Go on any journey, virtually any time of day & it’s likely that you will see people running. Last year’s Sport England Active People survey identified that 2.1 million people, 5% of the population, ran at least once a week, an increase of 2% since 2005. Another way the surge in running’s popularity shows itself is in the growth of marathons, particularly city marathons, and the number of people who want to test themselves over the classic distance. The London Marathon needs no introduction but this spring as many as 18 runners from South Derbyshire Road Runners will be tackling the 26.2 miles in a wide variety of locations. Where they’ll be running, what their aims & aspirations are & who they are running for is set out below:
Sam & Mark Skidmore are both making their marathon debuts at the Manchester Marathon on 19th April. Both will be aiming just to finish but Sam will be happy with anywhere around 4 hours while Mark’s target is a more conservative under 5 hours
Nikki Reeves is running the London Marathon, her third marathon, on 26th April. Aiming, if all goes well, for 3:30 but definitely under 3:45. Planning on running 12 marathons next year for cancer and arthritis charities.
Jenny Laing is also running the London Marathon, her 14th marathon. She is aiming for 3:15 but be relatively happy with sub 3:30 after having her first child 8 months earlier.
Tracey Glover & son, Christian, are both running & making their marathon debuts in the Manchester Marathon. Tracey is looking to finish around 3.45, while Christian is hopeful of finishing around 3hrs.
Christina Cooper & Andy Hawtin are both running the London Marathon, 6 days before they get married. Christina, who is making her marathon debut, is aiming for 3.15 while Andy will be running his second marathon and aiming for 2.55.
Mark Coombes is also running the London Marathon, which will be his sixth over the classic distance. Mark is hoping for sub 3:30 and reckons, tongue firmly in his cheek, that he only runs because his wife tells him not to.
Carolyn Ife is making her marathon debut at Stratford Shakespeare Marathon on 26 April and is aiming for 5 hours. She’s doing it because she was challenged to run a marathon before she turned 50. She’ll be 48 on race day.
Kelly Joanne Knight is running the London Marathon and is aiming to run anything under 3:42. It’s Kelly’s third marathon although she’s trained for four-damn after, frustratingly, the Stratford Shakespeare Marathon was cancelled in 2013 because of bad weather. Running for Macmillan and Help for Heroes.
Felicity Towns & Kerry Jackson are both running the Stratford Shakespeare Marathon primarily to celebrate Kerry’s 40th birthday and for charity. For Felicity it will be her 3rd marathon while Kerry will be making her debut. Kerry is running for the British Heart Foundation while Felicity is still to sort out the charity she’ll be running for.
Jenny Tattersall is doing the London Marathon, her first marathon. Jenny believes her big success was getting in the race through the ballot on her first application. Jenny is running for the Anthony Nolan charity & is aiming for 4:20ish. Jenny Tattersall’s fundraising page is www.virginmoneygiving.com/JennyTattersall
Gary Price is running the London Marathon for the 3rd time and is raising money for Cancer Research UK. This will be Gary’s 5th marathon in the last 21/2 years. Gary is aiming for under 3:50. Gary Price is fundraising for Cancer Research UK
Www.justgiving.com/gary-price5
Tony Phillips is tackling the iconic Boston Marathon on 20th April and is by some distance the Club’s most experienced marathoner running a spring marathon. After running the ‘Two Oceans’ race in South Africa in 2000 Tony had a break from marathons until he qualified for Boston after running 3hrs 56mins in Edinburgh. Boston will be Tony’s 74th marathon.
Heidi Marie Elliott’s marathon is somewhat different in that it’s tagged on to the end of a 2.4 mile swim & 112 mile bike ride in the Outlaw Ironman. Heidi’s target for the run is sub 6.30 although her real target is to make it to the run as the bike is her weakest discipline. This will be Heidi’s second marathon. Understandably, at present, complains of being constantly tired & hungry.
Lastly, not quite a marathon but certainly the furthest journey is Wayne Kelleher’s running of the Sydney Half Marathon on Sunday 17th May, his first ever half abroad, which he’s aiming to complete in 1:50.
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Spring Marathon Fever!!
Go on any journey, virtually any time of day & it’s likely that you will see people running. Last year’s Sport England Active People survey identified that 2.1 million people, 5% of the population, ran at least once a week, an increase of 2% since 2005. Another way the surge in running’s popularity shows itselfContinue reading →
