Winner Shelly Woods targets major marathon double unless coronavirus thwarts plans

Shelly Woods won the women's wheelchair race at the Vitality Big Half in London
Picture: PRESS ASSOCIATION — Shelly Woods won the women's wheelchair race at the Vitality Big Half in London Picture: PRESS ASSOCIATION

Blackpool Paralympian Shelly Woods wins silver in Singapore Marathon

The Boston and London marathons are scheduled to take place within a week of each other next month, though the postponement of the London spectacular has been mooted in a bid to counter the spread of coronavirus.

Woods, 33, won the women’s wheelchair half-marathon in 62:02 at the Vitality Big Half, where Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele grabbed the headlines by breaking Mo Farah’s course record.

It continued a remarkable return to competitive racing for triple Paralympic medallist Woods, who resumed her career last May after three years away to start a family.

Shelly said of her successful return to the capital, where she has twice won the London Marathon: “It’s my first time at The Vitality Big Half and I found it challenging.

“It’s quite a tough course and was challenging in terms of the wind, the cobbles and the twists and turns, but I love racing in London so it was nice to be back.

“It’s nice to get out and test the chair. I’m training for the Boston and London Marathons in April, so it was good to race today, especially with all the bad weather we’ve had in the UK recently. It’s not been easy to train outdoors because of the storms.

“There was a great atmosphere out on the course. Londoners are so great. Everyone comes out to support us.”