Police officer Steve Broadbent is a veteran of many marathons but he surpassed even his own expectations when he managed to complete the equivalent of eight of the gruelling races in as many days.

The 43-year-old completed the Paris marathon in two hours and 55 minutes, and then ran distances of between 26 and 32 miles each day for the following six days to arrive in London in time for last Sunday's marathon, which he finished in three hours and four minutes.

The incredible feat had been set up by a fellow enthusiast, and PC Broadbent ran in company with three South Africans, two Frenchmen, a Belgian and two fellow Englishmen, although only six of the original nine lasted the course.

Along the way there was little respite for the group who had just two hours of recovery time from the Paris marathon before having to run five miles out of the city.

Surprisingly, PC Broadbent, who works as coroner's officer in Lancaster and lives near Kendal, believes the long distances were actually a benefit: "I really do think the mileage I was doing earlier in the week was really setting me up for each day."

Supported by his wife, Anne Rothwell, when he arrived in London, PC Broadbent hopes to have raised £500 for the PDSA, which helps sick animals.

He is now preparing for the Grand Union Canal Race which is a continuous 145-mile run from Birmingham to London, expected to take between 30 and 40 hours.

There were several South Lakeland and north Lancashire runners taking part in Sunday's London Marathon.

Kendal dentist John Hall beat his target time of three hours and 30 minutes when he finished his third marathon in three hours, 29 minutes and 26 seconds.

Mr Hall, 46, of Hall and Smith Dental Surgery, raised £1,404 for Lupus UK, while his sister, Jayne Bielby, raised £1,000 with a time of four hours and 22 minutes.

Chairman of the Hound Trailing Association Roy Laidler, 54, of Grange-over-Sands, made it home in five hours, which he quipped was "a long way behind Paula".

"It was that hot in the sun it was in the 70s," he said. "It affected quite a lot including me so we had to take a step back."

Describing the event as an "amazing experience" he was buoyed up by the crowds lining the route. He hoped to have raised more than £1,000 for Macmillan Cancer Care, and enjoyed crossing the finish line alongside television presenter Floella Benjamin.

Licensee of the Kendal Arms, Paul Dewar, finished in three hours 17 minutes and raised more than £500 for Sandgate School.

"I was hoping to get under three hours 15, but the heat just took it out of me in the last few miles."

Husband and wife Alan and Emma Fletcher completed the marathon in around four hours and 24 minutes. The Hest Bank couple, who belong to Kendal Athletics Club, were raising money for the Westmorland Branch of the RSPCA.

Kitchen porter Phil Lee, 26, ran with his fellow Castle Green Hotel worker Darren Hammond for around 15 miles before the pair lost each other.

Mr Lee crossed the line in three hours, 35 minutes and four seconds, completing what he said had been a "brilliant" experience. Running his first marathon for Marie Curie Cancer Care, Mr Lee said the last four miles were the hardest because they took him beyond the distances he had achieved in training.

Mr Hammond, 35, meanwhile completed the race in three hours and 39 minutes.

"It was fantastic, I don't think you can beat it, particularly when you are getting near the end the crowds really do lift you the last few miles" said the chef.

He decided to support Marie Curie after seeing friends and relatives suffer from cancer, and hopes to have raised around £700. He is now planning a possible trip to the New York Marathon.

Ian Downham, 39, from Kendal, romped home in three hours, 44 minutes and 49 seconds. He had been hoping for a faster time but found the crowds of runners constricting, and that his legs "gave up".

Delighted to have finished his first marathon, Mr Downham said he had taken up running to keep fit following his retirement from rugby.

Running for the UK Brain Tumour Society was close to Mr Downham's heart because of his friendship with Andrew and Sue McLeod, whose son, Benjamin, died aged seven from a brain tumour. The British Gas engineer hopes to have raised around £1,200.

Kendal's very own Wonder Woman, Gina Yate, 29, finished her first marathon in four hours and 15 minutes.

Far from being a hindrance, her costume, which included a cape and red boots, attracted so much attention from the crowds that it was a positive advantage when it came to motivation.

A low point was 20 miles when Mrs Yate felt her legs give up, but she kept going and was boosted by seeing family and friends around the route. There is currently £1,100 in the coffers of the Anthony Nolan Trust thanks to the efforts of the Farrer's tea and coffee merchants employee.

Peter Abernethy, 33, from Levens, ran for Cumbria Cerebral Palsy, and specifically to help children. He was inspired by a child of some friends, who has the condition.

The electrician hopes to have raised more than £1,200 with his time of four hours and 48 minutes.

April 17, 2003 11:30