Lincolnshire runners back virtual ‘London Marathon’

Local athletes replaced the city’s historic landmarks which usually line the 26.2-mile route with their own courses along local streets or through the countryside.

Those lucky enough to be given a number to mark the 40th London Marathon were forced to take part remotely due to Covid-19 after the annual race planned for April 26 was postponed as the UK went into lockdown.

It was then pushed back to October 4.

An estimated 45,000
 participants were expected to log their progress on a special app to make their time official and secure a medal which 
will be sent out to them in the post.

In Sleaford Oliver Harrod completed the marathon around the town in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.

Several members of Sleaford striders completed the run along with Alan Oliver of Sleaford who finished his run in 2.59.33.

Sarah Baldock ran in Heckington to raise money for Vision Aid and Heckington also saw Caroline Midgley and Emma Giles complete the run.

Carol Ann Starbuck completed the run in Leasingham and Steve Fearn crossed his virtual finish line in Navenby.

Last year thousands of pounds were raised across Lincolnshire by the county’s London Marathon heroes.

This year, as well as raising money for charity, some Virtual London Marathon 2020 runners were just pleased to have a goal in their training and inspire others after many of the events they usually compete in were also cancelled due to the pandemic.

The Rule of Six meant there were limitations in the numbers in the support teams but club members took turns in running alongside some of the competitions.

Even though they were in some case hundreds of miles apart, virtual runners were encouraged by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who tweeted: “Good luck to all those participating in today’s virtual marathon and for the small number of people taking part outdoors.”

For Craig Oliver of Sibsey - who is a member of Boston Tri Club - the race was his first marathon - and a celebration as it fell in the same week as his wife, Nichola, has her final treatment for cancer.

Craig completed two 11-and-a-half mile loops in Sibsey, finishing in the village in 3 hours 48 minutes, raising £4,000 for the Sarcoma UK charity and bringing the total achieved with the help of Boston Amateur Boxing Club to £12,800 for the charity.

Supporting him through the whole distance was Katie Ball, with other members joining him through the event.

“My target in the Virtual London marathon was to finish under four hours so I’m pleased with 3 hours 48 minutes,” said Craig.

“It wasn’t London but the atmosphere was great as I had quite a lot of people running with me during the day, including Katie Ball who did the whole distance.

“The Virtual London Marathon app was really good too because after every hour you got a cheer and a bit of a commentary to encourage you to keep going.

“I’m feeling a bit tender today and wishing I lived in a bungalow but already setting a 3 hour 30 minutes target for next year in London.”

Runners from Boston Community Runners still managed to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

More than 22 club runners covered a course through the town and surrounding villages, with support from another 25 who helped them.

Club runner Fiona Wrisberg was out with her camera to capture the day’s running achievements.

The runners had two water stations along the lapped route.

One at Brunch in the town centre and the other at the end of Tattershall Road, allowed the runners to refuel if needed.

It worked very well and both operated in a Covid secure way under current guidelines.

Amongst the runners taking part raising money for charity was Bethany Lines who organised the day’s events.

Beth completed her first marathon in a time of 4 hours 21 minutes and raised morethan £1,260 for Age UK Bosto n and South Lincs.

Simon Mason, also completing his first marathon raised £2,600 for Whizz-Kids. He finished in 4 hours 21 minutes, having run with Beth.

It was a first marathon too for Rachael Lawton, who finished in 4 hours 55 minutes, raising over £950 for Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group.

Another first marathon for Sarah Burton – finishing in 6 hours 29 minutes – saw her raise more than £400 for the town’s Butterfly Hospice and Nicholas Turner raised more than £245 for St Barnabas Hospice (Lincs) completing the distance in just over six hours.

Matt Tunnard and John Burton who went as support crew actually ended up doing the full marathon! It was a first time anywhere near this distance for Matt who finished in 4 hours 21 minutes.

Jon Carpenter kept his promise to his son to get him his second London Medal after deferring his official London place until next year.

The other finishers in no particular order were Emma Cook (5.02.26 PB), Michael Corney (4.51.13 PB), Jayne Wallis (4.57.32 PB), Neil Goodwin (4.54.52 PB), Tanya Knight (3.51.52 PB), Sarah Clarke (6.03.28), Daniel Simpson (6.35.09 PB), Gary eck-Sykes (6.38.05 PB), Dawn Cobb (6.09.06), Debbie Petley (6.08.42), Georgina Lidgard (5.50.29), Clare Teesdale (5.43.06 PB), Kelvin Clements (3.29.45 PB), Kerry McCrainor (6.24.45), Steve Langford (6.05.36).

Members of Skegness Tri Club joined Pete Nicholls on his course which was a five-mile loop along Drummond Road to Gibraltar Point.

Club coach Pete completed the Virtual London Marathon in 4 hours 19 minutes. In the past he has run the marathon for charity but on this occasion it was all about getting others involved.

“I was pleased with my time and had a good turnout from members to support me during the morning

“Even though we ran to keep fit and healthy through the Covid-19 lockdown, it’s hard to stay motivated when there are no events.

“As much as anything I did this in the hope others would get involved and join me along the route - even though we had to keep to six at a time.

“It certainly helped having them there - it’s always tough at 18 miles when you don’t have the usual crowds to cheer you on.

“But pedestrians I passed cheered me on and cars pipped their horns, so it was still a good atmosphere.”

Skegness and District Running Club also had a good turnout - with four members running their first ever marathon.

Mark Sands ran the marathon on his 50th birthday, finishing in a creditable 3 hours and 13 minutes.

Brian Darrington has been working tirelessly to try and get into the ‘Good for Age’ category.

Brian has tried on multiple occasions to get in but this year, it was virtual.

Brain smashed his previous PB by 54 minutes by finishing in 3 hours 10 minutes, showing that all his training had paid off!

Mark Lyon and Ash Brown ran along the Spires and Steeple track to complete their marathon with friends – an excellent race with a beer to finish!

Dawn Allen and Abby Herdman ran their first ever marathon together, raising money for CLIC Sargent.

They walked the majority between Lincoln and Anton’s Gout, with a gin at the end

Sally Cadle ran the marathon raising money for asthma charity.

She completed it in stints, starting with a six-miler at midnight and a couple of ten miler runs/walks later on.

For Rebecca Grice, it was her first ever marathon, achieving her ambition to do London before her 30th birthday, even if it was virtually.

She completed it in a time of 5 hours 18 minues with support from various SADRC runners.

Leanne Ricket ran along and encouraged along the route.

Robin Harrison who ran the route to complete
 the Manchester Marathon in his 60th birthday year as well as Jane Martin who ran her first marathon running 
Manchester along the same route for her 50th birthday year.

Emily Decelles travelled to Boston in America the week of London Marathon, but did not let that stop her - she ran the London Marathon there.

Emily Presgave completed her first marathon walking the distance for the charity Children on the Edge, raising £600.

Rebecca commented: “Congratulations to everyone who ran the Virtual London Marathon!

“A massive achievement and we hope everyone is enjoying the next few days of guilt free eating and drinking showing that all this training has paid off.”