London Marathon Events Funding

Wow, where did that time go? Well, over here it went on solo time trials, highs and lows of loving and hating lockdown training and, eventually a near Marathon PB of 2:53:25 last November (3s off my pre-motherhood PB).
In other news, we are migrating this site to http://www.runningroundup.com/ as Cajsa and I focus on other people’s running more than my own marathon training exploits over there.
It’s great to be able to start reporting on some distance running news and the first of that is that London Marathon Events have recently published the list of distance runners that they will be supporting for the coming year. Here’s a little rundown of the ladies who made the cut this year:
Note: because we love marathons here, I’ve noted if they are likely to be taking part in the GB trials on the 26th April
Charlotte Arter (Cardiff AAC) - confirmed
From Cumbria but represents wales. Until recently, the parkrun women’s world record holder (15:49).  Half marathon PB of 69:40. No marathons to her name yet but excitingly, she is due to make her marathon debut at the Olympic Trials in Kew Gardens on 26th March. This is a continuing support from LME. She is also aided by Welsh Athletics. 
Saucony athlete. 
https://www.instagram.com/arterc91 
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMU_2z7H1mB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link 

Alexandra Bell (Pudsley & Bramley AC)
800m runner with a PB of 1:59.83. Competed for England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. 
Nike athlete. 
https://www.instagram.com/alexbell1992 

Elizabeth Bird (Shaftesbury Barnet AC)
Steeplechaser who recently ran 4:21.19 for 1500 at the Texas Qualifier in Austin TX.
Asics athlete.
https://www.instagram.com/lizziebird410/  
Hayley Carruthers (Birchfield Harriers); 
Marathon runner who went from a 3:22 at London 2017 to 2:47 in 2018. She was then picked for the England team at the Scotiabank marathon later that year and ran 2:36. That time  earned her the elite start at London where she became was famous for crawling her way over the line. Her PB currently stands at 2:32:42 set in Valencia at the end of 2019.   Hoka ONE ONE have recently started to support her and she has changed coaches. It would seem likely that, if all has gone to plan, she will toe the line at the Trials. 
https://www.instagram.com/hayleycarruthers26.2 
Rosie Clarke (Epsom & Ewell AC)
3000m steeplechaser.] She represented Great Britain at the 2017 World Championships. She ran 8:58.97 in the 3000m at the European Indoor Selection trials in Manchester last month.
New Balance athlete
https://www.instagram.com/rosiemaeclarke/ 
Natasha Cockram (Micky Morris Racing Team)
One to watch at the Olympic Trials, she won the Elite only closed edition of the London Marathon in 2020 in a time of 2:33:19. Her PB is 2:30:49. She is the Welsh Record holder for the marathon
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMZvizeHHaT/ 
Stephanie Davis (Clapham Chasers)
After running 2:27:40 and bagging the Olympic qualifying time in Valancia in Dec 2019, Steph surely has to be one to bet on for a place in the GB team. She’s not confirmed as competing yet, but we hope she is!
Born in Glasgow and now living in London working for and supported by Lazard Asset Management, she first full marathon in 2018 (Berlin, 2:41:18) which she followed with a 2:32:18 off the mass start at London Marathon in April 2019. She is part of the scottishathletics Marathon Project targeting the Commonwealth Games, Birmingham in 2022.
https://www.instagram.com/steph_davis26/ 
Sarah Inglis (Lothian Running Club)
Lives and trains in Vancouver, CA.  Confirmed for the Trials start list and looks to be in great form after placing 9th and running a 2:29:41 PB at the Marathon Project race in Chandler AZ, USA in Dec 2020.
Asics athlete
https://www.instagram.com/sarahinglis5 
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMNbq3Zntvn/
Tish Jones (Belgrave Harriers)
Ran 2:36:35 in the elite only London Marathon last year. PB stands at 2:31:00 from the previous year. Was due to complete in the World Champs in Doha  but pulled out with a leg muscle injury. Hard to know what form she’s in at the moment but we’d expect her to feature in the Trials lineup.
https://www.instagram.com/tishysplishy/
Adidas athlete.
Amy-Eloise Markovc (Wakefield District Harriers); 
European 3000m champion. Based in the US. In February 2021 she broke the British 2 mile record at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in New York, running 9:30.69. Won European Athletics Indoor Championships 3000m in a personal best time 8:46.43 earlier this month
https://www.instagram.com/amyeloisem 
Jennifer Nesbitt (Cardiff AAC)
Continued support. Has  a HM PB of 72:54 set in 2016. Most recent performance was a 10,000m in 32:44.26 at the Welsh Athletics Elite Throws & 10,000m Invitational 
Hoka ONE ONE athlete
https://www.instagram.com/jennynesbitt1 
Verity Ockenden (Swansea Harriers)
Poet and middle distance runner. Won bronze  in the 3000m at the 
EuroAthletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland (behind Amy-Eloise in first) in a PB of 8:46.60
https://www.instagram.com/youngverit/ 

Lily Partridge (Birchfield Harriers)
Won the Antrim Coastal Marathon (71:36) and the Vitality Big Half (70:50) but DNF’d at the elite only London Marathon last year. Marathon of 2:29:24 set in 2018. Also DNF in Valenica in 2019, se it’s hard to know what Marathon form is like. She has been rehabbing some sciatic issues but if she can keep those away she’s one of the most experienced runners looking to race at the Trials. We await confirmation that she’s running but it would seem likely that she will want to.
Adidas Athlete
Jenny Spink (Bristol & West AC)
Based in Spain, 2020 was a tough one for Jenny with hard lockdowns making training very difficult. Her PB of 2:31:14, set at Frankfurt in 2019 means she will have been offered a spot in the Trials race, but we are waiting to hear if she is able to accept it.
Alice Wright (Worcester AC)
Trains in Northern Arizona with Hoka NAZ elite. She has tried to race a marathon a couple of times but never quite made the start line after a few injury issues over the last year or so. She looks to be running well recently but her last official race time is from 2019 at the night of the 10000m PBS where she clocked 32:27.57 so it’s hard to know what to expect if she races at the Trials
https://www.instagram.com/alicewright139/