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Retired double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes will run her first marathon this year at the inaugural Virgin Money London Marathon.
The 45-year-old will be among the 40,000-strong field of runners taking to the streets of the capital this April, and will join the group of seven British Olympic track and field gold medallists who have gone onto run the marathon, including the likes of Sally Gunnell and Seb Coe.
Holding British records for both 800m and 1500m, Holmes is Britain’s most successful female middle distance runner, winning gold medals in the 800m and 1500m events in Athens in 2004, as well as Olympic bronze in the 800m in the 2000 Games in Sydney.
The athlete will run this year’s VMLM to raise money for four charities, The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, Myeloma UK, The Pickering Trust and Hospice in the Weald.
Talking about running the marathon she said, “26.2 miles is a very long way for a long-time retired, middle distance runner.
“I will have to completely change my mindset to train for such a long distance but it’s a challenge that I am now up for, especially as for me it will all be about raising lots of money for charity.
“It’s the most amazing event, the atmosphere is incredible and now I can’t wait until Race Day.”
