THE marathon focus turned to London this week for athletes from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club as months of training was put to the test around 26.2 miles of the capital’s streets.

With such a massive focus on the race, the one marathon that everyone has heard of and for some the only one that exists, there was added pressure with the blue hoops looking for a good showing on national television.

There were two stand out performances for male and female representatives of the club with Matt Biggs claiming a massive PB and usurping Ben Foster as the club’s quickest marathon runner in recent years finishing in 427th in 2.42.55 and Helen Tromans claiming the club record for the fastest lady over the distance with a 10 minute PB coming home in 3.06.32 to place 16th in her age group.

Kevin Duckworth slotted in between them despite an interrupted preparation due to injury finishing in 3.02.19, Darran Bishop came home in 3.08.57, Dave Norman kept him in sight all the way round in 3.09.57, Mark Judge finished in 3.12.47, Graham Wildgoose in 3.25.53, Kieran Pitt in 3.39.51, Roger Beddard in 3.52.44, Kathryn Sneyd in 3.55.08, Richard Tonks in 3.55.41, Sandra Brain in 3.58.01, Carol Fisher in 4.00.58, Marie Latreche 4.02.58, Andy Morrison despite suffering an injury came home in 4.29.04, Flora Bianco ran 4.35.37, Meg Down 4.36.08, Lisa Newell 4.49.54 and Sam Hemming finished in 4.53.56.

Not satisfied with just travelling to London, Ingrid Cain went further afield to California to run in the Big Sur Marathon along the Pacific coast finishing in 1,613rd place in a time of 4.38.15.

And a little closer to home a threesome travelled to Stratford on Avon to run in the Shakespeare Half Marathon on the 400th Anniversary of the Bard’s birthday. Dave Hickman was first to the finish in 288th place in 1.41.49, Jacqui Elson-Whittaker was 696th in 1.53.22 and Nick Murphy finished in 2.15.38 to tale 1416th place