Predictably it was the Kenyans who took the medals. But of the thousands who turned out for the biggest mass participation sports event in Scotland, the real stars were the ordinary people there to raise money for charity.

Almost 18,000 people pounded through Glasgow in the trio of races at the 26th Fresh n' Lo Great Scottish Run 10K, billed as Scotland's biggest participatory sporting event.

For once the breezy, overcast weather which passes as late summer in the west of Scotland could be described as ideal.

Organisers of the event estimate that between the three races - a half marathon, a 10km for adults and a 3km junior run - in excess of £1.5m was raised for good causes.

Two runners from Kenya scooped the main prizes of the day, Isaac Macharia taking the men's gold in the half marathon with a time of 62 minutes 42 seconds, with Arysei Peninah the first woman to cross the line in 70 minutes.

The first Scots crossing the finishing line were Andrew Lemoncello, of St Andrews, who was seventh overall with 66 minutes 29 seconds and Hayley Haining, of Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, who was also the second female with 71 minutes.

Jimmy Savile and wheelchair athlete Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson were also on hand to lend an element of celebrity to proceedings.

But beneath the aluminium blankets draping those who crossed the finishing line were hundreds of heart-rending stories, triumphs over adversity and causes ranging from the needy to the desperate.

Last year Kevin Dornan, of Coatbridge, was running for cystic fibrosis charities, his wife Michelle having suffered from the disease since birth.

This year he was running in Michelle's memory, her system having finally succumbed to the illness in March aged 36.

Mr Dornan and 27 of Michelle's friends and family had raised somewhere in the region of £5000 across the three weekend races.

Mr Dornan said: "The money is going to the ward in Gartnavel where Michelle was treated over the years. She knew and loved the staff and they treated her as a friend.

"Michelle only passed away five months ago and we thought this was something we could do in her memory."

Marie Phillips, of Howwood in Renfrewshire, was another driven on by the memory of a loved one. Her mother, Ellen McKelvie, died three years ago of ovarian cancer.

Every year since Ms Phillips has ran the half marathon. She said: "It's all about raising the awareness of ovarian cancer. By the time most women are diagnosed it's too late. I've also managed to bring my time down every year as well."

Gillian McGovern, of Kinghorn, Fife, raised £1600 with some friends for her cousin Alistair Montgomery.

He was left badly disabled as a four-year-old following treatment for a brain cancer.

Ms McGovern, 35, said: "Alistair's dream is to go to Euro Disney. But he needs four nurses with him. Today's race should help pay for that."

The race also saw workplace colleagues put in team efforts for their selected causes.

Five firefighters from Strathclyde and Lothian and Borders ran the entire 13 miles dressed as if on their way to tackle a blaze.

Eddie Heaney, based at Renfrew, said: "You really begin to feel the kit burdening you about 100 yards in. But we've all finished and raised a stack of cash for a variety of causes."

Archie Graham, a well-known face on Glasgow's political scene, has run the race for the past several years raising money for leukemia, which had taken his brother Colin's life aged just 32.

This year it was all about personal best.

The Labour councillor said: "I thought this year I'd run for myself. And to be honest I was some time off what I'd hoped to come in at."

Liz Cameron, chairwoman of Culture and Sport Glasgow, said: "It's been an outstanding day, with runners setting their own personal bests and raising tens of thousands of pounds for charity.

"It shows once again that Glasgow is more than capable of putting on world class events, as we continue in our bid to bring the Commonwealth Games to Scotland in 2014."

Vital statistics Number of people taking part in all three races - 17,836 Half Marathon - 8529 10K - 7341 Junior 3K - 1966 Men's Half Marathon 1 - Isaak Macharia from Kenya - 1.02.42 2 - Toru Okada from Japan - 1.03.19 3 - Naoto Yoneda from Japan - 1.03.53 Women's Half Marathon 1- Arysei Peninah from Kenya - 1.10.47 2 - Hayley Haining from Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire - 1.11.18 3 - Aya Manome from Japan - 1.11.31 Wheelchair Race 1 - Mark Telford - 58.48 2 - Jason Gill - 1.03.17 3 - Ian Thompson - 1.07.29