LIVERPOOL Women’s 10K winner Rachael Moore insists that the secret to her success was the Bold Hotel on Lord Street, Southport.

The 32-year-old company secretary at the Bold Hotel ran to work from Wrightington – where the family also own the Mulberry tree – on a weekly basis as part of her training regime.

Rachael, of the Wigan Phoenix Athletics Club, who finished the course in 37 minutes and 36 seconds, said the 18-mile run helped her prepare for the event.

Record numbers took part in the 21st women’s 10K, Liverpool’s longest-established race event.

But Rachael beat about 2,500 women to the finishing line on Sunday.

She said: “It was brilliant. This was the biggest event I have won and the support was incredible. Everybody was happy, it was a beautiful day and it was nice that so many people came to show their support. But it was a very emotional day because a lot of ladies were running for little Madeleine.”

Hundreds of women donned yellow ribbons to support the family of abducted toddler Madeleine McCann.

Some competitors wore T-shirts showing a picture of four-year-old Madeleine, who was snatched from her bed while on holiday in Portugal’s Praia da Luz resort on May 3.

Rachael added: “It was strange because it was a happy day, the search was on and it was sad for the little girl, but people turned out to do something positive for Madeleine’s family.”

Fitness coach Nicky Gill, who is a friend of Maddie’s mother, Liverpool-born GP Kate McCann, flew back from Portugal, where she had been staying with the family, to conduct a warm-up for the run.

Radio Merseyside DJ Alan Jackson compered the event, giving the McCann family a special mention and thanking runners from Merseyside and beyond for taking part in the race.

Rachael said: “A lot of women also raised funds for domestic abuse charity and official race sponsor Worst Kept Secret.

“The crowd was unbelievable. It was like an Olympic event it was that busy. I’ve never seen so many women taking to one another. It restored faith in human nature.”