Cambridgeshire athlete wins global 'Wings for Life' running challenge

A Cambridgeshire athlete has spoken of his shock in becoming the first Briton to win the Wings For Life global running challenge.

RAF worker Michael Taylor, who lives in St Neots, was one of seventy-seven thousand runners world wide who took part in the virtual version of the charity event at the weekend.

Usually the Wings for Life World Run is staged at various venues across the world, with athletes all starting at the same time.

But the COVID-19 pandemic meant it wasn't possible to do the same for this year's event, the seventh time it was held.

Instead runners used an app which allowed them to cover their own course simultaneously.

There is no finish line. Instead, 30 minutes after the start, a virtual Catcher Car begins pursuit, passing the runners and rollers one after the other. Results aren’t measured in time, but in distance achieved.

Michael covered almost 70 kilometres to win (69.92km), beating twice global champion Aron Andersen of Sweden (68.15km) by over a kilometre.

Wings for Life is a not-for-profit spinal cord research foundation with the single mission to find a cure for spinal cord injury. 100% of entry fees and donations goes directly to spinal cord research.

Michael, who's competed in cycling and triathlon events, had already planned to take part in the Comrades Marathon event in South Africa before it was postponed due to the Coronavirus.

And winning the Wings for Life World Run was a double bonus, as he was told about his victory by the event ambassador, former Great Britain athlete and Olympian Colin Jackson.