Gaywood wheelchair veteran completes TCS Virtual London Marathon in record time with support from members of King’s Lynn parkrun

A wheelchair veteran from Gaywood has completed a virtual race in record time.

Mark Howard, finished the virtual London Marathon in record time on Sunday of six hours and 23 seconds.

Setting out at 9 m Mark completed the marathon by doing laps along the Lynn Sport cycle path, supported throughout the event by Bridge For Heroes CEO Helen Taylor.

She said: “Mark is such an inspiration in all that he does to help the charity by fund raising, taking on the marathon in his wheel chair and completing it in such a good time being amazing.”

Mark, who has taken part in a number of endurance events, recently having completed the London Landmarks Half Marathon, has a specially adapted cycle for the purpose, which unfortunately developed a fault shortly before the marathon.

However, undeterred he decided to go ahead anyway using his basic wheel chair.

With his Garmin tracker set for the distance he made remarkable progress covering the first 8 miles in just more than two hours.

He was joined at the 15 mile mark by a group of runners from the Lynn parkrun who stayed with him until the end.

Gary Walker, parkrun event director and Bridge For Heroes volunteer, said: “It was great to see parkrun members out supporting Mark for this epic event.

“He is an example to us all, with his courage and determination to take on the challenge of a marathon, particularly without the benefit of his specially adapted trike”

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