I find it disappointing that the true legacy of Jane Tomlinson will be the cancellation of Leeds' only half marathon.

This seems highly inappropriate as a legacy for someone for whom endurance running was such an important part of life.

While the Jane Tomlinson 10k is a laudable event, especially judging by the number of people taking part, it is not a fit replacement for a half marathon. Do the members of Leeds Council who made the decision know the distance of a half marathon? It isn't 10 kilometers. These are entirely different events and one cannot be incorporated into the other.

Shame

It is a shame that Leeds Council stoop to manipulating the public interest around a charity event such as the Jane Tomlinson 10k in order to save themselves the trouble of organising the half marathon, when the real reason the half marathon is being cancelled is surely the gripes of local residents who evidently have the ear of Council members.

The half marathon is an event that caters for all abilities and such events have been growing in popularity around the country. It is also a distance that attracts many people who are preparing for full marathons. Many people in Leeds will be disappointed that they cannot support a local race and will be forced to divert their support to races in other towns and cities, which in turn will no doubt be delighted at the chance to raise their profile at Leeds' expense.

Over 6,000 runners supported last year's half marathon. What a shame their loyalty to their city is not repaid by their councillors.

Peter Franklin, e-mail

A mockery

I'm a 56-year-old "casual" runner who has graduated over the past three years from the Abbey Dash to the Leeds Half, which I have run with my sons.

The Leeds Half has made a huge difference to our fitness and health – the motivation from having a graduated series of events to aim at is crucial.

Leeds residents already have to travel to other cities for major entertainment events, top flight football, international standard swimming, ice skating, track cycling – the list is endless.

Can we not now even manage to organise a decent race around the streets?

I had the privilege of finishing alongside Jane Tomlinson on one of my races. This decision makes a total mockery of her intentions with the Run for All.

Mark, Roundhay, Leeds

Bandwagon

Disgusting, the council are jumping on the publicity bandwagon at the expense of a serious and much respected race.

The country is awash with 10k road races, and there is a shortage of half marathons, further exacerbated by the City council's selfish appetite for publicity.

Many, many runners will have made their racing plans and devised their training schedules to gear up for the Leeds Half Marathon. It is thoughtless to disrupt the plans of so many runners at such short notice. It takes months to train and prepare seriously for a big race such as the Leeds Half Marathon

Brian Hilton, for and on behalf of Faithful+Gould Commercial Services

No justification

THE council have recently closed down my local gym (Leeds International Pool) and now they are cancelling a sports event which is attended by thousands.

How can this be justified?

Warren Thompson, e-mail