Friends and fitness motivate Jersey Marathon runners

Runners from around the world are gearing up to take part in the 21st Jersey Marathon.

Organisers said runners as young as six and older than 75 from 19 different countries would be taking part on Sunday.

Road closures or restrictions would be in place from 07:30 to 16:00 BST in St Helier, St Lawrence, St John, St Mary, St Ouen, St Peter and St Brelade, they said.

Runners said they were taking part for a variety of reasons including remembering loved ones, keeping fit and celebrating milestone birthdays.

The main 26.2-mile (42km) race begins at 09:00 BST with a relay event and a marathon mile kicking off shortly afterwards.

More than 2,250 people were expected to take part, said organisers.

Among them is Malcolm Wheatley, who is running as part of a relay team from Faithful Companions of Jesus Primary School.

The team is running to remember a colleague, Theresa Taylor, who died with cancer in February and they hope to raise money for a remembrance garden at the school in her memory.

"We'd like it to be a lovely, peaceful area where the children can sit, pray and reflect, as well as enjoy learning about plants and get involved with gardening," he said.

Jersey resident Charlie Pallot is running the marathon in aid of Cancer Research UK to show support for his mother and grandmother who are both going through treatment.

Pallot, who has raised £7,660, was the top fundraiser at this year's race, organisers said.

He said it was a "very special achievement" but getting fit had also motivated him.

"In my first year of university I had become lazy with my fitness and wanted to get back to feeling and looking good," he said.

Jayne Golborne, from Guernsey, is participating as part of a challenge to complete 10 marathons before her 60th birthday in July next year.

She said Sunday's marathon would be her ninth and the third time she has done the race in Jersey after getting into running in 2018.

"I started with Guernsey Parkrun and got hooked into social running," she said.

"A 5k turns into a 10k, turns into a half marathon and, before you know it, someone's persuaded me to do a full marathon."

Paul Welling, a travel agent from Torquay, Devon, is heading to Jersey as part of a challenge for his 60th birthday last August.

He admitted there were times during the 05:30 training runs which left him questioning his decision.

"But if I'd just thrown myself a party, I wouldn't get to experience 26.2 miles of the beautiful island of Jersey," he said.

"Going into my 60s, I just felt I wanted to test myself and push myself to see what my body was capable of.

"Besides that, birthday cake will taste so much better after burning off 3,000 calories."

Another runner from Devon heading to Jersey is Adam Atkins.

The 43-year-old, who is taking part alongside a friend, said he was raising money for a youth basketball team at the Tiverton Titans and it would not be his last running event of the year.

His said his aim was to "get healthier, lose weight and focus on the good things in life".

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Faithful Companions of Jesus Primary School