Yorkshire Marathon runner from Leeds crosses line after 1,000km challenge triumph

Nicky Busby, from Garforth, Leeds, celebrates after finishing her 1,000km challenge. Picture by Gary Longbottom.

Nicky Busby, from Garforth, only took up running last October but soon pledged to take on the mammoth task, which equates to further than Lands End to John O’Groats, within the calendar year.

The 39-year-old took on the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon’s 10mile route through York and was greeted at the finish line by Jane Tomlinson Appeal supporters with champagne.

Nicky, a school librarian, has done multiple training runs, 14 10k runs and two half marathons on top of today’s York event since January – raising around £1,000 for the Jane Tomlinson Appeal.

Competitors take part in the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon, racing through the heart of York. Picture by Anthony Chappel-Ross.

“On New Year’s Day I drove to Scarborough and did my first 10k and that was the start of my journey and now I’ve done 1,002km in total,” she said.

Around 9,000 people took part in the third Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon, which started and finished at the University of York, today.

Nicky explained that she was inspired to fundraise for the Jane Tomlinson Appeal by the late Leeds fundraiser’s daughter Suzanne, who she works with, and one of her friends who is battling cancer.

She added: “My nerves were all over the place yesterday because I was near the end of my challenge but I’ve proved to myself and a lot of others that you can do it – especially when it’s for a good cause.”

Visit www.justgiving.com/Nicky-Busby1000K to donate.