Couple take wedding and half-marathon in their stride

A bride-to-be and her bridegroom will be among hundreds taking part in this year’s Newark Half-marathon.

Holly Davis and her partner, Dave Dews, of Farndon, had not taken the date of this year’s half-marathon into account when they booked their wedding.

When they discovered it was four days before their special day they decided to enter anyway.

The half-marathon will be on August 12. They will marry at St Peter’s Church, Farndon, on August 16.

“It never occurred to us but when we realised we both decided to do it anyway,” said Holly.

“It will be a stress reliever.”

It will be the first time that Holly has taken part in the Newark event since it started again three years ago.

She was pregnant when it was first restarted and had only just had her son, Eli, now one, when the second one was held.

Dave took part in last year’s event and said it was hard going because of the hot weather.

He said there was great support in many areas along the course and hoped that people would come out again to help the runners keep going.

“There was one house in Hawton where they came out with a hose pipe, which was great,” he said.

Both are members of Newark Striders, which helps support with training.

Holly’s father, Peter Davis, is the organiser of this year’s half-marathon and will be running as well. Both he and Holly are running for Newark Mind.

Peter and Dave expect to finish ahead of Holly, and will return to the course to accompany her on the final stages.

“I am not looking for a time,” she said.

“I just want to complete it and enjoy myself.”

The couple’s children, Elsie, 6, and Alfie, 5, will also be taking part in the 2k fun run at the half-marathon event, accompanied by their aunt, Rowanne Davis, and her boyfriend, Luke Moore.

Both children are members of Junior Newark Park Run, which meets in Sconce and Devon Park on Sundays.

The closing date for registration for the half-marathon, which starts and finishes in Sconce and Devon Park, is Sunday.

More information is available on the event’s website www.newarkhalfmarathon.co.uk