London Marathon runners took to the streets of Peterborough instead!

With this prestigious event being postponed until October, and with many of the club’s athletes having trained all winter for the big race it was felt by many that the only way to try to help them was to accompany them in a virtual race.

Running in teams of 43, each runner covered one kilometre with the final athlete having the honour of sprinting the final 195 metres to make up the 42.195km or 26.2 miles that make up the marathon.

Woodston-based Stuart Haw was the speediest runner completing his kilometre in 2.31 while 17-year-old Molly Peel from Spalding was the quickest lady in 3.03.

The impressive number of athletes up for the challenge ranged from members of the all conquering youth teams to mums and dads, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. Even coach Russ Prosser got in on the act.

The mixed team clocked a rapid combined time of 2:06:18. This mark was only bettered by the first five individuals in the 2019 London Marathon.

A mens team clocked 2:07.03 for a virtual eighth place, while a womens team weren’t too far behind, getting the job done in an impressive 2:37.10.

“It was really exciting to see the results drift in all day,” said club chairman Elaine Larkins.

“Obviously everyone was on their own and all they had to do was post their time after they had completed their run.

“Some did just 1km, others included it as part of a longer run. It was up to them how they did it. The only rule was it had to be on their own (or with a member of their family).”

“The buzz around the club now is absolutely amazing. We had brothers and sisters, mums and dads even aunts and uncles joining in.”

The running extravaganza was the idea of former Peterborough 5km Grand Prix winner, and seasoned marathon man, Lance Hemmings.

The Crowland-based club stalwart clocked his best marathon time of 2:43.34 in London back in 2002.

Hemmings said: “I now help to coach alongside Russ Prosser and since the lockdown we have set our group a once-a-week challenge of running distances between 1km, 2km, 5km.

“We are then keeping a log of how they are doing. So far, it has been a big success.”

The club are now looking forward to ‘competing’ in the Virtual Lincolnshire Mile organised by the Lincolnshire Athletic Association. It is due to take place in the early part of May.