DEDICATED Blackpool football fan Brian Gillibrand is gearing up for the biggest race of his life - and he has his wife to thank for all his extra training.

The 34-year-old has agreed to put on his running shoes and represent the club in the Flora London Marathon after wife Angela put his name forward for the challenge.

She believed he was the perfect candidate to answer the Citizen's call for a runner to tackle the big race dressed in Blackpool's colours - and it's not the first time she has volunteered her husband for an event.

Brian joked: "I don't really mind because she gives me a lot of support but I'm the one who has to do all the extra training."

Brian's background makes him the ideal athlete to compete against representatives from other soccer clubs on April 21.

It is a challenge he is looking forward to, having completed the 1992 New York Marathon in around three hours. "That was my first marathon and I ran the first ten miles in 50 minutes which was quite fast," he said.

"I've thought about trying the double in the past but entry is not easy."

Brian's love of running stems from his childhood. He explained: "I was the fastest runner in my junior school and then I entered a lot of cross country competitions at Warbreck High School.

"Originally, I wanted to be a PE teacher but when I didn't go down that avenue I still wanted to keep up with my running."

Training for Brian, from Wembley Avenue, now includes running 15 miles around Blackpool every day as well as working out in the gym at the De Vere Hotel five mornings a week.

He also relies on a daily high-protein drink, MET-RX, from Health World in Church Street, for extra energy.

In addition, he has a lot of support from children Natasha, nine, and Jack, six, who accompany him to the Blackpool matches. "I have been watching the team since I was 12," he said, "and up to Christmas last year I went to every home match.

"Because of this it will be great to tie in the marathon with the football club.

"The training is hard work but I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Blackpool FC managing director, Gill Bridge, said: "We are so pleased to find a marathon man like Brian to represent the club.

"We look forward to seeing him running in London in the team colours and will welcome him to Bloomfield Road to collect his strip."

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