When Buckinghamshire reporter James Webb decided to attempt a half marathon, he ate up the course – literally.

The well-fed wordsmith, who writes for the Bucks Free Press, South Bucks Star and Midweek, joined hundreds of runners for the Wycombe Half Marathon, but instead of racing to the finish line, he was running to the nearest take-away.

The 29-year-old former fitness instructor decided to take part in the event to raise money for the Thomas Ball Children’s Cancer Fund, in memory of the 14-year-old who recently lost his battle with neuroblastoma and was well-known to many of the staff at the Bucks Free Press.

But James decided on a slightly different approach after a suggestion from his editor, Steve Cohen, and so made his way from pub, to restarant to take-away, covering around seven miles in two-and-a-half hours and filling his face with culinary delights such as sausage rolls, naan bread and chips.

James said: “Everyone we visited was very generous. I wasn’t running so there wasn’t a problem eating, and I was sufficiently full at the finish.

“I take my hat off to the runners as it was really warm weather. It was fantastic to be part of the event.

“We collected about £130 in buckets on the way round the course and about £250 in total with sponsorship.”

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail [email protected]