Latest news with #LondonLandmarksHalfMarathon
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'I was accused of cheating in London Marathon – I did nothing wrong and was put through hell'
The London Marathon is one of the hardest challenges any individual can put themselves through, but one individual completed the ordeal and was then accused of cheating This year, thousands of people will will take to the capital to take on the London Marathon. Over the course of 26.219 miles, people ranging from elite and professional runners to total novices will go through all of the emotions to complete the marathon and raise money for charity while doing so. Physically and mentally, they will need to push themselves through all sorts of barriers to get to the end. Once they cross the finish line, they will experience a catharsis of relief and pride, while being flocked by their loved ones and friends. However, after completing the race in 2023, Kate Carter, an editor of the respected running magazine Runner's World UK, was accused of cheating. Instead of celebration, she was forced to defend herself against huge accusations of "unethical" behaviour. The accusations against her emerged after some anomalies were spotted in her performances at two major events in the capital. The claims, which were made on US blog 'Marathon Investigation', related to an incident where she manually drew a map of her running route for her 4,000 followers on the tracking app Strava. The GPS map she drew herself made it look like she ran the 2023 London Marathon in three hours and 19 minutes, but the route she created was from the 2019 course, not the 2023 one. After a backlash, Carter changed her account from public to private. She also competed without a race chip, meaning no official time or record of her taking part was logged. There was also a gap in her London Landmarks Half Marathon times, as a result of her failure to register a split at the 15-kilometre mark. This saw her average time for part of the race be brought down, resulting in her finish time being noted as one hour and 32 minutes, the 42nd fastest out of more than 10,000 competitors. She then claimed her Garmin sports watch had "died completely". When she was accused of "unethical" behaviour, Carter immediately denied the accusations and said she raced without a chip as she did not sought an official race time because she was not in peak fitness. Last year, she was cleared of cheating by the governing body, England Athletics. After she was exonerated, Carter said: "In truth, I feel like I've been through hell, and I am not yet out of the other side. 'Running was a big part of my identity, whether it was volunteering, fundraising, racing or coaching for my local club, or writing about the sport I love. Having been cleared, I really hope to find that joy again.' She added: "To reiterate: I am not a cheat. And I have never cheated. We all now live in a world where people, often hiding behind fake identities, make accusations without regard for the truth or the consequences of their actions.' England Athletics confirmed their findings, claiming they had 'found there was no intention to deceive and no attempt to benefit from the results'. Carter holds the record for the best marathon time while wearing an animal costume.
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I combat stress with running - but there's something about it that nobody tells you'
Louise Minchin, who presented BBC Breakfast for over 20 years, has opened up about her time on the red sofa, her favourite interview and how running has helped her mental health Louise Minchin might have swapped the famous red sofa on BBC Breakfast for her running shoes, but she's back on the small screen and loving it. The 56-year-old journalist, who ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon with daughter Mia recently (she shares Mia, 23, and Scarlett, 19, with husband of 25 years David), woke up the nation for over 20 years on BBC Breakfast, until she stepped down in 2021. But the broadcaster is as busy as ever – smashing fitness goals and appearing on Morning Live, as well as co-presenting iconic consumer show Rip-Off Britain, taking over from show stalwart Angela Rippon. Here, talking exclusively to new, Louise opens up about mental health, marathon life – and the next adventure on her bucket list… Hi Louise, how are you? You were on BBC Breakfast for two decades. Are you missing those early morning starts? I'm great, thanks. And no, I do not miss those early starts! I do miss the team, though. But I'm now on Morning Live and another show, so it's nice being part of a new team, too. What was your most memorable moment on BBC Breakfast? Definitely the week we did called Wake Up To Menopause. It was before menopause became a bigger conversation – before Davina McCall really brought it into the spotlight. The response was incredible, and I'm really proud of that. Was there a time in your career where you felt totally out of your comfort zone? Oh yes, doing a celebrity episode of Gladiators! I've worked in TV for years and usually, sets look smaller in real life. But Gladiators? I walked in and thought, 'Oh my gosh, what