‘I am the organiser of the most inclusive, supportive marathon in the world'
Phil Roberton, 43, is the organiser of the Flawed Hero Marathon – a 26.2 mile event in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, which will finish just as the London Marathon begins and aims to accept anyone willing to take part.
'I think it's the most inclusive, supportive marathon in the world,' Mr Roberton told the PA news agency.
'I can have anyone on the planet: any shape, size, background story.
'It's very difficult to get a London Marathon place, very hard to get a place in the ballot, so I've created an event which is equally as good, equally as powerful and extremely impactful as well.
'The name comes from the fact that we all have a past, but none of us are broken, we don't need fixing, we're flawed but that's okay and we can still make a difference. We are enough.'
The event was launched in 2024 and welcomed 40 participants who either ran, walked, or a combination of both.
Mr Roberton said he initially envisioned it being a one-time thing, but he quickly realised how 'special' it was after hearing the stories of attendees.
'Last year, we had an incredible young man called Jack who has cerebral palsy and walked it in eight-and-a-half hours,' he said.
He showed up with an incredible attitude, positivity, and shows what resilience looks like. He is coming back this year.
'I've got Adam with stage four incurable cancer taking part, Yvette in a mobility scooter taking part. Everyone has their story.'
Mr Roberton said he has spent the last 11 months doing all he can to ensure all goes to plan including working with the council, getting a land licence and keeping in touch with competitors so they feel supported.
This year, 100 are expected to make their way to the Broadway Cinema in Letchworth, the starting point of the race, including local Yvette Churchman, 62.
Ms Churchman, who is a community champion at Morrisons, will be riding her way through the marathon in her mobility scooter, which she has used since 2019 after developing rheumatoid arthritis, and will be joined by colleagues: Jan Shakespeare, Martin Kingsley and Tracey Mcgrinder.
She said she was inspired to take on the event after hearing about previous participants.
'There were people from all walks of life and that's what I like because I know one of them has cerebral palsy and I thought – if he can do it, so can we,' she told PA.
'I never thought I would be able to do a marathon, but Phil's really sold it to us and been so supportive throughout.'
She said she is most excited about the fact the race is largely nocturnal.
'I think it will be more fun doing it at night,' she said.
'Just to have our own thing (in Letchworth) will be really good.'
Mr Roberton added the event will finish in front of the Broadway Gardens Fountain which will be glowing purple for Pancreatic Cancer UK.
90% of money raised will go to the cancer charity, to fund the research into the early detection of Pancreatic Cancer, with the remainder used to fund the Flawed Hero Movement, which offers everything from community hubs to ice baths & stress resilience courses to 'put money back into the community and boost the wellness of the town'.
Mr Roberton said he has asked participants to send over any images of loved ones who have or have had cancer, or passed away, which he will display on a screen at the Broadway Cinema pre-race, and his wife is to sing the song The Impossible Dream to 'get the emotion going'.
'Watching people leaving the cinema, going into the dark, knowing that they're going to go through a journey – that's exciting to me,' he added.
