Jewish Chronicle London Marathon report - April 27, 2007

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Warm sunshine made last Sunday a fine day for spectating the 27th London Marathon, but a difficult day for running it. As always, Jewish runners were out in force, raising funds for many worthy causes. The fastest known to the JC was Thea Gudgeon, a fitness instructor from Watford, who clocked an outstanding 3 hours 17 minutes. The most successful fundraiser was Paul Cohen, 40, of Golders Green, who recorded 4:14 and raised £28,351 in aid of Jewish Blind & Disabled. The most senior Jewish runner was Maurice Raynor, 68, who ran his 7th Marathon in 4:38.

Solicitor Philip Hertz, 39, raised nearly £10,000 for Norwood, running 4:39 despite injury having disrupted his last month's preparation. Medical student Joe Nathan, 20, also overcame a knee injury in the final weeks of training to run his first Marathon in 4:26. "My right knee was aching after 16 miles and I was wondering how I could finish. But somehow my mind took over." He raised around £2500 for Norwood.

Another medical student running his first marathon, James Goodman, 21, ran a fast 3:44, raising in excess of £5000 for the National Autistic Society. "I was going well for the first 2 hours but then my calves and thighs gave in. But it was an amazing experience."

Solicitor Yossi Miller, 32, finished in 4:11, raising over £3500 for Norwood and the Gavriel Meir Muscular Dystrophy Trust. "My legs gave out on me with four miles to go, but I just had to beat my wife Danielle's 4:20 time from 2003. Next year we'll run it together, in under four hours!"

Debbie Zimmerman, in her second London Marathon, completed some unfinished business from her previous outing. "In 2002 I ran 5 hours and 1 minute, and that minute has always niggled me." This time she ran 4:54.

Team Norwood training partners Nigel Henry (3:46), Daniel Hertz (4:28) and David Rosenfeld (4:31) each found the heat gruelling, and suffered leg cramps due to salt loss. It was a fifth successive London for Mr. Rosenfeld, whose sister Carol lives at one of Norwood’s residential homes for adults with learning disabilities.

Spencer Goodman finished in high spirits in 5:02. "The first half was a doddle, but my legs packed in at about 21 miles. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, and I have fought in a boxing ring in my time. But it was fantastic – the atmosphere was amazing." Both Philip Kendall and Gary Rokenson told a similar story of running out of energy at 21 miles, but of being helped through to the finish by the support of the crowd.

History Professor David Cesarani, 50, running his second successive London Marathon, raised more than £2000 for Help the Hospices. Unlike others, he preferred this year's warmth to last year's rain, and was delighted to record 4:55. "It was hard going for the first two hours before it got cooler, but the support from the crowd was tremendous. I had to walk a bit at 17 miles, but I was determined to beat 5 hours and that got me running again."

Running Rabbinical couple Brian and Terry Rubenstein were pleased to finish together in 4:42, raising £25,000 for Aish and Shelter in the process. Terry, running her first Marathon, showed her fortitude by overcoming constant hamstring and knee pain. "Also," said Rabbi Rubenstein, "she egged me on over the difficult last five miles. I've run four Londons, and this was my best time. We're both very proud of each other."

Another husband and wife team, Lauren and Neil Hamburger, were cheered on around the course by a supporters club of family and friends who had come down from Manchester. Altogether they raised £10,000 for Sense, the National Deafblind and Rubella Association and for Nightingale House. Lauren said "It was really hot, and that made it harder to run, but it was a fantastic day." Neil ran 4:31 and Lauren 5:37.

Brothers Robin and Joel Clark (29 and 25 respectively) ran the course together, finishing in 4:23. For both of them, it was their first marathon. "It was a fantastic day out - the support from the crowds was incredible, not to mention the camaraderie among the runners." Together they have raised almost £8000 for children's charity ChildLine.

