KATE Jenkins is a glutton for punishment and she really went through the pain barrier to clinch an amazing 14th ladies’ Moray Marathon title.
The Edinburgh runner limped across the line in agony from a calf injury that threatened to halt her astonishing Moray record.
"I hurt my calf in May when I wasn’t particularly doing anything and I had six weeks of doing nothing," she said.
"I haven’t really trained this year and have just managed a 12-mile run and 20-mile run recently. That is why I blew up after 20 miles and the last six miles in particular were very tough. I can’t repeat the words I would use to describe the pain, and I had pins and needles in my fingers which wasn’t good.
"I nearly had to stop with eight miles to go because I thought there was no way I could get to the end. My calf is very sore."
However, just like her determination to keep coming every year, Jenkins dug deep and made it home.
Only in 2001, when she didn’t win and 2004, when she missed the race, has Jenkins’ name not been on the trophy.
For more on the Moray 10k, half-marathon and marathon - with results and pictures - see this week's 'Northern Scot'
