TAVISTOCK's world record-breaking marathon man Adam Holland this week notched up another race to his name — and a personal best time as well, writes Jane Honey.
Adam, who last year became the youngest man in the world to have completed 100 marathons, completed the Edinburgh Marathon in a creditable 2 hours 45 minutes 03 seconds — his fastest road time ever, his third fastest marathon and his 20th sub-three hour time for the 26-mile distance.
Adam said he was delighted at the time: 'I was aiming for a personal best — the course was quite unusual, it wasn't exactly straight, you sort of weaved on and off the pavements.
'At one point the marshall moved the tape to let the race motobike through but forgot to move it again for the runners so I had to jump out of the course and jump back in — that got my heart going a bit!'
Adam said the runners faced a strong head-wind on the latter part of the course — he reckoned his time was put back by four or five minutes as a result.
'I'm not sure where this has put me in the UK rankings but I should have moved up a lot with this time,' said Adam, who is due to compete in Plymouth Half Marathon this weekend.
In fact the result means that the Tavistock Athletic Club member has gone up from 1,032 in the national rankings, to an incredible 302.
He now plans to run as a pacemaker in the fun run for George Bumford, one of the primary school children in the junior running club he runs every Wednesday, then compete in the half marathon on Sunday.
The following weekend he faces the gruelling Dartmoor Discovery race — a 32-mile run over the hills of the moor.
Adam paid tribute to Dave Chanter, who has been helping him with a training regime, and to Nigel Eadie of The Original Pasty House and Val's Round a Pound shop in the pannier market precinct, who are both supporting him.
'I am very grateful to them, it makes such a difference, it's been brilliant,' said Adam, who is hoping to benefit from extra time on Tavistock College's new running track soon, to help his training for the track and field season.