Frome Club runners to compete in the Virtual London Marathon

The London Marathon is a highlight in the sporting calendar, attracting over 40,000 runners every year to the nation’s capital. Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 has put pay to this year’s event with only elite athletes allowed to compete on the streets of London on the new date of 4 October. Non-elite runners can, however, take part in the Virtual London Marathon and must complete 26.2 miles on the Virtual London Marathon app on the same day. Two members of Frome Running Club will be hitting the streets of Frome to earn their medals and raise funds for charities close to their hearts.

Paul Waterer and Neil Grist had already signed up to do the original event in April back in 2019. After it was cancelled, they decided to restart their 16-week training plan for the potential new date of 4 October – meaning they had to complete some of their gruelling training runs in the full heat of summer. Paul secured his place through MIND and has already raised over £2000 for the mental health charity. Neil won his place through a ballot held by Frome Running Club but has sold memory miles to different people and raised £300 for The Bath Rugby Foundation.

The pair will be running three loops of a course measuring just under 9 miles around Frome. They will start and finish at the rugby club, setting off together but running at different paces. To keep them company along the way, members of Frome Running Club will run with them at different points on their route. This is the first time that the duo will have run the London Marathon and they are looking forward to the challenge. “The London marathon is so iconic and has been on our bucket lists for a long time,” explained Paul. “Frome Running Club has very kindly agreed to organise a support team to help us along the way. But if anyone else sees us, feel free to give us a wave as we will need all the support we can get!” 

Paul and Neil will be setting off from the rugby club at 9 am on 4 October.