Eight local runners completed The London Marathon earlier this month, joining around 36,000 other runners to complete the gruelling 26.2 mile course.
Chris Chivers, Emily Denham, Maxine Barton, Emma Flexon, Angela Smith, Jo Fordham, Fleur Rush and Richard Corp all completed the marathon, now in its 36th year.
Six members of Frome Running Club were amongst those to finish. Richard Corp (M40-44) was the first club runner to make it down the Mall and cross the line in front of Buckingham Palace, recording an impressive time of 03:38:47. He was closely followed by Jo Fordham (F40-44) at 03:44:35. Fleur Rush (F45-49) posted a time of 04:18:46 while Emma Flexon (F40-44) came in not long after at 04:51:34. Angela Smith (F50-54) crossed the line in 05:07:19, followed by Maxine Barton (F40-44) at 05:17:53.
Chris Chivers who ran the race for the first time, has raised just over £800 for Dorothy House Hospice Care in memory of Frome man John Dean.
Chris said, “It went really well and I completed the route in 5hrs 42mins which was about 35 minutes slower than initially planned.
“After 16 miles I decided to slow down a little due to a pain in my thigh but I was running for charity so getting around in one piece was the key, I didn’t want to risk tearing something.
“Overall the race was incredible. One highlight was tower bridge, the noise and support there was crazy! I was very proud to complete the race and have raised a good amount for a great local charity. I hope to run it again next year, hopefully for Dorothy House again.”
Emily Denham completed the marathon for the first time, having entered five times before but not getting a place.
Emily said, “The run was ace! I finished in 4hrs 17mins, which was quicker than my target. Local athlete Paul Ryman helped me train and it was an intense step up from my usual routine; trying to fit it in around work and family life was difficult.
“The race itself was so busy and I spent most of it thinking I was going to trip over someone! It was a lot more emotional than I expected, too, and I did cry – running over Tower Bridge with hundreds of thousands of people watching was amazing.
“I think because London is such an iconic race the atmosphere really makes it. It was a bucket list thing for me and everyone should do it once, whether they’re a runner or not.”
Emily raised £400 for local charity We Hear You, for which she is a trustee.
Maxine Barton has raised £681 for Cancer Research but hopes to hit £1,000.
Maxine said, “I got a ballot place to get into the London Marathon, and I‘ve always said if I was to do something big in my life, I would raise money for charity and as I lost my brother-in-law Tom Sapak to cancer, I knew I would choose Cancer Research because I know he would agree on helping others who have this deadly disease.
“I loved Sunday, the race itself and the atmosphere was fantastic. The crowds kept me going, I high-fived adults, children and other runners who were also wearing the Cancer Research tops like I was wearing.
“I was very calm as I’m a very nervous runner and I’m known to be in the toilet quite a lot before races. Being in London with lots and lots of people and the whole atmosphere was exciting. I feel privileged t have been chosen out of thousands of people who applied for this big race.
“I personally had a great race. I trained for 16 weeks building my stamina and preparing for a long time of running on my legs. I took the first two miles at a steady pace, I knew I should not go off too fast or I would regret it later on. I stuck with my training programme and it paid off. I trained in Frome on hills, and at one point I flew up a incline coming out of one of the tunnels and I heard on the loud speaker, ‘Look at you Cancer Research your flying,’ so I smiled and waved, and the man said, ‘Lets give her a wave and cheer!’ and the crowd did! That was my highlight.
“My finishing time was 5hrs 17mins. If I can do it, anyone else can with the right training plan, thats why you should join a running club to get good advice as I did two years ago. I have no injuries, just sore, it hurts at the end but if it was that easy everyone would be doing it.
“My training plan was from Steve Carroll, my training coaches, Kate Wrexham and Andrew Barton.”
The London Marathon wasn’t the only event taking place that weekend, however. One intrepid Frome Running Club athlete made it as far as the Mediterranean island of Gozo, in Malta, to take part in the Gozo Half Marathon.
This traditional race has been run since 1977 and always draw a varied international crowd. This year, Richard Tewkesbury (M60) was flying the flag for Frome Running Club. He completed the hilly course in an impressive time of 02:04:20.
Frome Running Club offers both on and off-road training and welcomes new members, whatever the ability. For more details, visit fromerunningclub.org.uk.
