'Thrilled to be taking part': Four runners prepare to retrace original marathon in a tribute to club founder Jack Price
Members of Halesowen Athletics Club have come together to honour the memory of Jack Price, a much-loved figure in local sports.
Mark Hadley, Louise Collins, David Lewis and Alex Morgan have been training across the West Midlands to prepare for the third edition of the Original Marathon.
All are members of Halesowen Athletics Club which is situated 7 miles west of Birmingham, the club was founded by sporting hero Jack Price in 1922.
The runners are taking part in the original Marathon IX, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 7th March 2026.
The race will follow the original 1908 Olympic route from Windsor Castle to White City in London, and the West Midlands runners are due to cross the finish line from 2.30pm at White City Place.
In 1908, Jack Price won the Midlands Marathon Trial (running from Coventry to West Bromwich), beating 30 elite runners to secure his place on the British Olympic team. In the London 1908 Olympic Games Marathon Race, he led the race for 14 miles but eventually succumbed to extreme heat and exhaustion.
“I took up marathon running relatively late, in my late 40s, but have strived to catch up lost time and have run several sub 3 attempts even though now in my 50s. I am really excited to be able to take part in this race imagining the previous participants on that historic day, said David Lewis who is taking part in the challenge.
He continued: "It makes it even more exciting for me to be following in the footsteps of the founder of our great club, Jack Price, who once led in the original London Marathon. I am confident I will not be leading at any point this year but just thrilled to be taking part!”
The event is partnered with Aspire, a charity which provides practical support to people paralysed by Spinal Cord Injury so that they can live their lives independently.
“Every two hours someone is paralysed by a spinal cord injury in the UK. There is no time to prepare, it can happen in a split second and the impact is lifechanging" shared Katy Boyd, Events Manager at Aspire.