The fundraising pages of Flawed Hero Marathon participants can be accessed here: https://www.gofundme.com/en-gb/c/act/flawed-hero-movement-2025
Ms Churchman's fundraiser can be viewed here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/team-morrisons-supporting-pancreatic-cancer-uk
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
How to start running when you're over 40
I'm not sure why I finally decided to give running a try. I think it was a stealth move by my husband. He has been a runner since his schooldays and even ran the London Marathon 15 years ago, but I'd never been tempted to join him because it was 'his' thing. 'My' thing, I have always said, is dance. Cue a slightly condescending voice: 'Dancing is so much more creative and just as good for you in terms of fitness.' But the truth is I'm now in my mid-50s, and dance has fallen by the wayside because I couldn't find local classes that suit me. My weight has crept up over the past couple of years, probably because I'm in the throes of menopause, and I needed to make a change. It just so happened that my husband's physio (he currently has a calf injury) suggested he strengthen it slowly using the popular NHS Couch to 5K app and, for some reason, I decided to join him. And, suddenly, I'm a runner. A Sport England survey published in April 2023 shows there are 1.3 million more active people aged 55-74 than there were in 2015-16. As of last year, 6 million people in England run regularly, ranking it as the most popular sport, and there have been a record 578,374 applicants for the 2024 London Marathon, compared to the previous record of 457,861 in 2019. Community events are also more popular than ever, with Parkrun, which began in 2004, holding more than 1,000 events every weekend across the UK. The average Parkrun time has increased from 22 minutes and 17 seconds in 2005 to 32 minutes and 34 seconds in 2023 as a more diverse range of abilities take part, proving just how inclusive such events have become. Running is no longer the preserve of 'proper' athletes, it's for everyone. So, five weeks ago, I stepped out of my front door on day one of Couch to 5K. As expected, after running for a grand total of three minutes, I thought I was going to expire on the streets of north London. But now, as if by magic, I'm able to run for a quarter of an hour without stopping! I still don't have the proper kit, much to my husband's annoyance. He wears the full Nike gear, running tights and sweat-wicking tops, while I wear ancient trackie bottoms, topped off with a 25-year-old Illustrated People sweatshirt, but I don't care. Project manager Emma Snead started running at the age of 45 during lockdown. She says, 'I live in rural southwest France and was around a size 20 when I started running. You don't often see many people of that size exercising – especially in France – and I tried not to care, but I did notice people staring. After three weeks of following the Couch to 5K app, I knew I was progressing. I felt better about how I looked and I stopped caring what people thought.' Three years on, she's still at it. 'I run for half an hour every day. Even if it sucks and you're hating it, it's such a short time before you can be back on the sofa that it's not a great hardship. It becomes a bit of me-time, away from work, being a mum, the house. Instead of sitting on the sofa, eating and scrolling through stuff on my phone, I'm by the river, seeing herons and squirrels, listening to science podcasts or the radio or a Nineties R&B playlist I've not listened to in years.' The benefits of running after 40 It seems that the positives of running are myriad: the NHS lists improved heart and lung health, increased joint strength and flexibility, and a reduction in the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. It is also thought to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress. Dr Jennifer Wilson is a senior exercise and health practitioner at Nottingham Trent University and a trustee of FiiT for Life, a charity that provides exercise training. She says: 'For people returning to or starting exercise, running is a great way to improve health and mental wellbeing. This is particularly true if it is practised outdoors – the benefits of green exercise are well documented.' Running is also recommended for women going through the menopause. Doctor and women's wellness expert Dr Shirin Lakhani says running is an excellent way to keep some of the symptoms under control. 'According to a number of studies, the average weight gain for a woman during and after menopause is around 4.5lb,' she says. 'Struggling with excess stomach fat and sudden weight gain is a very common symptom, and running is an effective way to burn calories and maintain a healthy weight. This is essential for managing cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis risk. Weight-bearing exercises like running also stimulate bone growth and increase bone density, reducing the risk of fractures.' Jemma Arbon, 42, is a running coach at Mansfield Harriers athletics club. She started running for the first time in her mid-30s, and within a year she underwent training so she could start a beginners' running group. She has gone on to form groups for all ages, and found there was keen interest among older women. 