KEVIN Shelton-Smith, of Doniford, has been selected for the England Masters’ team for the Abingdon Marathon on Sunday, October 19.

Kevin enjoyed a career in the RAF as an engineer, officer and pilot before serving 16 years as a diplomat in the United Nations HQ in New York with Peacekeeping. There he was able to spend much time running.

He said: “I became a familiar face at New York City events and races, including running up the Empire State Building, and was even awarded the New York Road Runners Runner of the Year Award in 2011. I was in New York during 9/11 and my military training helped me again, in supporting my local running team and getting them to safety following the awful Boston Marathon bombings in 2013, which was a bit too close for comfort.

“The following year the desire from runners to return to Boston was enormous and I ran my personal best that day with a time of 2 hours 44 minutes at the age of 54 years. In 2015, I returned home to the UK and my family, working as an aviation consultant. I continued racing and won my age group at London and various other races and distances, including the 145 miles non-stop Bristol to London Canal Run and the 153 miles Spartathlon in Greece.

“Minehead Running Club is also my family now. We meet for social runs on Mondays with workouts on Wednesdays, all around the area. On other days, I can often be seen training around Exmoor, the Quantocks, along the Mineral Line from Watchet or from my home in Doniford. Recent local races have been the 5-person Uphill to Wells Relay which passes through Cheddar and the 10 miles of trails Doone Run from Lynmouth. I also came second in my age group at the Newport Marathon this Spring.”