will be getting my medal and T-shirt.”

The Worcester City Half Marathon was organised by athletics legend Steve Cram’s company Events of the North, in partnership with Worcester City Council.

Along with the Worcester City 10K on the same day, the event attracted runners from around the UK – but Sheila’s entry did stand out.

READ MORE: 2019 Worcester City Run pictures

Steve Cram said: “We organise events throughout the country and some of them do attract entries from overseas. Those are usually from runners who are visiting the UK for another reason and have taken the opportunity to take part in a race while here.

"That’s what we assumed that Sheila was doing. When she explained what had happened and sent details of the half marathon distance that she ran on the same day as the Worcester Half Marathon, we were only too happy to send her a medal and T-shirt.

"We’d love to welcome Sheila in person next year – I don’t know much about Worcester, Massachusetts, but Worcester, England, is a beautiful city and well worth a visit.”