Two marathons in as many weeks as Bill sets sights on Copenhagen
AGE IS NO BARRIER AS COUNTY RUNNER FOLLOWS UP LONDON EVENT WITH TRIP TO DENMARK
AT 73 years old, an avid distance runner from Market Harborough has taken the challenge to complete two gruelling marathons inside a fortnight, writes Geshom Nyathi.
Bill Kerr, from Harborough Athletics Club, recently competed at the London marathon, finishing 86th in the men’s 70 to 74 age group in a time of 4 hours, 40 minutes and 12 seconds.
“It was great racing in London. The crowd coverage was huge, incredible, supportive and amazing all the way to the end,” said Bill.
“I can’t remember any place where there was less than considerable support on the sidelines.
“It was noisy and that made a big difference to the competitors.
“It normally gets tough and it hurts around 19 miles, but the crowds were out there cheering and spurring us on”, said Bill.
Without much recovery period after the London race, Bill is now up for another challenge when he competes at the Copenhagen Marathon on Sunday.
His run in Denmark will be his 35th marathon.
This includes the London to Brighton 100km ultra-marathon – a remarkable achievement for a runner who only truly got the running bug in his 50 age group division.
The partly retired runner has plenty of time to be involved in sporting activities.
Bill had a heart operation 13 years ago, but despite that has defied all odds to become a notable and outstanding runner. Before that operation, Bill regularly posting sub-four hours.
His recent best is just under 4 hours 29 minutes at the Valencia marathon in Spain in December 2022.
Of his other running experiences, he talks highly of having enjoyed racing at the tough and hilly Athens marathon in Greece, in November last year.
Bill journeyed to Copenhagen on Tuesday with his wife Claire and two club-mates, Chris Gorman and his wife Lisa, who also have a track record as strong runners.
Chris and Lisa will be racing for the first time in the Danish capital.
“I am happy that Claire is so supportive to me,” said Bill.
“Things could be difficult at times when competing at international events. However, Claire is always on the sidelines and takes care of my running kit”.
As part of his running career, Kerr has raced in five of the six world major marathon events - twice in London, twice in Berlin, twice in Chicago and once in both New York and Boston in the USA.
It normally gets tough and it hurts around 19 miles, but the crowds were cheering and spurring us on
Bill on London