RUNNERS from the dale refused to be put off by the postponement of last weekend’s London Marathon.
Instead, Teesdale AC came up with the idea of a marathon relay, with athletes using their allotted daily exercise to jog from one runner’s house to another.
Social distancing was maintained and there was no baton to pass during the “handover” between runners – and the event proved so successful that two full marathon distances were covered. Among those taking part was Teesdale AC member Amanda Pettitt, who will be among the estimated 40,000 runners lining up when the rescheduled London Marathon takes place in October, when she will be raising funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK.
“It should have been the marathon on Sunday, and nationally there was this 2.6 challenge set up in its place for people to do something involving the numbers two and six,” she said.
“Muscular Dystrophy UK asked if we would take part to raise money and Judith Rodwell, at Teesdale AC, came up with the idea of the marathon relay.
“Such was the take-up we actually covered the distance of two full marathons.
“One started with club members in Cotherstone, came through Lartington, into town and finished at Startforth.
“The other started in town and finished in Stainton.”
Amanda completed the final leg by pushing wheelchair-hound husband Simon – who is recovering from deep vein thrombosis in his leg – for the last 2.6 miles.
But that wasn’t the end of the marathon running or the fundraising.
“People in the village wanted to get involved. Some walked, some ran and they covered the distance of a marathon as well,” she said.
“I also extended it to family and friends and asked them to get involved.
“Between everybody we covered the equivalent on 9.9 marathons and we raised £943 on the day for Muscular Dystrophy.
“Everybody enjoyed having something to focus on and seeing someone different going from house to house.”
Amanda will now resume training for the marathon proper in the hope it will go ahead as planned in October.
