A Record-Breaking London Marathon
Members of Alton Runners were out in force at this year’s London Marathon, contributing both on the course and behind the scenes at what proved to be a truly historic event. 59,226 runners crossed the finish line in the 2026 race, which will be remembered for elite performances at the very front, including two athletes breaking the once-mythical sub-two-hour barrier and a new world record being set.
Alton Runners fielded nine participants in this year’s event. In addition, the club provided a dedicated team of volunteers stationed on The Mall just beyond the finish line, where they played a vital role helping exhausted runners reunite with their baggage. Richard Scrase led the volunteering effort, and the team was further supported by a contingent from Basingstoke.
Leading the way for the club was Sam Larcombe, who was first home for Alton Runners in an excellent time of 2:50:38. Close behind, Steve Drysdale delivered a superb performance to achieve a personal best of 2:55:56, while Christian Coles also broke the three-hour mark with a personal best of 2:58:19.
Reflecting on his race, Christian said: “The weather was a little warmer than I would have liked, but the atmosphere was amazing from start to finish. I had a great run working with Steve for the first 14 miles or so. At around 20 miles I lost concentration and hit the tarmac, but I was back on my feet in seconds to a big cheer from the crowd. I dusted myself off and finished strong.”
Having gained his place through the public ballot, Christian is already looking ahead to his next major challenge: the Chicago Marathon in October.
Also putting in strong performances were Rachel Walsh, who finished in 3:09:34, and Andrew Lowton, who recorded 3:13:32, which was an outstanding run that earned him a personal best and a new club V60 record. Wendy Kilner-Smith crossed the line in 4:02:55, while John Greenhaugh recorded a time of 4:31:38.
John secured his place through Alton Runners’ affiliation with England Athletics, which provides the club with one guaranteed London Marathon entry each year. He was selected in recognition of his consistent commitment, having completed a significant number of road race league and cross-country fixtures.
Kathryn Powell represented the club as this year’s recipient of the volunteer place, which is awarded to members who have made outstanding contributions to club volunteering. Kathryn earned her spot after assisting at events including last year’s marathon baggage area and the Vitality 10K. Kathryn completed the course in 4:48:05, achieving a personal best despite challenging conditions.
Ellie Elder also took part for the club, finishing with a solid time of 6:47:53.
Kathryn described her marathon journey as both demanding and rewarding: “I was delighted to be awarded the club place for volunteering. Training was a tough 16-week plan with Rachel and Christian. We trained in rain, cold, wind and dark, so naturally race day was a sunny 22 degrees! I started out brilliantly and was on target for about a 4:25 time but sadly as it got hotter, I got a little slower. I came in at 4:48 which was a marathon PB for me and had the absolute best day. To have my daughter, Lola, in the crowd cheering me along and a cup of tea waiting for me at the finish line, along with the big smiles from the Alton Runners volunteers, meant the world to me! The crowds were wild all the way round and I’ve never had my name screamed so much. Proved to the doctors that I could and would run over a half distance!”
Kathryn is now preparing for an ambitious series of endurance challenges, including the Serpent Trail 50K, a half Ironman, and the remaining Hampshire Road Race League fixtures.
Next up for the club is their own fixture, the Alton 10 on 10th May, which has already attracted over 550 runners. The event will see a strong turnout not only from visiting athletes but also from a large number of Alton Runners members, both competing and volunteering to ensure another successful day for the local running community.