A RUNNER has taken a 30-year club marathon record after smashing her personal best.

Vicki Ingham was taking part in the Valencia Marathon when she broke the Poole Runners women’s marathon record.

Powering round the course in a rapid time of two hours, 44 minutes and 28 seconds, she beat the previous record by just over three minutes.

The 36-year-old was aiming to break the three-hour barrier and never expected to break the record which was set by Nicki Jones in 1993 at the Dublin Marathon.

“It just all came together on the day, really,” Vicki said. “I’ve been trying to get under three hours, I’ve done seven marathons and never quite done it.

“I paced it well, and at halfway I felt really good and then I just managed to keep the same pace throughout.

“I didn’t know what I was on for, so in the last 300 metres I looked at the clock and I could see what the elapsed time was, and I realised I was going to get that time.

“I wasn’t even going for that time, so I was really pleased, it was a lot quicker than I was hoping for.”

Bournemouth Echo: Vicki Ingham with her medal.

She said taking the record at the race on Sunday, December 3, ‘means a lot’.

Vicki, who has been a member of Poole Runners since she was 10, said: “It’s always been a target just to get under three hours, and it’s always been a dream to get that Poole Runners record, but I never thought it was possible.

“So, it was a bit of a shock really, a nice shock.”

Vicki now plans on running the London Marathon in April and may aim for a sub-two hours 40 minutes time.

But, for now, she is happy that she has broken the three-hour barrier.

Vicki said: “I’m just over the moon that I’ve got that, and I can be happy with getting that sub-3 eventually.”