A marathon achievement (From Andover Advertiser)

A marathon achievement

10:50am Thursday 30th April 2009 in Search Module By Chris Gregory

YOU can’t stop the march of time – but advancing years are no barrier to running the London Marathon.

That’s the message from two keen north Hampshire men who were among the 35,000 people to take part in last Sunday’s gruelling event in the capital.

Norman Jones, who is 81, completed his second London Marathon in just under seven hours.

The grandfather-of-three, a former engineer at AWE Aldermaston, suffers from arthritis, and had to walk around the 26.2-mile course – but he still beat the time of his first marathon in 2006.

Norman, of Huntsmoor Road, Tadley, said: “My family are quite supportive but still think I’m mad. It was a bit tiring because it was so warm but I think it went well.”

Norman raised about £300 through sponsorship for the Rehab charity – the Basingstoke and Alton cardiac rehabilitation centre – where he visited to recover from a triple bypass operation, following a heart attack in 2001.

He said that at the centre, a therapist who ran marathons inspired him to get out and take long walks.

His daughter Susan, 52, said: “The Flora London Marathon is a major event and to have taken part twice at his age is something to be proud of.”

Another marathon man celebrating a personal triumph on Sunday was 61-year-old Terry Derrick, who overcame a hairline fracture in his shoulder to complete his fifth London Marathon.

The fitness instructor, who works at the Everest Health and Leisure Club at Everest Community College in Popley, Basingstoke, suffered the injury while out training.

But despite pain from his shoulder, he finished the marathon in six hours and 30 minutes to raise nearly £1,000 for the Visually Impaired Children Taking Action charity.

Terry, of Oakfields Close, Ecchinswell, only retrained as a fitness instructor one year ago after a lengthy career in the IT industry. He now runs a running club at the gym, and holds exercise classes for elderly people.

He said: “The healthier you are, the fitter you are, and the more you are able to enjoy the rest of your life.”

North Hampshire beat bobby PC Richard Baldwin attracted plenty of attention as he completed the Flora London Marathon in some style.

The Overton, Laverstoke and Freefolk officer ran as Rocky Balboa, star of the Rocky movies, wearing a muscle suit and backpack, which blared music from the films through speakers. The 41-year-old completed the course in five hours and 24 minutes.

PC Baldwin said: “The weather on the day was too warm for me, especially as I was dressed up in costume and carrying a back pack.

“A lot of marathon runners talk about hitting the wall and I had never experienced this before – I hit several of them on Sunday.”

Liz Traill, of Lancaster Road, South View, Basingstoke, had hoped to complete her third marathon in under five hours, but a combination of the hot weather and an old knee injury meant she finished in five hours and 28 minutes.

The 45-year-old said: “I am gutted because my knee packed up after 12 miles. I hobbled on for a mile, and once the pain eased I carried on running.”

Kevin Macken, of Gannet Road, Kempshott, Basingstoke, ran with his brother Graham, of Rooksbury Road, Andover, crossing the finishing line together after five hours and 25 seconds.

The pair, running their first marathons, completed the course for the British Heart Foundation after their father Mick, 61, suffered two heart attacks last year.

Kevin, 33, said: “It was really hot – everyone was trying to get into the shade. My brother spurred me on. If I had run on my own, I would have stopped and walked.”

Other runners in The Gazette area included Darren Rowan, an IT project manager at Eli Lilly, in Basingstoke, who is registered blind. He finished the course in four hours and 41 minutes.

Popley East councillor Andy McCormick, who ran to raise money for Spinal Research, crossed the line in four hours and 45 minutes, while Lionel Dreau, of Nursery Close, Chineham, finished in six hours and eight minutes. The £700 he raised will help buy a new swing for disabled children at Naomi House Children’s Hospice.