North East Runner on Right Track for Charity Bid

Thursday 02 February 2012

YOU would think after running the London Marathon four times, it might be easier the fifth.

Not so says Rob Hamilton, managing director of Aberdeen’s cloud computing specialists Dynamic Edge.

But the 40-year-old has more motivation than ever for this year’s race on April 22 following the sudden death of his godmother, Nancie Smith, just before Christmas after a short battle with Leukaemia.

“People say to me you must know what to expect after doing it so many times before, but each year is entirely different,” Rob said. “The weather conditions play a big factor, if it’s a hot day it can cause you to be physically and mentally drained very quickly.”

More than 36,000 people run the London marathon each year but it was one of Rob’s friends who persuaded him to compete back in 2004. He added: “It was Neil Jackson, an accomplished runner, who first got me in to marathons. He has been running since 2001 and said how amazing it was so I filled in the application form and got in.

“The first one was very daunting but there are so many people in such high spirits that it’s very infectious when you get there. “I chose to run for Alzheimer’s Scotland for the first couple of years due to my dad suffering from the condition. “There’s one sector of the race that historically I struggle on, so one year, to my surprise, my mum and dad came to that stretch to cheer me on, which was very emotional but really motivated me to push myself.”

Rob, who lives in Drumoak, has been pounding the Deeside and Aberdeen pavements and trails since January 2 as his training takes shape.

Rob’s personal best was 3 hours and 39 minutes in 2007 but now he tries to enjoy it more than watching the clock.

“I ran really well five years ago but when I last ran London in 2010 I ran at a steady pace and probably found it the most enjoyable and rewarding of them all,” said Rob. “The competitive side of me still says if I can run under 3.45 I would be delighted but I’m more confident about doing it in under four hours. “But ultimately I’m running to raise as much money for sufferers of Leukemia and in memory of my godmother.”

Being his 11^th marathon in total, Rob has well and truly got the buzz for running and has set his sights on a new target, the New York Marathon.

So out of all the London marathons Rob has run previously what has been his favourite moment? “Passing someone famous always gives you a real buzz,” Rob said. “I overtook Matthew Pinsent once, Gordon Ramsay a couple of times and I think my greatest achievement was Sally Gunnell. “To pass a former gold medallist gave me real satisfaction.”