Teacher finds right formula for race glory
ATEACHER switched chemistry for PE when he pounded the streets of London to complete his 10th marathon.
It was the fourth time that Tristan Kent, head of science at Whitworth Community High School, has run the capital’s marathon and this year he asked student charity representatives to select who should benefit.
He said: “They picked the National Autistic Society and already £500 has been raised, with more money coming in.
“We have a few students who have autism so I have some experience. I finished the marathon in four hours four minutes, which is slow for me.
“My best marathon run was in Chester when I finished in three hours and three minutes.
“One of my two Manchester runs was completed in three hours and 25 seconds and then they found that the course was 400 metres too short and so it is listed as a ‘short marathon’ and doesn’t count in my statistics.”
Tristan, 38, from Ramsbottom, earned a place in the London Marathon after posting a ‘good time for his age’ in Manchester.
He said: “I found myself running alongside an archbishop who was with a nun and a monk and another man was running in his wellies.
“The London Marathon is an amazing experience and by the Tuesday my ears were still ringing from the crowd cheering on Tower Bridge. The crowds were so deep it just made you smile.
“I hit a bit of a wall when I was at mile 21, going on The Embankment and I stopped running and walked for a bit.
“What got me back on track was thinking about the people who had donated money and I knew I had to finish - I also wanted the medal.
“I still came into work on the Monday morning bright and early, even though the marathon had been the day before.”
Tristan thanked everyone who had supported him, including the Ramsbottom Running Club, which was only established a year ago and was where he trained.
His next challenge may be the Rossendale Triathlon, as assistant headteacher Andrew Oliver and director of English, Peter Williams, are also competing. In the meantime he is enjoying a well earned three-week rest from running.