Marathon: This policeman's lot is certainly a happy one . .

Published on Monday 1 June 2009 09:58

IT was difficult to say which pleased Martin Williams most, winning a national title, setting a Commonwealth Games qualifying time or clearing his credit card debt.

The 31-year-old Walsall policeman, who qualifies to wear the blue vest through his Scottish mother Susan, will certainly be able to laugh off any "PC Plod" jokes after winning the Albert Bartlett Edinburgh Marathon, which was also the official Scottish Championship, in two hours 18 minutes 24 seconds, the fastest time by a Scot for more than three years and well inside the minimum standard set for Delhi 2010 of 2:19.0.

In doing so he collected prize-money of 2250, which will enable him to pay off the 2000 he is owing on his card.

In addition to his first prize of 1000 there was a 500 bonus for being first Scot and a 750 time bonus for running under 2:19.0.

"I knew I could do that," said Williams, who was watched by his wife Kate who six years ago encouraged him to take up running as training for football, and his English father Peter, who lives in Strathaven.

"It was never about the time – I just wanted to feel stronger at the end than I did in London (where he faded to 24th in 2:23.02).

He went on: "I wanted to get to 18 miles feeling better and then to 22 miles where I died in Florence."

Williams had set his personal best of 2:19.40 on his debut marathon in the Italian city last year. In bright sunny conditions yesterday Williams, Salford Harrier Andi Jones (the fastest Brit in London with 2:15.20), and the Portuguese Antonio Sousa (best 2:18.0) set a brisk early pace and were soon well clear of the near 13,000 strong field, going through ten miles in 52:41 and the half marathon in 69:19.

Though nothing had been agreed, the two Brits were sharing the lead with Sousa content to tuck in behind them but, by the time they had reached the Wemyss Estate at Longniddry, there was a ten-metre gap and Sousa was dropping back.

Williams, who tried to keep in the shade as much as possible as the mercury soared into the 20s, gradually eased away from his remaining rival in Prestonpans and eventually won by 24 seconds with Sousa a further 13 seconds back.

"It was probably hotter than London but we had a nice breeze in our faces going out which is how I wanted it – I felt pretty good and had no bad patches. I'd have been more than happy for Andy to win it but I knew if we were close at the end I'd win as I've got decent speed."

Williams, who becomes the sixth Scot to qualify for Delhi in the first month since the 2010 Games standards came in, defies the accepted norms for a modern distance running athlete in many ways. He is not a full-time runner but works for the police as an offender manager. He also puts in an abnormal amount of training miles, averaging 120 miles a week.

The nuclear scientist Chris Wilson was first home Scot in seventh place in a personal best 2:26.11, helping Williams and Kerry Liam Wilson (21st) clinch the team race for Ron Hill Cambuslang.

Darran Bilton from Leeds City was fourth and first veteran in a respectable 2:23.32, while Scott Balfour (Lothian), who is in the over-60 category, comfortably broke three hours in 66th place (2:53.49).

The first local runner was Harmeny's Robert Turner in 13th place (2:33.50) and Hugh McInnes (Edinburgh AC) was 26th in 2:40.12.

His capital clubmate Jennifer MacLean had the distinction of being the only Edinburgh-based athlete to make the podium, finishing third in the women's race in 2:51.37 to earn herself 500. "My target was 2:50.0 but it was a warm day and I started to feel it about 17 or 18 miles," she said.

Runner-up Toni McIntosh (Ayr Seaforth) set a personal best of 2:47.18 in only her second outing over the 26 miles, but was still well short of the Commonwealth Games target of 2:38.00.

Nevertheless the 29-year-old sports massage therapist was not too unhappy with her run. The winner however, Holly Rush (Team Bath), finished well clear in 2:41.29 to earn herself 1100. She said: "It would have been really fast if it'd been a bit cooler."

Rush has done 13 marathons but only converted from a fun runner three or four years ago.

She now wants to represent England in Delhi next year.

Aldershot-based Isla Menzies was the third Scot in 3:02.45.

A man with 18 marathons under his belt – and he intends to run another one in Elgin in September – helped Napier University to an easy win in the Hairy Haggis relay. Martin Ferguson, who will also be back in action for Edinburgh AC in the British League at Pitreavie on Saturday, was joined by Dan Mulhare, Zak Boukelia and Steve Booth and the Napier quartet (2:25.00) won by four minutes 20 seconds from Perth Flyers, with Clapham Chasers third.