A LOCAL woman is preparing to travel to New York to run one of the world's greatest road races.
Kate Priest, 32, from Onchan, will line up alongside more than 100,000 other runners to compete in the ING New York City Marathon next month.
The 26 mile event has been taking place since 1970 and annually attracts many world class professional athletes as well as amateur runners from across the globe.
Kate, who is the sales, marketing and reservations manager at the Glen Helen Inn, has never run a marathon before but has taken part in a 10k race in Manchester.
She explained: "I used to run before I had my daughters and started again last year. I have been running 15 to 20 miles for approximately two months and in these last few weeks I have increased my training to 25 to 40 miles a week."
Kate is running the marathon to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust - a charity close to her heart.
She explained: "My daughter Abby has Cystic Fibrosis and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust is trying to raise money for the Gene Therapy Appeal.
"Cystic Fibrosis is one of the UK's most life threatening inherited diseases and affects more than 9,000 people."
Abbey, who is eight, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis while in the womb. She had major surgery at two days old to remove part of her bowel and now takes antibiotics twice a day and has regular physiotherapy to keep her lungs as clear as possible.
Around two million people are expected to line the streets in New York to support the runners on November 6 and the event will also be televised worldwide to 315 million viewers.
Kate is aiming to complete the marathon in under four hours and said she has already thought about the finish line.
She explained: "I am most looking forward to reaching the finishing line and running through Central Park. They tell me the atmosphere there is amazing as there are live bands playing at various spots along the route.
"I am not looking forward to running through the pain at about 18 miles. Not that I have done a marathon before but I have managed 21 miles in training!"
To sponsor Kate and for more information on the Cystic Fibrosis Trust click here.
