CITIZEN reporter Chris Dixon is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - to run the London Marathon in under four hours.

Having previously completed two half marathons, the 21-year-old is taking a step up and will try the 26-mile trek on April 26.

He will run on behalf of the PDSA after being awarded one of the charity's guaranteed places in the race, but first he has to raise at least £500 in sponsorship.

Chris, a lover of most sports, caught the running bug at school after taking part in cross country races and kept it up to such an extent that he was able to enter the Wilmslow half marathon two-and-a-half years ago and again 18 months later.

"I finished the first one in an hour and 40 minutes. Unfortunately, my watch stopped the second time around but I think I did better," he said.

"The London Marathon is a new challenge and has always been an ambition of mine.

"I used to do a lot of long distance running and now I want to go a step further. I'm really looking forward to it."

With just 13 weeks to the big race, Chris now faces a painful and gruelling training schedule which includes slow gradual runs during the week building up to a bigger run at the weekend - and the Citizen will be following him every step of the way.

If you would like to sponsor Chris on behalf of the PDSA, write to the Citizen at St Annes Buildings, Clifton Drive North, St Annes, Lancs, FY8 2NA.

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