News

Marathon man is back from New York in good time!

(12 November 2004)

University of Durham research worker Neil Defty beat his own projected time in the New York Marathon and expects be back running this weekend to shake the aches and pains out of his legs.

Neil, who is a project team leader in the University’s Curriculum, Evaluation and Management Centre, aimed to finish about 45 minutes behind Paula Radcliffe and managed to clock a very respectable time of 3:35:50.

While Paula won the women’s event in a thrilling race which was televised live in the UK, Neil was a little further down the field and finished a respectable 3,618th place out of the 36,527 finishers.

He said: “I was very pleased with my time and my performance. It was a fantastic experience to be there and to be cheered along by some two million spectators along the route. The legs are still painful, but I'm hoping to be back into running by this weekend.”

Neil, who is 35 and hails from Crossgate in Durham City, started running just five years ago and has taken part in a couple of Great North Runs, the Blaydon Races and had been unsuccessful in trying to enter the London Marathon.

He was running in aid of the Marie Curie cancer charity and is now gathering in his sponsorship money and hopes to add to the £400 already pledged from family, friends and colleagues.

He chose do to the fundraising run in aid of the memory of the partner of a friend who died earlier this year and was cared for by Marie Curie staff. He was cheered on by his wife Claire who took the opportunity to have marathon shopping spree while in New York.

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Media enquiries to:
Tom Fennelly, Public Relations Office, University of Durham.
Tel. 0191 334 6078 or e-mail: t.p.fennelly@durham.ac.uk