have I done?' It was massive and utterly terrifying. But also a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It's some of the most fun I've ever had at work. You've interviewed a lot of high-profile people. Who's been your favourite? Oh, George Clooney, hands down. But the funny thing is, I was late! I never would've been late for George, but it was the Tube's fault. I was running to catch the lift, even though I hate crowded lifts, and it was closing. But George saved the day by holding that lift – we were both late in the end. The chat itself? Of course, it was great. It's George flipping Clooney. Away from TV, what does a typical family weekend look like? We'll honestly just do something simple together, like a swim or a pub lunch. I've got two dogs, and they're great at the pub now, because they've been there so often! We do enjoy a nice lunch together. It's just about relaxing and having fun as a family. You're an avid runner. Does that help you mentally as well as physically? Hugely. Especially when I was on BBC Breakfast – there was a lot of pressure. Running gave me that time out. At first, my mind was racing, but over the years, running became my switch-off. Now, I don't worry when I run. It's helped so much with stress, I'd recommend it to everyone. How did you get into running, then? I actually gave up sport around age 15 – I used to be a good swimmer. Then I didn't do much for many years. I got back into fitness during a challenge for BBC Breakfast in 2012. It was a velodrome race on bikes, and I hadn't done competitive sport in probably 30 years. And, I just realised that it was amazing just how much it brought to me, you know, that excitement and that adrenaline, and so I went back into sport then and started doing triathlon and obviously you have to run as part of triathlon as well. How do you motivate your daughter Mia when running? We always run together when we race. She's 23 and I'm 56 – she's definitely the better runner. But where she has ability, I bring resilience. We're good at pushing each other – 'Come on, just 1K more,' or 'Let's get to that point.' It's brilliant doing it as a team. I don't think I could run without her now. We try to start and finish together. What's been your biggest fitness challenge to date? I did a triathlon called Patagonman – which is supposedly, and probably is, the toughest triathlon in the world. You swim 3.8 kilometres, jumping off a ferry in the dark. Then cycle 180 kilometres, which is 112 miles, and finish by running a marathon. It took me about 16 hours to complete. Any funny or embarrassing stories about running? Oh gosh, I've got a million! One of the most embarrassing was during a triathlon – I ran onto the run course with my bike helmet still on! That was mortifying. Another time, I fell off my bike in Liverpool in the middle of a triathlon. Honestly, it was dramatic. What's one fitness myth you wish more people would stop believing? That you need to be chasing 'personal bests' all the time. I just run for fun. That's what I want people to know – fitness is for everyone, and it doesn't need to be competitive or performative. What's the perfect chill-out day for you? Oh, I think my favourite kind of rest is being at home, hopping in a nice bubble bath, and watching something on Netflix. And the next big adventure on your bucket list? I'm planning to get into more long-distance running, particularly in the Lake District. I'm really looking forward to that challenge!
Cambrian News
25-04-2025
- Business
- Cambrian News
Aberystwyth's Sophie Rudge raises nearly £900 in marathon
Sophie Rudge, who works as the Deputy Operations and Planning Manager for Aberystwyth Arts Centre, took on the huge challenge of running the London Landmarks Half Marathon on Sunday, 6 April, and raised £872 for a cause close to her heart.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Parents warn others after baby died from Strep B
The parents of a baby boy who died from a treatable bacterial infection say they are working to help others avoid a similar tragedy. Tim and Hannah Taylor-Smith lost Zachary in November 2022 from a condition called Group B Strep (GBS) just 14 hours after his birth at the Royal Derby Hospital. An inquest last year heard neglect had contributed to his death, and the trust which runs the hospital said it was "deeply sorry". Now Mr and Mrs Taylor-Smith, from Lichfield in Staffordshire, are working with the hospital trust to improve how it works with families as well as fundraising for a related charity. GBS is a bacterial infection found in the vagina, rectum and bowel in 20 to 40% of women. GBS only presents a risk when passed to a baby around the time of labour, but as carriers have no symptoms, it can be difficult to spot. Chesterfield Coroner's Court was told Zachary was born at 36 weeks after his mother was induced because of recurrent asthma attacks. The inquest had heard he was initially healthy, but deteriorated. Midwives previously told the inquest "incorrect" actions were taken and that it was an error that Zachary was not reviewed by the neo-natal team. University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB), which runs the