Marathon runners do Harriers proud

TWO Dumfries Harriers took on this year’s London Marathon. Harriers captain Gordon Stewart and club stalwart Carol Elliot, took part in the famous event in the capital on April 26. After a demanding winter’s training, captain Stewart was set up for the challenge, and he undoubtedly delivered and rose to the occasion. Despite severe cramp in the latter stages, he powered through, receiving some words of encouragement and a bottle of water from Sir Mo Farah on the route. He would run an impressive 3:25:10, taking a shaving five minutes of last years Barcelona time, setting himself a shiny new personal best. On the other hand, it would mark Elliot’s fifth London Marathon, as she claimed it was to be her final one. She came in just inside her qualification time, finishing in 4:51:37, on merit with a good for age and time.

Meanwhile, Alistair Barclay was beside the seaside, completing the Blackpool Half Marathon on the same weekend. He ran an impressive 1:29:08, a personal best and first place in his age category. He cleared his ambition of running a sub 1:30 and said: “I hadn’t realised I had actually won my age category until I was on my way back up the road.”