Harvey, 2, helps mum train for London Marathon

Jan 16 2009 by Katie Campling, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Harvey, 2, helps mum train for marathon

LINTHWAITE woman Bev Coates has picked a special training partner to help her get fit for the London Marathon – her two-year-old son.

Little Harvey accompanies his mum while pounds the streets in training for the 26-mile run in April.

And he has proved to be the perfect training buddy – because he hates going slowly.

He can often be heard shouting, ‘faster’ to his mum to spur her on during difficult uphill stretches.

Bev, manager of the Total Fitness gym at Waterloo, said: “He is much happier going downhill when I can speed up. Then he lets our little whoops of appreciation.”

However, Harvey will not be taking part in his first marathon just yet.

Bev, 33, said: “He definitely won’t be coming with me for the real thing. There’s no way I’m pushing him around for 26 miles!”

Bev has just begun a 15-week training programme for the marathon, which includes outdoor runs with Harvey plus additional miles on the treadmill at her workplace.

Her colleague, duty manager Andrew Wiggins, is also providing important moral support for Bev as she approaches her first marathon.