Running - Ten for Penny in epic Brathay marathon quest (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Running - Ten for Penny in epic Brathay marathon quest

10:26am Thursday 19th May 2011 in Athletics By Patrick O'Kane, Senior News/Sport Reporter

THE Brathay 10 in 10 comes to a close this weekend when the Brathay Windermere Marathon is held on Sunday.

And for 13 runners it will mark the end of a mammoth 10 days in which they will have hoped to complete 10 marathons.

The runners set off on their seventh marathon today (Thursday) knowing they have passed the halfway stage in their quest, which sees them run 262 miles or 10 laps of Windermere.

Hoad Hill Harrier Penny Moreton, 52, is the only runner from South Cumbria taking part in the challenge, but she is determined to make the finish line after 18 months of intense training.

She said: “This is the ultimate challenge. I ran my first marathon in 2000 in London when I lost a friend to cancer. I have been training for this for a long time and I think it is all in your head whether you finish. Anyone can run but this comes down to a lot of training and being mentally right.”

Also running the 10 in 10 are 73-year-old John Dawson and Howard Clark, 40, a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, who has been training in Bahrain for the challenge.

But leading the way after the first four days is Andy Nice, who has completed each of his marathons in under four hours.

Of the 13 runners, Penny currently sits ninth overall, but just finishing all 10 races is a huge achievement.

Head of communications Mark Bushall said: “Everything has been going well so far for the 10 in 10 and everyone has completed each day. There are injury problems creeping in and blisters are starting to appear but that is to be expected with a challenge like this.

“Andy is still leading and he is hoping to break three hours for one of his runs this week.”

The 10 in 10 will draw to a conclusion on Sunday, when the fifth annual Brathay Windermere Marathon takes place and a record field is expected.

Among this year’s runners are 79-year-old Robert Walsh, of Cleveleys, who is bidding to become the oldest competitor to finish the race and the Brathay Trust’s chief executive Godfrey Owen.

Around 1,000 people are expected to pound the course around Windermere, all hoping to raise money for the disadvantaged young people the Brathay Trust supports each year.

Mr Bushell said: “On paper it is looking like a record entry but we don’t know how many will have to drop out with injury before Sunday.

“We would ask that if anyone is free to volunteer on the weekend to get in touch. The more volunteers we have the smoother the event can run.”

To watch the marathon as it unfolds on Sunday, visit www.brathay.org.uk and to make a donation to the 10 in 10 fundraising effort text MARA26£5 to 70070.

*Information: www.brathaywindermeremarathon.co.uk