A BROMSGROVE man who was billed as the ‘fastest man in Bromsgrove’ in 2017 when he finished the Birmingham Marathon has smashed his 26.2miles personal best in London on Sunday.
Karl Welborn, who is 37 and lives in Aston Fields, completed the Second City course in 2hrs, 39mins and on Sunday he managed 2hrs 29mins and 56secs in the Captial, finishing 82nd out of more than 40,000 runners.
Karl said: “The training hadn’t been going that well and I didn’t feel great on the day so had to work really hard to get the time I did.”
Karl won gold for England in the Celtic Championships in October and was planning to run the Manchester Marathon three weeks before London where he had set himself a time target of 2hrs 26mins but he did not make the race.
“I had a few niggles and work got in the way so it was fantastic to make London and get that time.”
Karl has the same coach as elite runner Hayley Carruthers who hit the headlines on Sunday when, after suffering with exhaustion, she crawled over the line.
Karl added: “I have been talking to my coach and we are hoping to set a big target for me at the Valencia marathon in December so I’m hoping for a good summer to work towards that.”
And Karl’s nine-year-old daughter is following in his footsteps – she has recently taken up running and has joined Bromsgrove and Redditch Athletics Club.
She finished 2nd in the 600m and has qualified for the County Cross-Country.
