Haines bags 2nd medal in 6 marathon challenge

(CNS): Just one week after he covered more than 26 miles of pavements in Paris, on Sunday veteran local distance runner Derek Haines took another step towards his mammoth goal of six marathons in one year. Derek Haines not only completed the London marathon, he did it in under four hours with a time of  03:57:01, despite aching legs from the previous week's onslaught. Haines may well have been inspired as more donations poured in for Cayman HospiceCare, the charity for which Haines is planning to wear out his legs around the world to raise $1 million to build an inpatient centre. Since he started the challenge in Paris last week, another $100,000 has now been pledged. Kenyan world record holder Wilson Kipsang won the race and his second title in London, finishing with a course record of 2:04:27. 

The UK’s Olympic champion Mo Farah finished eighth on his marathon debut with a time of in 2:08:21.

Haines was placed 54th overall in his category of 65-69 year olds, but more than 36,000 people hit the streets of London for the race through England’s capital.

Haines will now be taking a well-earned but relatively short break in marathon running terms as he looks ahead to the next 26+ mile race, which will be in June in Pamplona, Spain, where he will be running with his daughter, Lizzy. After that, it’s San Francisco in July and Dublin in October (Haines missed the New York registration), and finally finishing on home turf in the Cayman Islands marathon in December.

Anyone who wishes to help Haines reached the goal of $1 million can donate at www.six4hospice.com.