Jeremy Miller flew in from Israel to run for British Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem, and raised over £2,600 for the charity. He set aside his own aspirations in order to remain with his father Stephen who developed heatstroke, so that they could cross the line together. Within sight of the finish Jeremy snapped a tendon in his foot, but despite his pain he was determined to receive his medal.

Melvyn Carter, 52, and his son Joel, 27, raised funds for North London Hospice, while his younger son Adam, 25, raised almost £4000 for Chai Cancer Care. Their times were respectively 5:28, 3:56 and 3:36. Belinda Lewis ran 4:01, raising £1000 for her four year old niece Grace, who has cerebral palsy. Michael Goldman raised £10,000 for the Sarcoma Department of Christie's Hospital in Manchester, where his brother in-law is currently under supervision.

Edgware grandmother Flora Frank completed her 11th London Marathon, and 15th marathon in total for Norwood, in 6:05. She raised around £11,500, with the majority going to Norwood. She said: “It was very difficult in the heat, considering that I dressed for Rabbinic modesty rather than for comfort. But it was amazing and please G-d I’ll be there next year too.” The most prolific marathon runner among the men was Martin Fine, who completed his 13th marathon in 4:07.

A suitable post-script to the day was provided by Bat-Zion Sacks, wife of the JC Marathon correspondent. Despite entering the event without training, she ran 5:50 and reported "The only thing swollen at the end was my heart."

British Emunah: Martin Fine 4:07; Flora Frank 6:05; Ben Hadi 6:06; Daniel Rose 3:54; Bat-Zion Sacks 5:50 (Total raised: £20,000)

Chai Cancer Care: Glenda Aussenberg 7:41; Adam Carter 3:36; Craig Gottlieb 5:51; Michael Patterson 6:09;
David Wise 4:03 (Total raised: £15,000)

Jewish Care: Nat Abenaim 4:13; Zak Braham 6:11; Lorett Bredenkamp 6:28; Gary Rokenson 4:46; David Specterman 5:20. Jonny Goldstone retired at 20 miles due to knee injury (Total raised: over £11,000)

Maccabi GB: Ariel Leon 5:13; Jeremy Schwartz 4:04; Antony Silverberg 3:40

Magen David Adom: David Allen 6:06; Nicola Cane 5:17

Nightingale House: Daniel Caplan: 4:33; Paul Carter: 4:29; Mark Felix: 3:49; Lauren Hamburger: 5:37; Amanda Raphael: 4:25

Norwood: Eldon Beinart 4:40; Neil Benardout 4:59; Sarah Dembitz 6:17; Adam Fine 4:59; Flora Frank 6:05; David Freeder 5:14; Spencer Goodman 5:02; Thea Gudgeon 3:17; Nigel Henry 3:46; Daniel Hertz 4:28; Philip Hertz 4:39; Philip Kendall 4:03; Andrew Mccormick 3:29; Yossi Miller 4:11; Elliott Mullish 3:33; Joseph Nathan 4:26; Lisa Pomeranc 4:15; David Rosenfeld 4:31; Yann Solakian 4:06; Adam Velleman 4:49; Debbie Zimmerman 4:54 (Total raised: £75,000)

One to One: Daniel Astaire 4:21; Lee Ballen 3:58; Lucy Crystal 5:20; Roger Crystal 4:21; Francis Fitzgibbon 4:03; Elayne Mattey 4:50; Suzanne Werth 4:56 (Total raised: £25,000)
 
Others: Steven Berkman 4:35; Melvyn Carter 5:28; Joel Carter 3:56; David Cesarani 4:55; Robin Clark 4:23; Joel Clark 4:23; Paul Cohen 4:14; Michael Goldman 6:13; James Goodman 3:44; Neil Hamburger 4:31; Belinda Lewis 4:01; Jeremy Miller 7:11; Stephen Miller 7:11; Marc Paydon 4:12; David Pinnick 4:16; Maurice Raynor 4:38; Brian Rubenstein 4:42; Terry Rubenstein 4:42; David Specterman 5:20;