Daughter inspires Plymouth dad to take on half marathon

Ken Martin, Plymouth based father, has been inspired to take on Plymouth’s Half Marathon by his daughter Maisy, aged seven, who will be running a half marathon of her own as part of the Schools’ Challenge on Sunday 19th April 2015.

Maisy signed up to the Schools’ Challenge alongside her friends from Stuart Road Primary School, and will complete the equivalent of a mile a week in the lead up to Plymouth’s Half Marathon. Her final mile will be completed on race day, with a fantastic finish on the Hoe in front of thousands of spectators.

Her father Ken said: “Seeing Maisy’s dedication and commitment to her training has really inspired me to get myself back into running. She recently did her first training session, and after coming home full of excitement, she asked if daddy could do it with her. If she can complete a half marathon distance at the age of seven, I have no excuse really!

“It’s been a long time since I last ran, so Maisy is probably actually ahead of me in terms of her training at the moment! We are planning on doing some small runs together around our local parks, so I’m hoping it will prove to be a great hobby for us both to enjoy together. I have even volunteered be help out at the Schools’ Challenge training evenings, which will motivate me even more to make her proud of her dad on race day!”     
 
Now heading into its 22nd year, Plymouth’s Half Marathon is known for its spectacular scenery, fantastic spectator support and friendly atmosphere. The race will start in style on the Hoe, before taking in a stunning and varied course that boasts coastal views, the charming Barbican harbour, and even the beautiful National Trust grounds of Saltram Park. The 13.1 mile journey will then bring you back to the Hoe, where you can expect thousands of supporters waiting to cheer you across the finish line!

As part of her Schools’ Challenge, Maisy will be fundraising for CLIC Sargent. Please visit www.plymouthhalfmarathon.com where you too can sign up for the challenge today. Over 2,600 pupils and staff will be taking part in this year’s Schools Challenge, breaking last year’s record of 1,900.