Father and son duo set sights on team world record time (From Wharfedale Observer)

Father and son duo set sights on team world record time

11:40am Thursday 19th April 2012 in Local news By Newsdesk

A father-and-son team are hoping to set a new a world record in the London Marathon.

Student Alex Sinclair, 19, will take part in Sunday’s famous race for the first time alongside his father Jonathan, 52, who has completed the marathon on five occasions.

But despite this being his debut, Alex has his sights set on setting a new record.

Currently, the best combined time for a father and son to complete the same standard marathon is five hours and 47 minutes but, with training progressing well, Alex is hoping the Sinclairs, from Easby Drive, Ilkley, can set a new benchmark.

“I was reading a magazine which said the record was six hours and three minutes,” he said. “I thought, ‘yes, we can beat that’, but it has come down to five hours, 47 minutes since we started training. It will be close, but I still think we’ve got a chance and I’m looking forward to it.

“The way we have been running I think we’ll be around the time. If we can get close to it, it will be great. If we can beat it, it will be amazing.”

Alex, who is studying history and politics at Warwick University, says his dad’s best marathon time is two hours 54 minutes in the New York event, and claims he is “generally” the quicker of the two.

He said he has been running alongside his dad for almost a decade.

“I think he started running regularly when he was about 35,” Alex said.

“I started to go running with him when I was about ten and really enjoyed it.”

The pair regularly compete for Ilkley Harriers and will be raising money for Scope by competing in the marathon.