Cancer Survivor Aims for Ultimate Marathon Feat

Apryl Hammett, a 54-year-old librarian from Chelmsford, is on the verge of achieving a remarkable feat in the running world. She will complete her 100th road marathon at the upcoming London Marathon. This milestone qualifies her for the prestigious 'Triple Crown' award, recognizing runners who have completed 100 marathons each in road, trail, and ultra-marathon categories. Hammett has already surpassed 100 trail marathons and over 100 ultra-marathons since starting her running journey 25 years ago.

Her running career began as a personal challenge to lose weight, but it evolved into a passion and a means to support charitable causes. For this London Marathon, Hammett is running in aid of the Alzheimer's Society, inspired by a close family member's diagnosis with dementia. She has already completed her 98th and 99th road marathons in Brighton and Norfolk respectively in the past month, bringing her total marathon count to 465 across all formats.

Hammett has also overcome significant health battles, including a breast cancer diagnosis in recent years, and her husband has been diagnosed with throat cancer. Despite these challenges, her love for running and the outdoors fuels her ambition. She aims to reach 500 career marathons, potentially focusing on trail running due to its gentler impact on joints as she gets older. The London Marathon holds a special place in her heart, and completing her 100th road marathon there for the Triple Crown will be an incredible experience.