Barefoot runner's marathon first

Steve Hammond is hoping the day of the marathon will be dry

A single father-of-four is hoping to become the first fun-runner to complete the London Marathon barefoot.

Steve Hammond, 53, from Llanelli will be competing in only his second marathon next weekend.

He hopes his decision to throw away his running shoes will raise thousands for the national deafblind charity Sense.

Organisers of the Flora London Marathon say the barefoot challenge is a first in the history of the 26-mile event.

Mr Hammond, a mould maker, says his unconventional training has attracted a few puzzled glances as he jogs around the streets of Llanelli.

"People do a double take as I run past but I don't have time to stop," he said.

I'm not doing anything with my feet, although I have read all sorts Steve Hammond

His two teenage sons and two daughters who still live at home have been offering him plenty of encouragement and support, and he says the training schedule is going well.

"Every other day I do a four-mile jog in the mornings and once a week I have been going on longer runs of up to 22 miles," said Mr Hammond.

He says the cold winter made the ground very hard, although rain is worse and he's hoping for dry weather on 17 April, when the race is run.

"I'm not doing anything with my feet, although I have read all sorts," he added.

He decided on the barefoot run after successfully completing last year's London Marathon - complete with trainers on.

Excitement

Deafblindness is a combination of both sight and hearing difficulties and the charity offers a range of services built around the individual needs of deafblind people.

"I can't begin to imagine what the world must be like for someone who is both deaf and blind," said Mr Hammond.

Flora London Marathon race director Dave Bedford said:"Steve's barefoot challenge is a first for the London Marathon."

He said running for charity is now a key event of the marathon and their support teams add colour and excitement to the day.

"Running barefoot can actually improve running proficiency by 5% because the extra skin that is exposed increases the body's access to oxygen."