DOZENS of charitable Plymothians will be waking up with aching muscles this morning after completing the gruelling London Marathon.
Thousands of pounds have been raised for good causes by runners from the city, who battled through the pain barrier in blazing sunshine to complete the 26-mile course. Among the 35,000 people cheered on in the capital was heroic city marine Ben McBean. Mne McBean lost an arm and a leg in a land mine explosion in Afghanistan just over a year ago – but has overcome all the odds to complete the marathon using a specially-made curved prosthetic athletic leg. Raising money for fellow injured comrades through Help for Heroes, he defiantly crossed the finish line in a stunning 6:20hrs. Meanwhile, 29 Tamar Trotters also completed the race, with courageous Beth Greenaway, who had major heart valve surgery just four years ago, running home to give the Grown Up Congenital Heart Patients Association a £500 boost. “That was the only thing that got me to the finish line,” she said. “The last mile is always great – it’s just the 25 before that that are a struggle.”
The relentless 36-year-old personal trainer and fitness instructor now has her sights set on the testing Ironman UK event in August.