A MARATHON runner who grew up in Redditch beat her personal best when she took part in an event to raise money for Worcestershire-based charity ARCOS.
Emily Reid ran in the Dorney Lake Marathon in Windsor, which was the venue for boating events in the 2012 London Olympics, on October 2.
She finished the race in thee hours 35 minutes and 32 seconds, in the upper half of her 33-44 age group, beating her previous personal best by an astonishing 12 minutes.
She said: “I put in a lot of training so I’m delighted to have beaten my personal best. It’s quite different from big events like the London or Edinburgh marathons when you’re surrounded by huge crowds.
“It’s a much more relaxed atmosphere, where you can see your family and friends supporting you. The venue is beautiful as well, and because of the Olympic connection, you feel you’re in a special place.
“It was a bit hot though, and at the last couple of water stations, I was pouring water over myself to cool down.”
Emily was raising money for the Malvern-based charity ARCOS (Association for Rehabilitation of Communication and Oral Skills) where her sister Clare Hanson is a speech and language therapist.
She grew up in Redditch and was a student at Worcester Sixth Form Centre.
She said: “I don’t know yet how much money I’ve raised, but I’m hoping to be accepted in nest year’s London Marathon, and if I am, I’ll roll the money into what I raise then.”
ARCOS, based in Malvern since 1992, was set up to improve quality of life for children and adults with disrupted sensation and movement, or difficulties in communication and/or swallowing.
Many ARCOS clients have physical disabilities and some have learning difficulties.