hospital, admitted that had antibiotics been given to his mum before his birth, or if Zachary had been treated for infection after birth, his death from Group B Strep could have been prevented. Hospital trust 'deeply sorry' over baby deaths 'Total failures' in care of baby who lived 14 hours Midwives apologise at baby boy's inquest 'Strep B infection nearly killed me and my daughter' Mr Taylor-Smith told the Local Democracy Reporting Service more needed to be done within the healthcare sector to increase knowledge of the infection. He said: "There is quite a lot [of information] out there, but for me personally, the issue surrounding it is those in the hospital profession seem not to think it is a viable thing to bring to the attention of those who are pregnant. "We were not told about the risk of Group B Strep, and knowing about it could have been a different story. "There are so many things in the pipeline which will help raise more awareness. From raising our story, we've had so many people reach out to thank us because it has helped them." Mr Taylor-Smith took part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon earlier this month with the Group B Strep Support charity, raising about £16,000. Sarah Noble, director of midwifery at UHDB, said: "As part of our commitment to improving maternity services, we want to ensure we continue to involve families and our communities in the changes we are making. "We remain deeply sorry for what happened to Zachary, and we truly appreciate Hannah and Tim's openness, bravery and support in choosing to work closely alongside our teams – including sharing ideas for potential staff training and how we can best use the experience of families – as part of our improvement programme." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Group B Strep Support University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust Local Democracy Reporting Service
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Parents warn others after baby died from Strep B
The parents of a baby boy who died from a treatable bacterial infection say they are working to help others avoid a similar tragedy. Tim and Hannah Taylor-Smith lost Zachary in November 2022 from a condition called Group B Strep (GBS) just 14 hours after his birth at the Royal Derby Hospital. An inquest last year heard neglect had contributed to his death, and the trust which runs the hospital said it was "deeply sorry". Now Mr and Mrs Taylor-Smith, from Lichfield in Staffordshire, are working with the hospital trust to improve how it works with families as well as fundraising for a related charity. GBS is a bacterial infection found in the vagina, rectum and bowel in 20 to 40% of women. GBS only presents a risk when passed to a baby around the time of labour, but as carriers have no symptoms, it can be difficult to spot. Chesterfield Coroner's Court was told Zachary was born at 36 weeks after his mother was induced because of recurrent asthma attacks. The inquest had heard he was initially healthy, but deteriorated. Midwives previously told the inquest "incorrect" actions were taken and that it was an error that Zachary was not reviewed by the neo-natal team. University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB), which runs the hospital, admitted that had antibiotics been given to his mum before his birth, or if Zachary had been treated for infection after birth, his death from Group B Strep could have been prevented. Hospital trust 'deeply sorry' over baby deaths 'Total failures' in care of baby who lived 14 hours Midwives apologise at baby boy's inquest 'Strep B infection nearly killed me and my daughter' Mr Taylor-Smith told the Local Democracy Reporting Service more needed to be done within the healthcare sector to increase knowledge of the infection. He said: "There is quite a lot [of information] out there, but for me personally, the issue surrounding it is those in the hospital profession seem not to think it is a viable thing to bring to the attention of those who are pregnant. "We were not told about the risk of Group B Strep, and knowing about it could have been a different story. "There are so many things in the pipeline which will help raise more awareness. From raising our story, we've had so many people reach out to thank us because it has helped them." Mr Taylor-Smith took part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon earlier this month with the Group B Strep Support charity, raising about £16,000. Sarah Noble, director of midwifery at UHDB, said: "As part of our commitment to improving maternity services, we want to ensure we continue to involve families and our communities in the changes we are making. "We remain deeply sorry for what happened to Zachary, and we truly appreciate Hannah and Tim's openness, bravery and support in choosing to work closely alongside our teams – including sharing ideas for potential staff training and how we can best use the experience of families – as part of our improvement programme." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Group B Strep Support University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust Local Democracy Reporting Service
