Gearing up for the marathon

Hundreds of people from Shropshire and Mid Wales were travelling south this weekend to take part in the 2009 Flora London Marathon or provide moral support.

A coach full of athletes and supporters set out from Shrewsbury and Telford while trains from Shropshire were also busy and many more were driving to the capital.

• Read Sue Austin's training blog here

Scores of runners from the area have a place among the 35,000 on the starting line for tomorrow's marathon.

They include top runners who have won places because of their times, those representing local running clubs including the Shropshire Shufflers and the Oswestry Olympians and those who won places in a national ballot.

Many more are taking part through charity places, golden bond tickets that will raise tens of thousands of pounds. Those on the specially-run Boulton's coach included Oswestry Olympians, Pam Rowland and Liz Arthan.

Tomorrow will be Liz's third London marathon while for Pam, although she has completed a tough Iron Man Triathlon which ends with a marathon, this will be her first London Marathon.

"I didn't expect it to be such an emotional experience but it really is," she said.

"We have friends with us on the coach and my mum, Mary, who is 80 this year, is coming on the train with my sister, Ruth.

"Liz and I would both like to thank everyone who has helped with our training and all those who have wished us well."