Marathon effort for Adams family

Each member of the Adams family completed the marathon in under two hours

A family from Rodborough have celebrated their marathon efforts following one of Gloucestershire's biggest public participation events.

Seven members from across two generations of the Adams family, with a collective age of 273, took part in the Stroud Half Marathon on Sunday, 25 October, 2009.

Chris is the youngest and fittest of the group. He likes everyone to know that he's the best! He's my son. Jim Adams

Brothers Jim, 53, Steve, 51, and Dave, 42, were joined by sister Sue, 48, from one generation, with cousins Lee, 27, Jonathan, 26 and Chris, 26, representing the next generation.

"The core runners are myself, Steve and Dave," said Jim, who finished in 346th place with a time of 1:39:16.

"We've done the Stroud Half Marathon and other events around Gloucestershire for twenty years.

"Most of us started when we left school and went into jobs and just looked on running as a way of keeping fit and a bit of a social activity. The others have gradually come along and joined us."

Jim Adams was the oldest member of the family to take part

The fastest time was achieved by Neil Renault from Medway and Maidstone Athletics Club with a time of 1:06:08. Just less than 20 minutes later, the fastest member of the Adams family - Chris - crossed the line in 69th place with a time of 1:23:39.

"Chris is the youngest and fittest of the group" said his dad, Jim. "He likes everyone to know that he's the best!"

All seven members of the family completed the marathon in under two hours and then quickly changed before heading off for a large family reunion.

Jim said: "We all got together because it was my father's 88th birthday last week so we took this good opportunity for having all the family round and we all met up for lunch.

"So we had a family gathering of about 34 people in total which was the immediate post-race celebration, then I think we all went home, had a long bath and an early night."

Next year, the Adams hope to encourage three wives to join in and swell the family number to 10!

Thousands pounded the streets in Stroud for the town's Half Marathon