'It's my mission to encourage women, in particular, to be engaged in sport and fitness,' she says. One of her members, Pauline Beard, started running at the age of 67 in a group of runners in their 60s and 70s. 'It really has changed my life. I've met so many lovely people. Being outside and enjoying nature is so good for physical and mental wellbeing,' she says. From my own experience, I can report that a quick half-hour burst of outdoor exercise first thing in the morning has made a huge difference. I feel 'switched on' when I sit at my desk – somehow sharper. And even on days when I really don't want to go, I'm always glad that I did. The downsides Without wanting to put anyone off getting some fresh air and building up their fitness, there are certain things you should watch out for. Dr Jennifer Wilson explains: 'Running can carry with it a high risk of injury because, generally, we take thousands of steps per run. And if that is coupled with a particularly inefficient running technique, it can lead to injury.' A training plan will help prevent injuries, as will the correct running shoes for your terrain (see more on both below). Brushing up on safety is essential, especially for women. Finding a running buddy is a good idea, make sure your phone is fully charged, and always inform others of the route you're taking and your estimated return time. A good way to do this can be through a running app, such as Strava, which shares your route in real time with chosen contacts. One other thing to watch out for is the so-called 'runner's face', when the skin premature ages and can look gaunt and leathery. This only occurs in seriously committed long-distance runners and can result from sun damage and weight loss. To prevent this, always wear a minimum SPF of 30, even during the winter. Running shoes and kit Once you've made the decision to run, it's worth investing in the proper gear to make your life easier (and, in some cases, safer). Get the right pair of running shoes Ideally, you should have your gait analysed at a specialist running shop before purchasing your trainers, which is usually a free service. The analysis will check how your foot strikes the floor and suggest the perfect running shoes to maximise comfort and efficiency. If you can't visit a shop, some retailers such as Runandbecome have an online service. If all else fails, brands such as Hoka or Asics have products that are recommended by podiatrists. According to Run and Become, you may need a size up from your usual footwear as running trainers are made slightly smaller than everyday shoes, and there should be half a thumb's width between the longest toe and the front of your shoe. Be seen When you're running in the dark or the dusk, make sure you're wearing as much reflective gear as possible to be visible to drivers. There is a wide range of appropriate kit available, from running jackets to gloves. Nike Dri-FIT, Under Armour and Proviz all have exceptional products. Choose a supportive sports bra Adidas, Sweaty Betty and Shock Absorber produce some of the best. For a bigger bust, particularly, a wide underband and straps are vital to keep running 'bounce'' to a minimum. Make sure you can see where you're going For anyone running in low light – dusk, early morning, winter evenings – a head torch is a must. It should be easy to turn on and off, rechargeable and, of course, comfortable. Biolite and Ledlenser are both well-respected brands. Keep an eye on your stats Wearing a running watch is a great way to track your progress. A smart watch will measure pace, heart rate, distance and recovery time, as well as fitness levels. Using an app on your phone will work too, but is less accurate (and harder to use) than glancing at your watch while you run. Listen to your body Dr Jessica Leitch, founder of Run3D, which provides musculoskeletal and gait analysis to injured runners, says it's vital to factor in recovery time. 'When you take up running, you're putting a lot of load onto the system,' she says. 'You are going to take about 1,500 steps to complete a mile, and this causes a small amount of damage to your musculoskeletal system during each run, which we call microdamage. Normally, if you give your body time to adapt and recover, it will strengthen over time.' This becomes ever more important as we age, says Leitch. 'As you get older, the key thing to understand is that your body needs more time to recover compared to when you were younger. Listen to your body – it will tell you. 'OK, this is hurting a little bit too much for comfort. I will take an extra day to recover.' If you don't rest, the microdamage that's being put onto the limbs with every step accumulates and weakens the tissues and then you become more at risk of injuries.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
New York Times
2 days ago
- New York Times
Remembering a Little League World Series team that once included future NHL greats
