Hurricane blows Clare’s marathon hopes

SHETLAND runner Clare Pearson has vowed to return to New York after the city’s marathon was cancelled at the last minute.

The Sandwick primary school teacher had already landed at the city’s JFK international airport on Friday when she learned the Sunday run was off due to the after effects of Hurricane Sandy.

Pearson agreed with the decision to cancel, but said she wished it had been made a little earlier.

However the 31 year old, who is now on her way back to the isles, said she still managed to have an “amazing weekend” in the Big Apple.

The New York marathon was to be Pearson’s first and she had already raised almost $6,000 for Team UNICEF, for whom she was competing.

To make up for the cancellation, the team ran around the city’s Central Park on Sunday along with hundreds of others who were due to take part in the real thing.

“The atmosphere was amazing, members of the public came to cheer and hand out water,” she said.

“There were so many inspiring people running, including some whom had been affected by the hurricane, and a man who was blind and deaf and running with a guide.

“Some even did the marathon around the park.”

She has now been guaranteed a place with UNICEF for next year’s marathon and said that all funds raised would be carried forward.