David runs virtual London Marathon 2020 in tough conditions

Originally planned for 26th April 2020, the event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and rescheduled, with only elite participants allowed to compete. All other runners were forced to take part remotely, picking their own 26.2 mile course across parks, roads and countryside throughout the UK in an array of colourful costumes, many lashed by heavy rain.
 
We are proud to report that our own Private Clients Account Handler, David Twohig, took part on Sunday, choosing to run his virtual marathon across a varied course encompassing trails, track and road that took him through Welwyn Garden City, Lemsford, Hatfield and Letty Green. “It was a gruelling course,” he says. “For the first mile, I was running through woods that were completely flooded, with knee high puddles, which meant I was soaking wet. Initially, it was cold, wet and windy, although thankfully the rain eased off.”
 
It was a sterling effort and David completed the 26.2 mile course in a very respectable 5 hours 20 minutes, aided by relay runners from a local running group, which he found immensely helpful. “I think I would have struggled on my own,” he admits, “but having the other runners alongside me really helped, especially when it became tough mentally.”
 
David was running to support the charity, Sense, which helps people who are deaf and blind to communicate and experience the world and, to date, has raised a sizable amount. “There were a number of us running for Sense,” he explains. “all wearing branded Sense vests, in locations across the world, including Germany, Spain, America and Japan. Some of them started at ridiculously early hours so we could all run at the same time.”
 
With over 43,000 participants from 109 countries taking part, from China to Costa Rica and Libya to Laos, it was very much a global event, each runner logging their progress on an app to make their times official and secure medals. Under the new system, non-elite runners were able to break up their distance across the day, although David chose to run his marathon all in one go.
 
Women’s and men’s elite races were still run in the capital, with runners completing 19.6 laps, cheered on by cardboard cut-outs of the Queen across a special course in St James’s Park and ending at the traditional finish line on The Mall.  

Event Director, Hugh Brasher, said: “What we have seen sums up the indomitable spirit the London Marathon has always been about. Britain has suffered from this unbelievably inclement weather from Storm Alex but over 30,000 people across the country have shown amazing fortitude in getting out and running or walking 26.2 miles. And to think we have had people from 109 countries taking part is quite incredible. I really hope it is a beacon of light in a year that’s been pretty dark.”
 
David says he is looking forward to attending the London Marathon next year and feels the virtual event has been a good training ground, explaining: “It’s set me up well and I’m looking forward to competing in the real thing next year and achieving a time under 5 hours. It just shows that, despite the restrictions, there are still ways to keep fit, benefit the community and help charity.”

On behalf of NLIG, we’d like to extend a massive CONGRATULATIONS to David on his achievement. If you’d like to support David’s chosen charity, Sense, please donate on his JustGiving page, which you can reach by following the link below.

To support David, please click here to be directed to the JustGiving page