Two friends who had been planning to run the London Marathon together on Sunday have completed lockdown versions in separate ways.

Melissa Nicholas and Gemma Priest, both from Helston, had been training and fundraising for the last year, before the event was cancelled due to coronavirus.

Unfortunately the pandemic was not the only thing that separated them, after Gemma got injured earlier in the year, leaving Melissa to go it alone.

She went on to run the 26.2 miles around Helston College sports field - roughly 56 laps - on what should have been marathon day, while Gemma decided to carry out a 26-mile bike ride.

Melissa told the Packet she set herself the challenge to still run the marathon while out for daily exercise with her husband and two girls one day.

"It was a crazy idea really," she said. "But I thought, 'I could run round the marathon around the field' and once I'd said it to myself that was it."

While admitting it was hard going at times, in particular the repetitive nature of the run, she was "over the moon" to complete it in three hours, 52 minutes - well ahead of her time of four hours, 27 minutes in last year's London Marathon - despite the rough grass terrain.

"I really wanted sub four hours," added Melissa. "Anything under four is pretty amazing for anyone but an elite athlete. To get that on that terrain as well, I was over the moon about it."

Melissa, who said she rediscovered her love of running after joining Hayle Runners at the end of January, has set up her own fundraising page at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MelissaNicholas2 to help boost her fundraising total.

Melissa and Gemma had also been carrying out joint fundraising for the same charity Sense, which helps people who are deafblind or have other complex disabilities to communicate and experience the world.

Gemma said despite not having trained for a long time, she woke up on Sunday wanting to run but instead found an alternative.

"I woke up with a burning desire to go run 26.2 miles but not having done any training for the past two months, first because of an injury then C19 restrictions, working loads and not getting any running in, I knew it was not to be.

"So I got my bike out and smashed out the 26.2 miles instead.

"It felt amazing and if I could raise just a few pounds to help Sense, a charity who support people with complex disabilities to feel included and fulfil their potential.

"It would go towards our marathon total and a ride worthwhile now more than ever; these vulnerable people need our help."

Gemma and Melissa's original joint fundraising page can be found at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GemmaPriest