A BORN again runner has completed the virtual London Marathon in aid of Teesdale’s mountain rescue team.
Eddie Peat ran the 26.2 miles from Cow Green reservoir to his home in Wycliffe on Sunday, October 4.
Mr Peat was a keen cross country runner when he was young and took up the sport again in his early 50s when he competed in the Edinburgh marathon.
This renewed his love of running and he became a member of Durham Fell Runners and Swaledale Outdoor Club. Mr Peat was planning to run the London Marathon for two charities but the event was cancelled due to the pandemic.
During a visit to Cow Green, he heard that there had been a recent serious incident at the nearby Cauldron Snout waterfall – an incident dealt with by the rescue team.
By chance, he noticed that the journey from Cow Green to his home was 26 miles, and he decided to run the route in aid of Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue team. Mr Peat, 62, also ran in memory of his older brother who died from cancer aged 42.
He set off at 10.20am, about the time he would have been starting the real London marathon, and he finished four hours and 40 minutes later, including a few photo stops to take in the scenery.
“By the time he arrived home he had actually run 27.5 miles, so he really did go the extra mile for charity,” said rescue team spokesperson Scott Bisset, who thanked Mr Peat for his efforts.
Anyone who would like to support Mr Peat and make a donation can do so by going to the rescue team’s website www.twsmrt.org.uk and making a payment via the donation page.