It's the third inning of a 1982 Little League World Series semifinal in Williamsport, Pa. Five-time defending champion Taiwan — representing the Far East in those days — is on the ropes. Its 2-0 lead against Canada is in danger. Taiwan has two outs with star pitcher Huang Yao-Chung on the mound. Canada has runners on second and third, and the next batter is a tall, gangly preteen. Advertisement Young Pierre Turgeon is at the plate. Facing a count of one ball and two strikes, Turgeon drives the ball into left field, resulting in a two-RBI double. Canada had only tied the game, but they celebrated like they'd won. Turgeon smiles as he watches teammates' exuberance from second base. Canada's next hitter, shortstop Martin Lafrenière, gets a hit into right field. Turgeon crosses home plate and celebrates with his teammates as Canada takes a 3-2 lead over Taiwan in front of a frenzied Williamsport crowd. One of the first teammates to greet Turgeon after giving Canada the lead: pitcher Stéphane Matteau. 'Against Taiwan, it was over 20,000 people,' Turgeon said of the attendance at Howard J. Lamade Stadium. 'It's crazy. You're 11 years old, you're looking around, you're thinking, 'Wow, that's nuts.'' Forty-three years ago, Turgeon and Matteau were pieces of a ragtag, small-town Quebec team that made it to the Little League World Series final four and put a baseball dynasty on the brink of elimination. (Taiwan won a hard-fought game 10-7.) Turgeon, the biggest player for Canada and arguably the most talented, ultimately became Turgeon the Hockey Hall of Famer. Matteau permanently traded his bat for a stick and won a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers 12 years after his Little League World Series appearance. Rangers fans and hockey historians will remember Matteau's iconic series-winning goal in double overtime that lifted New York past the New Jersey Devils in the 1994 Eastern Conference final. But in 1982, two grade-school standouts from Rouyn, Quebec, and their teammates were the talk of a town for the summer. 'Our little team from Rouyn accomplished a miracle, an extraordinary feat,' Matteau said. 'And to do it with school friends, our childhood friends, our hockey friends that we played with in the winter … it was a magical summer.' Rouyn is a town in western Quebec that straddles the provincial border with Ontario, as part of Quebec's Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. It's known today as Rouyn-Noranda, as the two townships merged in 1986. Matteau and Turgeon — and other youngsters in Rouyn — enjoyed two seasons each year: hockey in the winter, baseball in the summer. They had grown accustomed to seeing snow on the ground until the end of April and would play hockey for most of the calendar year until the snow melted. They'd prepare for baseball season with the Rouyn Rotary club in their school gyms before playing ball in nearby parks. Advertisement If they weren't watching the Montreal Canadiens play hockey on television, they were watching the Montreal Expos baseball team. The Expos made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in 1981, with players like Gary Carter, Tim Raines and Andre Dawson becoming household names across the province. 'Those Expos teams were like All-Star teams back in those days,' Matteau said. Rouyn hoped to emerge as Canadian Little League champions in 1981 while boasting four pitchers who'd go on to have NHL careers: Matteau, Turgeon and the duo of future defenseman Éric Desjardins and goaltender André Racicot, who both won a Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1993. They fell short that year. The following year, however, would be their time, and Matteau was counted on as one of their aces. Former #NHL #Hockey player Stephane Matteau pitched in the 1982 Little League World Series. #Baseball — Home Run Hockey (@HomeRunHockey) October 7, 2017 'Stéphane was very intense,' said Richard Jolicoeur, a former baseball teammate who grew up on the same street as Matteau. 'He was our Maurice Richard, but when he went out to pitch, he wanted to be the best pitcher.' All the while, Turgeon was doing double duty, going back and forth between Montreal for hockey camp and playing baseball with his team that summer. If Matteau was the team's Maurice Richard, Turgeon was its Wayne Gretzky, playing pitcher, shortstop and center field. He wanted to be where the ball was. 'Pierre was a monster,' Matteau remembered. 'He was a warrior. He was 12 years old, but he had the maturity of a 15-, 16-, 17-year-old.' 'We knew he was good, but he was so big and strong compared to the rest of us,' Jolicoeur added, as Turgeon, now standing 6-foot-1, was listed as a 6-footer during Little League play. 'He really had a physical advantage. But he was also a good guy who wanted the team to win. He was super nice to all of us.' A post shared by NHL History (@nhlhistory) The climb to the Little League World Series was arduous — and that was just the travel. It meant long bus rides for the squad and staying with families who weren't their own. Rouyn Rotary first won a district tournament in Timmins, Ontario, over 2 1/2 hours west of their hometown. (The result of being so close to Ontario towns led to them being part of the Ontario baseball system and not Quebec's.) After that, they traveled to Stoney Creek, Ontario, near Hamilton, for the provincial championship. Advertisement Jolicoeur, who spoke French, remembered staying with an English-speaking family all by himself during the provincial championship. 