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FIRST-time London Marathon runner Phil Lewis enjoyed a hugely successful race, finishing in a very respectable four hours and raising more than £2,000 for a cause very close to his heart.

Mr Lewis, who lives just outside Upton at Kinnersley, was running for the British Heart Foundation, in memory of his father Anthony who died of heart failure.

Although Mr Lewis is an experienced half-marathon runner, this was his first attempt at the full 26.2 miles, and his first experience of the "exhilarating" London Marathon atmosphere.

"It was a brilliant atmosphere, and an absolutely fantastic experience," said Mr Lewis, 43. "It was tough doing the half marathon and then thinking that you still have to do the equivalent of running back to the start line again, and the last six miles were definitely the hardest thing that I have ever done.

"But when you know that you are nearing the finish it is an incredible buzz and you find something from somewhere to spur you on."

Mr Lewis has already put his name down for next year's event, and will be hoping to beat his personal goal of finishing inside three hours and 45 minutes.

To find out how other local entrants fared see our Marathon special in this Friday's Gazette (April 18).

4:48pm Tuesday 15th April 2008

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