Good Luck to AVR at the London Marathon 2025

The London Marathon has been a staple of the running calendar since its inception in 1981. It has become an iconic go-to event for all running abilities from the beginner to the seasoned athlete, raising millions of pounds for charities and becoming a tick on many people’s bucket lists.

Representatives from the Avon Valley Runners have attended for many years, and this year’s group are coming to the end of their training and looking forward to the big day on Sunday 27^th April, and certainly ‘doing it for the girls’ in an all-female group.

Diane Hier, who currently holds the club’s FV60 marathon record of 3:35:27 which she set in 2023 at London, will be running her 21^st London Marathon route this year. Tina Vivian ran at London for the first time in 2004 at the age of 48 and will complete her 11^th London Marathon this year at the age of 70. Izzy McNally qualified for her place by running a ‘good for age’ time at the Edinburgh Marathon in 2024 and is hoping for good weather to help her complete the course – “I’m very excited to run at London with my fellow AVR runners and am hoping it will be less rainy than Scotland was!" Gill Perry won her place in a competition organised by The Body Coach, Joe Wicks who personally phoned Gill to give her the good news, “I couldn’t believe it when I picked up the phone. I thought it was a joke at first but I’m so happy to be running!” Joe shared his phone call on his Instagram page in the New Year so you can watch Gill as she receives her news, here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEaPjJgsW50/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Gemma Rosewarn is raising money for the charity, Shelter while Sarah Waugh is the proud winner of the club’s ballot for a place in the event. “I’m so excited!” says Sarah, “I’m so grateful to have won the club ballot. My coach, Fiona Price, has been coaching me through every step of the way, helping with my training plan, giving advice, encouragement and moral support. Everyone has been very kind and it really means so much”.

If you’re inspired to run, you can try three free sessions with AVR when they meet on various nights at the Trowbridge Rugby Club – session information is on the website here: https://www.avonvalleyrunners.org.uk/training-sessions. Email enquiries can be sent to secretary@avonvalleyrunners.org.uk.

In the meantime, a very good luck to all of AVR’s London runners on the 27^th April.

21/04/2025 | Avon Valley Runners |