VIDEO: Hayley Carruthers collapses at London Marathon finish
The 26-year-old British elite runner admits to going out somewhat too aggressively in the first half
British elite runner Hayley Carruthers made headlines around the world when she finished the Virgin Money London Marathon in dramatic fashion on Sunday, collapsing in exhaustion just before she reached the mat. Carruthers then crawled over the line on her hands and knees, finishing in 18th place with a time of 2:33:59–a three-minute personal best despite the extra time her bonk cost her.
So much pain but still determined to finish, Hayley Carruthers ?? #LondonMarathon2019 #GetInspired pic.twitter.com/IuhF1iUwLr
— Gavin Evans (@GavinEvs) April 28, 2019
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Avoiding helping her until she was over the mat to avoid the risk of having her disqualified, medics then took her off the course on a stretcher.
According to a report on the New Zealand site stuff.co.nz, Carruthers was recovered enough to be back at her job as a research radiographer in Birmingham yesterday. She told the BBC she started to feel ill around the halfway mark, and her legs felt heavy. She honestly did not think she could finish.
Today I learnt how NOT to run a marathon! ?? #londonmarathon atleast I PB’d … pic.twitter.com/iD1FYZSA5N
— Hayley Carruthers (@hcarruthers26) April 28, 2019
Carruthers, who only started running three years ago and who trains with a team from the University of Wolverhampton, set her previous PB (2:36:48) at last year’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. She has shown remarkable improvement in each of her four marathons, starting with her 3:22:58 at Manchester in 2017. On Sunday she came within two minutes of achieving the standard to race this year’s world championships. Carruthers is also a regular Parkrun participant.
NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens paid tribute to Hayley Carruthers @mileswithhayley who was back at work today after giving her all in #londonmarathon
“That is the kind of dedication we have in the health care sector”#ssadass19— NHS England Media (@NHSEnglandMedia) April 29, 2019
Carruthers also earned a shout-out from the CEO of England’s National Health Service, Simon Stevens. “That is the kind of dedication we have in the health care sector,” he tweeted.
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