RUNNERS from across Brecon and Radnorshire were among the 50,000 people who sweated their way to the finish line at this year’s London Marathon.

The 26.2-mile slog serpentines runners through London’s streets, crosses Tower Bridge and passes Big Ben, before finishing on The Mall.

Julie Cashell, from Llangynidr near Crickhowell, ran in support of her friend Margery Davies' fundraising efforts for a cancer charity.

She said: "I decided to do the London Marathon to support Margery with her fundraising for CLIC Sargent after she received her BEM last year for her services to fundraising.

"The staff and friends of Oaklands Care Home helped me to raise £4,000 for the charity. On Sunday they were watching on the TV and tracking me on the app.

"Margery always has been a very good supporter of our work so it has been a privilege to do this to support her work with the Welsh Hospital Choir. I had a good for age time so will automatically gain a place for next year."

Brecon & Radnor correspondent Karen Laurie-Parry ran the marathon in 7 hours 7 minutes and 48 seconds.

Karen, who writes about news in Erwood, Llyswen and Boughrood, said: "I was power walking most of the way, as my calf kept pulling. I felt fantastic that I completed my mission of raising money for Tenovus as it is close to my heart.

"What kept me going was the huge crowds, with all the encouragement they gave me all the way. I got sucked into the emotion of it all, I must admit.

"I found out that, if you have the willpower, you can achieve it. I did very little training, but pushed through thanks to the crowd cheering me and everyone else on.

"I'm just happy I completed the mission I set myself."

Judy Baird Murray, 53, who runs the Metropole Hotel with her husband Justin, who also ran the marathon, raised thousands for pancreatic cancer research. "I feel much better than I did yesterday, apart from the two toenails I’m likely to lose!" said Judy.

"I finished in four hours 21 minutes, which was a slower than last year, so I’m a little annoyed at that. I got a major cramp at mile 22, so it was mind over matter.

"A whole group of lads started chanting my name, so I had to keep on running. It was amazing. Truly amazing.

"Justin and I both ran for Pancreatic Cancer Research. The donations have gone through the roof. We’ve raised £4,690 so far. The support, from the community, and the Metropole Hotel staff has been amazing."

Judie and Justin now plan to complete the Abbott World Marathon Majors - the world’s six biggest marathons - by adding Chicago, Boston and Tokyo to London, Berlin, and New York.