'One morning, I got asked a question, but I didn't understand much,' Jolicoeur said. 'They asked me if I ate, and I always said, 'Yes.' The only English word I knew was yes. They brought me to the ball park, and then I told the manager that I didn't eat, and he found me a muffin.' After winning the provincial title, one final step was needed before reaching the Little League World Series: Rouyn needed to win the Canadian Region Tournament in Boucherville, Quebec. They finished round-robin play with the second-best record behind Maritime champion Glace Bay, an eastern Nova Scotian town. Rouyn lost one of their pre-knockout stage games to Glace Bay but hoped to get their revenge as both teams reached the tournament final. In the sixth inning (Little League games are six innings long), Rouyn's chances looked doomed until Turgeon saved them with a home run while facing a full count. His shot tied the score at 3-3, forcing extra innings. With Turgeon and Marc Dubois on base in the top of the eighth, Jolicoeur hit an opposite-field, two-run double that gave Rouyn a go-ahead 5-3 lead. 'That was my big achievement of that summer,' Jolicoeur said. The Rouyn team did not have long to savor their victory. An 11-hour bus ride to Williamsport awaited the group of 11- and 12-year-olds, many of whom had never left the country. Between signing autographs before and after games and recording promos for ESPN, the Rouyn boys experienced culture shock being around international teams from countries they had barely heard of. All the while, they were representing an entire nation of their own. Canada has been represented in the Little League World Series each year since 1952, when a Montreal-based team became the first foreign team to compete in the tournament. Advertisement Canada won its first game of the 1982 tournament, a 3-0 victory over Spain, to advance to the semifinal round. But the Canadians would face a Taiwan squad featuring players who dedicated themselves year-round to playing. Many of the Canadian youngsters trained for only a quarter of the year. 'Our sport was hockey; we were all hockey players,' Jolicoeur said. 'There was one guy on the team who didn't play hockey: our catcher, Denis Aubut. But the other guys, we were hockey players, and baseball was our second sport. It was our way of having fun in the summer.' '(Taiwan) practiced like a major-league team,' Matteau added. Canada's coaches were mostly volunteers, including manager Gilles Mireault, who wrote for the local newspaper. But the players gravitated around Mireault and fellow coach Yvon St-Amant. 'We were prepared to do well, and we got pushed to do well,' Turgeon said. 'We took the challenge well as a team and as young kids.' Taiwan, which had won its last 30 tournament games, was on the verge of being upset as Canada led 4-2 entering the top of the fourth inning. A breakthrough fifth, however, aided Taiwan, as the team scored seven runs. 'No one thought that we even had a chance to go near (them),' Turgeon said. 'And somehow we battled back.' The Canadians mounted a comeback attempt of their own in the fifth, scoring three runs and cutting the deficit. Unfortunately for Canada, the comeback fell short. The team ultimately finished fourth in the tournament, losing the third-place game 7-4 against a team from Wyoming, Mich. Taiwan's goal of winning a sixth straight Little League World Series was halted in the championship game, as it lost 6-0 to a team from Kirkland, Wash. The championship was played in front of a then-record 40,000 fans and in 2010 was documented in 'Little Big Men,' a part of ESPN's '30 for 30' series. Advertisement Jolicoeur remembers feeling 'disappointed' losing that semifinal, but he took pride in competing against a perennial world-champion team. 'We made them sweat a little bit,' he said. When Matteau returned to Williamsport 35 years after his team's dream run, it was his chance to reconnect with faces he hadn't seen since childhood. He had experienced the glory of an NHL career, so he was used to meeting random fans in public. At one point, Matteau introduced himself to a man who looked back with a puzzled gaze. The man was surprised that Matteau didn't remember him. He then said his name: Maxime Leblanc. It was Matteau's former teammate from that 1982 squad. 'After 1982, I never ran into him once,' Matteau said. 'I saw him 35 years later. Once he told me his name, I recognized his face as a young man.' Turgeon and Matteau reunited with their teammates in 2017 ahead of that year's Little League World Series. A decade earlier, Turgeon was inducted into the Little League Hall of Excellence, the highest honor for Little League alumni. He's the first Canadian and first NHLer to accomplish the feat. But Turgeon and Matteau didn't attend to boast about their NHL exploits. They wanted to catch up with their buddies — some of whom, like Leblanc, they hadn't seen in decades. At a local hotel, members of the team came together over a bonfire. That's when the stories were revisited. The teammates chatted for hours, ordered food and shared memories. 'Nobody wanted to sleep,' Matteau said. 'We were sitting in a circle. We knew our teammates followed my and Pierre's careers in the NHL, but Pierre and I were so interested in hearing everyone else's stories. Where did they end up? How many kids did they have? Their family life, their professional life. 