HE is unlikely to be setting any world records, but for father-of-six Andrew Spence, simply making it round the Edinburgh Marathon course was a Herculean effort.
The 23-stone school cleaner made it over the line in a time of seven hours 53 minutes and four seconds – placing him firmly in last place – just as the organisers were packing up.
Mr Spence had refused numerous offers of a lift from support vans a
long the way, as he was determined to finish the race.
After hugging his wife and daughters at the finish line, he immediately asked for an entry form for next year's race.
Recovering at home today, Mr Spence said he was "really chuffed" to finish the course, raising around £1000 for a leukaemia charity, and his dedication was praised by marathon organisers.
The 42-year-old, who comes from Prestonpans, decided to run with a friend, after a few drinks at a Hogmanay party.
They are both keen players with Preston Lodge Rugby Club, and decided it would be a good way of getting fit together. But Mr Spence's friend, Joe Rae, had to pull out due to an injury, leaving him to do the run on his own.
Mr Spence said the idea first entered his head when he watched last year's marathon in the rain. He said: "There were people in their 60s and a man with only one leg. I thought, I'm 23 stone and I've got two legs. I felt an embarrassment to mankind.
"At new year, a few blokes came round my house for a couple of beers. We just play rugby for a laugh but we decided we'd start training this year. Then two of us decided to enter the marathon.
"I've been jogging since January 2 and I could jog six miles. I thought I could maybe walk and jog it."
Mr Spence set off from Regent Road with crowds of runners but soon fell behind.
He said: "By the time I got to Portobello I was so far back the van stopped and offered me a lift. I looked along the empty promenade. I thought, I've still got my legs and kept going.
"When I got to the first water station they were packing and going home – but a couple of volunteers gave me a big cheer.
"The hardest part was Musselburgh. The other runners were all going in the other direction, going home.
"When I got to Prestonpans I saw my wife and six girls cheering me on. My friends were waiting at the bottom of my street."
A sweeper bus came round after six-and-a-half hours, when all runners were expected to have finished. Mr Spence said: "When I got to Musselburgh Racecourse, the best thing was seeing my wife and my girls standing at the finishing line.
"I got my medal at the end of the day, it felt like a great achievement. I was really, really chuffed.
"I've already told Joe I'll run it again with him next year."
The marathon's marketing manager, Damian O'Looney, said today staff had been waiting for Mr Spence at the finishing line to give him his medal, and that he asked for entry forms for next year straight away.
He said: "Well done to him. It shows great dedication to get over the finishing line."
Last year's slowest runner was Steven Waterstone, who ran the race in seven hours 35 minutes – 20 minutes faster than Mr Spence, but on crutches.
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www.edinburgh-marathon.comThe full article contains 596 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
