ALL four members of a family crossed the finish line of the London Marathon – while running in different locations around the country!
The marathon once again offered a virtual option this year, and the Gregory family from Looe decided they’d each enter as a way to get fit and gain the prestigious medal.
The Gregorys’ marathon mission started at 4am on the campus of The Royal Veterinary College Hawkshead campus in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, where daughter Jas is in her fourth year of studying veterinary medicine.
Setting off to run no fewer than 60 laps of the field, Jas completed her 26.2 mile run in five hours and seven minutes, before hopping onto a train into the capital to support her big sister Elysia. Elysia, who lives in Southsea and is working as a naval doctor at Portsmouth Hospital, had been lucky enough to obtain a ballot place in the London Marathon itself. Running her first ever marathon, and also coping with a knee injury, she finished the race in 4h34.
Meanwhile, back in Cornwall, mum Julie was under doctor’s orders to do no running, and so began her 26.2 mile route by walking the dogs and meeting up with some fellow Looe Pioneers in Polperrro. After walking to Looe to meet up with some more members of the club, she then headed back to Polperro and round the back lanes to complete the distance, all walked, in nine hours and three minutes.
Last but not least, setting off at 8.30am was mayor of Looe Martin Gregory, who ran his first ever marathon around the lanes of Looe and Polperro, finishing in a time of 4h37, just three minutes longer than daughter Elysia!
The Gregorys were among 12 Looe Pioneers running Sunday’s London Marathon, including Phil and Mandy Gibson, who entered to support A Wish for William through the Just4Children charity.