Ronners shine in virtual marathon
The 36,000 people from 109 different countries who took part in the first-ever virtual Virgin Money London Marathon included a number who were raising funds for the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund (RPMF), writes Ashleigh Spiliopoulou.
While the elite athletes gathered at St James’s Park in the British capital, the ‘Ronners’ were undeterred by the bad weather as they tackled their respective 26.2-mile routes on Sunday (October 4).
In Windsor, Jemima Bird and Steve Denison (main picture, above) took on the Dorney Lake marathon as their virtual London Marathon route and ran big PBs of 3:25 and 3:18 respectively. Incredibly, they have raised more £5000 for the RPMF in their 40th race fundraising alone.
In Leamington, Kenilworth and Warwick, Rebecca Harries was raising money for the RPMF in memory of her brother Matthew, who had been a talented runner himself, and she broke her marathon down into four legs within the 24-hour period.
Erica Pearce-Howard was running for Ron due to her first-hand experience of financial constraints putting an end to her promising youth shot put career. Like many of the Ronners, she faced driving rain and strong winds when running laps of her local lake with no crowds other than her committed support team of two friends.
For Erica, it was not about running for time but about raising money and taking on a challenge. As a result, she took the time during her effort to stop to talk to passers-by about the RPMF, which resulted in some added sponsorships. This was her first marathon and though the conditions put paid to her race plan, it is an incredible achievement to have completed it.
On the Isle of Wight, Allan Bridges too battled the elements plus an illness and injury-plagued build-up. He said: “What a hideous, fantastic, painful, joyful experience!”
On the streets of Belfast, Colin McMahon (below) faced terrible weather, cramp and an app which didn’t correctly record his distance, but he kept going to finish.
It was a fifth marathon venture for Russell Bishop and it saw him climb footbridge stairs, cross train lines and navigate flooded roads as he managed to beat the four-hour barrier for only the second time in his life.
A team of Laura Stevens, Hayley Dunford and Ryan Lightfoot, took on the marathon distance in Twickenham, including as many parkrun courses as they could throughout their route. The team’s fundraising efforts extended beyond simple sponsorships, with Laura selling second-hand items online and donating proceeds to the RPMF – raising more than £1600 to date.
For Kristie Denston, the weather was slightly kinder but the hills of rural Yorkshire were a brutal introduction to marathon running. Running to inspire her two sons, she found the mental challenge of the distance hard but has managed to raise more than £1000 so far.
Away from the Ronning community, the London Ever Presents also had a great day with all 10 survivors from the original London Marathon in 1981 managing to finish their 2020 virtual event.
They included 62-year-old Chris Finill, who said: “Although there was less atmosphere and no famous London landmarks this remained as memorable as any of the other 39 London Marathons I have run.”
There is still time to support the efforts of the marathon 'Ronners' by donating too. See here.
In addition, the application process for 2021 RPMF grants will open on October 12. For more information see here.
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