AFTER months of early morning training sessions, careful planning, strict meal plans and fighting the wall on those all important long runs, the big day has nearly arrived.

Sunday will see thousands compete in the first ever Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon, the biggest running event in the county.

When entries were opened in January, the event sold out in just three days and since then some of the world’s best runners have signed up to take part, competing for the £12,000 prize fund – the biggest of any UK marathon outside of London.

John Mutai, 25, of Kenya, who has placed in the top two three times in the Edinburgh Marathon and four times in the Belfast Marathon, has already been dubbed as a potential winner.

Alongside the elite and the other expected 6,000 runners will be first-time marathon runners, veteran runners and those running in memory of a loved one as they run as part of the legacy created by late fundraiser Jane Tomlinson who raised nearly £2m for charity.

Among those in the field are a group of Ryedale runners who have each taken on the 26.2 mile challenge for different reasons.

We found out how they had been preparing for the big day.

To register for next year’s Yorkshire Marathon on Sunday, October 12 visit www.yorkshiremarathon.com

Entries open on Monday, January 6 and people can register now to have access to pre-sale places on January 3.

Here are the stories of some of the Ryedale people taking part in Sunday’s marathon.


Tony Greene

FOR veteran marathon runner, Tony Greene, taking part in the first Yorkshire marathon will mark a personal milestone for the 63-year-old as it will be his 100th, and final, marathon.

The Pickering Running Club mem- ber is raising money for Christie Hospital, Manchester, where he is originally from, after he was treated there for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a rare type of cancer of the lymph glands.

He said: “I’m grateful to the hospital for the care they showed me and without them I would not be here to do this challenge. I started running to keep fit during the jogging boom of the 1980s. By 2000 I felt ready to do my first marathon and I took part in the Berlin marathon. It was hell, but nothing beats the sense of achievement you feel when you get to the finishing line.”

Since then the psychiatric nurse has completed marathons in Chicago, Vancouver and Blackpool, running 50 marathons in 10 years.

Officially bitten by the running bug, Tony, who lives in Norton, wants to use the York marathon to round off his running career in style.

He said: “This will be my last. Anyway, if I did another I will have to do another 99.”

To sponsor Terry visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TerryGreene


Natalie Roberts

RUNNING in memory of her dad John Shorland, who passed away aged 65 last year at Hospiscare hospice, Exeter, just two weeks after being diagnosed with bowel cancer, is Hovingham mother-of-two Natalie Roberts.

Natalie said: “The marathon is quite timely because it’s a year since dad died. Dad would think I’m bonkers. He’ll probably be looking down saying what are you doing?

“Dad had a brain haemorrhage in July 2012 but we had no idea he had cancer.”

Natalie, who used to run two to three times a week for four to five miles before signing up for the marathon, says she has not competed for 20 years.

She said: “I haven’t set a time target but for me it’s not about a target, it’s about finishing and doing the run in memory of dad and raising money for Hospiscare.”

To support Natalie in her first marathon donate at www.justgiving.com/Natalie-Roberts12


Heather Farrow

HEATHER Farrow, from Pickering, decided to take part in the marathon to raise funds for the elderly residents home No 5 Whitby Road where she works as a laundress.

“I started training in February and have completed a 10k and half-marathon but this will be my first long distance run,” she said.

“I’ve always been active but I now run three times a week as well as swimming and cycling.”

Heather, who was 56 last week, is raising funds to provide a pantomime production at the home at Christmas.

“I know I can do 20 miles and I’m hoping I’ll get through the last six miles on adrenaline,” she said.

“I am really looking forward to it and I feel fitter now than I did when I was 20.”

Anyone who would like to sponsor Heather can do so by phoning No 5 Whitby Road on 01751 473369


Terrington Hall School parents

A GROUP of Terrington Hall School parents is fielding a relay team in the James Potter Egg Corporate Relay event as part of the Yorkshire Marathon.

The team, is led by John Rangeley, and includes Sally Harrison, Mike Smith, Karen Storey, Paul Tate and Amanda Welch. Sadly, team member Mark Langley has had to pull out of the event due to ill-health.

They are running in aid of Yorkshire Cancer Research, Ryedale Special Families and Terrington Hall’s nominated charity Ryedale Carers Support.’ “We’re a motley crew of parents with little experience of running in marathon events apart from Mike and Amanda who have notched up several half marathons and, in Mike’s case, the London marathon,” said John.

“However, many of us have been touched by the threat of losing someone to cancer and have strong personal reasons for putting on our running shoes and going the extra mile. The work of Ryedale charities speak for themselves and are charities that Terrington Hall parents are proud to support.”

To support Terrington Hall’s parents’ relay team, visit www.justgiving.com/j-rangeley


Dr Andrew Phillips

THE Yorkshire marathon will be Pickering GP Andrew Phillips’ second this year.

The 51-year-old ran the Manchester marathon in four hours and 14 minutes earlier this year and is hoping to run the Yorkshire Marathon in a similar time.

He said: “You never know what’s going to happen in a race but I’m hoping to run it in around the same time. The atmosphere before and after a marathon is absolutely incredible and I just can’t explain the feeling when you cross the finish line, there’s nothing like it.”

The GP, who has been running from 6am to fit his training in around his long working hours, will be running for the Brain Tumour Research and Support charity and has already smashed his target of raising £500.

A keen runner, Andrew has already secured his place for next year’s Yorkshire Marathon, and says he always encourages his patients to take up running if they can as well.

He said: “If running is something you can do then it’s very enjoyable. There’s a lot of camaraderie and support between runners.”

To support Andrew visit www.justgiving.com/Andrew-Phillips888