THERE won’t have been many better personal bests recorded in Sunday’s Virgin London Marathon than the one celebrated by Catie O’Donoghue.

Despite the unseasonably warm conditions that slowed most times the 26-year-old Swindon runner from Lakeside smashed her previous time by over an hour as she completed the 26.2 miles in 3hrs 21mins 29secs.

Considering it was only her second marathon after making her debut in 2013 running 4:24.06 that marks a massive improvement but O’Donoghue wasn’t entirely happy.

“I was originally aiming to run sub three hours but it was so hot that once the race started I had to change my goal and just focus on getting around,” said O’Donoghue, who is a former member of Swindon Slinn All-Stars

“The first three miles were alright as they are downhill but then I started to feel it so I just told myself to enjoy it and don’t do anything crazy.

“I think that was the right decision and I really enjoyed myself . Running London is just such an awesome experience. I loved it.”

There is little doubt that on the basis of her improvement this winter O’Donogue, who now competes for Bristol & West AC and trains regularly with their strong women’s squad, has the potential to go under three hours in the future but wisely she saved herself for another occasion when conditions might be more helpful.

“Nonetheless I don’t think even Mo took an hour off his personal best, did he?!” joked O’Donoghue.

“I don’t feel I let myself down at all and when I get stronger and more experienced then I will have another attempt but in the meantime I will be racing shorter stuff once I recover.”

Swindon Harrier Hannah Claydon already has a sub three-hour time to her name from her debut in Chester last year but she too struggled in the heat before completing the event in 3:13.24.

After a terrific build-up Swindon Harrier Ben Cole also had high hopes for London but like O’Donoghue his hopes were thwarted by the heat.

The 32-year-old from Shaw Ridge was in shape to go under his lifetime best of 2hrs 27mins 16secs set in 2015 but wisely backed off attacking that time and was content to settle for a solid 2:32.19.

“I had hopes for a PB but it was really hot on the day and in the end it was just a question of getting through it,” said Cole.

“I mean five weeks ago I was running in the snow in Swindon so it was a lack of acclimatisation really. I felt okay going through halfway in 72minutes which was my original plan but then the heaviness set into my legs and from 30k everything started to hurt and I just had to plough on to the finish as best as I could.

“The conditions definitely took their toll but overall it was a decent performance to signal the end of a great winter and mark the start of the summer.”

Virgin London Marathon – Women: Hannah Claydon (Swin) 3:13.24; Catie O’Donoghue 3:21.59. Men: 43 Ben Cole (Swin) 2:32.19.