Couple from Penarth and Dinas Runners at New York Marathon

Ian and Deborah Warburton have now completed five of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series of international races held in cities including London, Berlin, and Chicago.

The couple met in 2012 at a club training session in Cosmeston Park, and their relationship grew from there.

“I remember us both in the back of a car share after a club race in the Forest of Dean,” said Mrs Warburton, a bank manager.

“We were chatting away, and after the race, I told him to get in the back for a massage – all too eagerly!”

Deborah and Ian are hoping to run a marathon in Tokyo (Image: James Bessant Davies)

“Then there was a ceilidh night at the Con club for the Penarth and Dinas Runners’ 25th anniversary,” Mr Warburton, a school planning officer, added. 

“We didn’t do much dancing, just talked all evening. Eventually, we started training outside the group, and people began casting aspersions.

We were running up Beach Hill one day, and someone drove past and said, ‘You two together again? People will talk’.”

Ian, 60, and Deborah, 57, married six years ago and had a running-themed honeymoon, taking part in the Marathon du Médoc in France. 

“It’s a mad race,” Mrs Warburton said. 

“You run through vineyards, stopping for wine, cheese and oysters at every mile. We went with a minibus of runners from the club, all in fancy dress.

“It was a perfect day. We thought about doing it again, but it was one of those things you just can’t recreate.”

Before running the New York Marathon earlier this month, she suffered a stress fracture, leaving her unable to run for seven weeks before the race.

“I hadn’t trained, so it was hard going,” she said. “I managed to run 16 miles before switching to run-walk. But I’m so proud I finished.”

Mr Warburton, who finished the race alongside his wife, was equally impressed. “For someone who hadn’t run in nearly two months, it was an incredible achievement,” he said.

“For the first 12 miles, I was just smiling. I think it’s probably the best marathon in terms of support.

“Everyone talks about the hills – the five bridges – but I was running thinking these have nothing on Penarth!”

He continued: “The music was brilliant – there was even a punk band in the Bronx. That’s me showing my age, but it was so cool.”

Mrs Warburton laughed: “He’s definitely showing his age. He’s got a room full of guitars at home – it’s his other obsession!”

Despite her injury, the couple persevered to finish in an impressive 4:51:45, celebrating their achievement at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square.

“There was a free bar, live music, and they even cheered us as we came down the stairs,” Mr Warburton said.

“It was just amazing.”

The couple run with Penarth and Dinas Runners (Image: Penarth and Dinas Runners)

“[New York] is so noisy and busy – everything’s bigger and louder,” Mrs Warburton said.

“We were there during Halloween, the Day of the Dead, the marathon, and the elections. It was buzzing, but I couldn’t live there.”

Her husband agreed: “I’ve lived in Penarth nearly all my life. The pace is slower here, even when I go into Cardiff on a Saturday night it can be too much. New York was like super that, It’s on a different side of the spectrum.”

The couple train together regularly, as well as with the Penarth and Dinas Runners. “The club’s motto is ‘the friendly running club,’ and it’s absolutely true,” Mrs Warburton said. “It’s not tribal like some clubs. They’re so inclusive and supportive.”

“We often run along the pier, out to Barry, or even as far as Castell Coch on long runs,” Mr Warburton said.

“Penarth is a brilliant place for running.”

Now, their sights are set on completing the World Marathon Majors with Tokyo. “We didn’t get a place in the ballet for 2025, and it’s expensive, but we hope it’ll happen in the future,” Mr Warburton said.