Almost the entire editorial team at Manchester Metro News is training to compete in a half-marathon.

Editor Richard Butt, (left), thought it would make an interesting feature if one of his reporters trained for the Wilmslow Half-Marathon in March.

He asked for volunteers… and was astonished when three reporters, the features editor and the sports editor all said they’d be up for it.

Richard, (37), who completed the half-marathon himself last year, said: “Of course, when everyone said yes, I had to agree to do it again too.

“So now everyone’s coming to work with their PE kit, moaning about aching limbs and comparing their personal trainers’ levels of sadism.”

The runners are: editor Richard Butt, features editor Justin Connolly, sports editor Dominic King and reporters Rachel Broady, Conrad Astley and David Henry.

David Henry, Rachel Broady, Conrad Astley
and Justin Connolly, with their trainers

The team has been taken on by LA fitness, a gym in the city centre.

And each member has been assigned a personal trainer, and they’ll be reporting on their progress – or lack of it – over the next few months.

They are raising money for Christie Hospital, Manchester, which treats cancer patients.

Reporter Chris Osuh and deputy editor George Dodds were the only members of Metro News’ staff sensible enough to decline.

George said: “Anyone who knows me will be unsurprised to find out I’m not taking part.

“Besides, who else will do the paper while they’re all recovering?”

Conrad tests his fitness levels

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