Going the distance: Di Canio runs half marathon - by mistake!

By James Andrew for MailOnline
Updated: 12:32 EDT, 10 October 2011

Swindon Town manager Paolo Di Canio watched his side draw 3-3 with Hereford on Saturday and then ran a half-marathon on Sunday - by mistake!

The Italian was the official race starter for the Nationwide Half Marathon, but ended up being on the of the 1,800 runners without meaning to!

Di Canio, 43, sounded the hooter to start the half marathon, five-mile terrain and two-mile fun run, the Town boss decided that he would take part in the shortest of the three courses.

Mama mia: Paolo Di Canio accidentally ran the Swindon half marathon dressed in the club's kit

But after taking the wrong turning he ended up running the gruelling 13.1 mile half marathon course.

It was not long before organisers realised that Di Canio, dressed in a Swindon kit and beanie hat, had been gone far longer than expected and news quickly got back to the finish line that he was going the whole way.

Di Canio said: 'I couldn't stop, there was a challenge.

'There were three options, I thought I should start with the fun [run] marathon but unfortunately we changed direction, kept going and followed the first group.

'Unfortunately I ended up doing a full half marathon plus 800 metres.

'At the end I was very happy because I finished without stopping, even for one second. I wasn't ready but I never stopped running.

Hay day: Di Canio in his playing days for West Ham

'I'm very happy but it was very tough.'

And the former West Ham and Charlton striker put in an impressive performance, completing the course in 1hr 49 minutes.

The time was just 36 minutes behind 26-year-old Dave Roper who won the race for the third time.