'It got to two or three in the morning, and we were still sitting in the hotel lobby. It was really magical.' Some of the players' most treasured memories came after the tournament ended. The Rouyn team was given a hero's welcome when they landed at the local airport from Montreal. It was just the beginning of the city's celebration. Players signed an official book at City Hall before being paraded through the streets days later, as if they were Stanley Cup champions. They even got free haircuts from a local shop in town. Advertisement Weeks later, the team took one more bus ride to Montreal, this time as special guests for an Expos game at Olympic Stadium. The Rouyn players met the Expos before the game, shaking hands and taking photos with their baseball heroes — including Carter, Dawson, Raines, Tim Wallach and Bill Gullickson. August 1982, and everything that came afterward, was a coming-of-age moment for many of those players, like Jolicoeur. It produced memories that have stayed with them. 'For the majority of us, there was 'before 1982' and 'after 1982,'' Jolicoeur said. 'That's when I came into the world. … I became somebody after that. It breathed confidence into me. It told me anything was possible.' (Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; photos: Graig Abel and B Bennett/ Getty Images; courtesy of Stéphane Matteau) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Yahoo
England deliver for Sarina Wiegman in iconic moment at Lionesses Euro 2025 victory parade
A month of last-minute equalisers, penalty shootout victories and a third consecutive European Championship title has given Sarina Wiegman plenty to celebrate, but through it all she has never looked so happy as when Burna Boy was revealed at the trophy parade. Having revealed the singer-songwriter was her favourite artist in a press conference, England delivered for Wiegman just as she had done for them out in Switzerland. The singing and dancing version of the Dutch manager proved unrecognisable from the cooler exterior of past tournaments, but then in her renewed outlook she had plenty to enjoy. 'What I really wanted to do over all these years is try to enjoy it a little bit more,' she had said. 'Trying to enjoy things a little bit more instead of always being so… you have to be focused in this job but you need to celebrate the moments that are good, it's really nice.' As the Lionesses open-top bus paraded down the mall to the cheers of 65,000 fans, this was certainly one of those moments. Just three years ago, when women's football seemed to have captivated the whole nation, there were 7,000 fans who turned up to celebrate their inaugural major trophy at Trafalgar Square. That number has increased nearly tenfold in the intervening years, though it should be noted there was a cap on capacity in 2022. It is testament to the impact that the Lionesses had in continuing to inspire a nation that they could fill nearly three-quarters of Wembley Stadium with fans who took time away from work to celebrate their achievements. And there could not have been a more fitting location. The finish of the London Marathon has been the end of a mammoth journey for millions, and in a similar fashion - beleaguered from their efforts and ready for a well-earned rest - the Lionesses travelled towards the Palace. While their heads might not be embossed on coins yet, over the past month they have become Queens of the nation for their embodiment of the most palatable interpretation of Englishness yet. An unerring resilience and grit had got them to the final in Basel, and as they travelled up to the Victoria Memorial to the cheers of thousands they could finally stop and enjoy the moment. Fittingly serenaded by a performance of 'Proud' by Heather Small, a teary-eyed Leah Williamson issued a rallying cry to those before her. '2022 was a fairytale but this felt very hard earned and we're very proud of ourselves. This story is not done yet,' she uttered to further cheers. While it is another chapter complete, Williamson's statement will act as further warning to any future opponent if they had not already learned that the Lionesses are never done. But off the pitch, too, the ramifications of her declaration extend much further. Having called for equal access to football in PE for girls after the Euro 2022 triumph, the Lionesses have proven their actions are never just restricted to personal success. For the women who enjoyed their moment in the spotlight on Tuesday, their moments on the pitch will always mean so much more than just another trophy. This summer they have once again shown just what is possible for young girls aspiring to reach their levels. As Williamson referenced the fact the trophy they raised in front of the 65,000 at Buckingham Palace did not even exist just over 40 years ago, it is abundantly clear that these role models are all too conscious of that fact. But as they danced onstage to the anthems of their tournament, they could be afforded the peace to just indulge in what has been a remarkable summer of football and another historic achievement. As Wiegman and Burna Boy said arm-in-arm: 'It's been a hell of a ride.'
