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Harriet Cross and Cat Smith Prepare for the London Marathon

Conservative MP Harriet Cross is set to participate in the London Marathon this Sunday, targeting a finishing time of under four hours. If she crosses the line in under three hours and 57 minutes, she will break the current record for the fastest female MP, a title held by Jo Swinson since 2019.

Cross acknowledges the significance of the record but is cautious about her expectations. “There is a 26.2-mile course between me and that at the moment, so I don’t need to get ahead of myself,” she remarked, aiming for a time in the mid-three hours range but leaving room for the unpredictable nature of race day.

The MP for Gordon and Buchan has a solid running background, having secured victory in a 50km ultra marathon in 2023. Despite this experience, she admits to feeling a touch of nerves as the marathon approaches. Unlike her usual mountain races, this will be her first experience on a flat, paved course. “This is different because it’s flat… when you’re going up a hill you get to walk, so this is a lot more daunting,” she explained.

The dynamic of a large crowd also adds to her anxiety. Typically running in Scotland with only a few hundred spectators, she anticipates the challenge of performing in front of a crowd of 50,000, stating that it will be “daunting.”

‘Maranoia’ Sets In

Labour MP Cat Smith is gearing up for her third London Marathon, but like Cross, she is feeling the pre-race jitters. Describing her feelings as “maranoia,” she outlined the common anxieties that surface as the marathon draws near. “The last few days before you do the run you start thinking back to all the training runs and thinking ‘maybe I should have done another one, or maybe I should’ve tried harder…,'” she shared, acknowledging the self-doubt that many runners experience.

Smith’s previous marathon finish time was six hours and six minutes, and she humorously identifies as the “tortoise” of the race, emphasizing that completing the marathon is her true objective rather than chasing records. “When you complete a marathon, that is the real prize,” she added.

Insights on Running and Politics

With a wealth of marathon experience, Smith offered a lighthearted perspective when asked if she had any advice for her fellow competitors, stating, “I have absolutely no advice at all that is worth having. Just keep one foot in front of the other.” She and Cross will join a total of 16 MPs running the race, and Cross sees parallels between marathon running and political life. “It needs determination, focus, and the ability not to be distracted by what others are doing around you,” she commented.

Cross is fundraising for Kayleigh’s Wee Stars, a charity that supports families with terminally ill children, while Smith is running for the Bay Hospital Charity, which funds medical equipment and other amenities not covered by the NHS.

For those interested in listening to more about their marathon journeys and preparations, interviews will be aired on BBC Radio 4’s Today in Parliament on Friday at 23:30 BST and can be accessed later on BBC Sounds.

Source
www.bbc.com