Virtual London Marathon: Furneux Pelham pensioner Bob Deacon completes 18 laps of village in his fig-leaf leotard
Would you Adam and Eve it! Almost 40 years after he became Mencap's first ever London Marathon runner, Furneux Pelham pensioner Bob Deacon took part in Sunday's virtual event, once again raising money for the learning disability charity.
Wearing an eye-catching fig-leaf leotard, Bob, 71, ran 18 laps in the village, plus a little extra, to clock up the 26.2 miles (42.2km) – a route that took him past his house 19 times!
"Family reasons prompted me to approach Mencap when I ran my first marathon in 1982," Bob said. "I became their first runner and have supported them several times since, and asked if they'd like me to come back 38 years on."
He wore his trademark running outfit. "I first ran like that back in the mid-80s – my current costume is the mark 3 version," said the divorced dad.
It all came about when friends suggested he don a gorilla outfit so they could pick him out among the other runners.
"I wasn’t too keen on this idea as I felt that would be far too hot and heavy, and I was determined to run as fast a time as possible, so I racked my brains to think of something that would be fast and light but at the same time would stand out from the crowd, and this idea just popped into my head."
Bob has been running as Biblical Adam ever since. "It tends to prove very popular in London on the normal marathon day, especially on my last outing in 2016 when I also had an Eve to run with me. Sadly I couldn’t find anyone brave enough to join me this year," he said.
Despite the wet, cold conditions and a hamstring injury, Bob finished in just over five hours. "I had great support," he said. "It was a good village event."
Many of his neighbours turned out to watch, some even joined in, and one home blasted out inspirational music for him to hear each time he passed. "Psychologically, it was easier than doing the London Marathon," he said.
All money raised for Mencap in this year's London Marathon is being used to fund a programme in UK schools that brings young people with and without a learning disability together through sport to tackle stigma and discrimination.
So far, Bob has raised around £3,000 of his £4,000 target. To sponsor him, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/BobDeacon1 .
