SIX runners from Tavistock Athletic Club are this week making their final preparations before heading for the 2018 Virgin London Marathon on Sunday.

Heidi Brodribb, Ian Collacott, Andy Houghton, Richard Nettleship, Sarah Prior and Emma Webber took different routes to secure their entry, but all are hoping to savour the experience of the world’s greatest road race.

This year’s race is the 37th, and in 1981 6,747 runners started the race.  There will be in excess of 40,000 athletes, both professional and amateur.  The race starter, for the first time, is Her Majesty the Queen, who will start the race from Windsor Castle.

For Andy Houghton, this year marks his fifth return to the race, after earning another ‘Good for Age’ entry at the Taunton Marathon this year.  He is hoping to improve on his brilliant time of 3 hours 36 minutes last year, where he was the sixth fastest male in his age category.

The other five are experiencing the London Marathon for the first time. Heidi Brodribb was lucky enough to get a place in the public ballot, and joined the club to help with her training.

Emma Webber missed out on the public ballot, but was given the club’s allocated place, with her name being first out the hat.  It was a deserved place as Emma missed out on the Barnstaple Marathon last year through injury and had to withdraw.  It will also be a family affair, as Emma’s husband also secured a place in the public ballot!

For Ian Collacott, Sarah Prior and Richard Nettleship, they earned their places by raising funds for their chosen charities, MACS, British Heart Foundation and Crimestoppers, and between them have raised more than £4,000.

Sarah, Richard and Emma came to the club through TACs Couch to 5K programme, and in the past two years have gone from being non-runners to marathon runners, which is some achievement.