Sophie of Wessex joins the London Marathon to support Mencap

The Countess of Wessex donned her trainers to run the first 1.5 miles of the Mencap team’s virtual London Marathon in Windsor today. 

Sophie, 55, joined the team’s run in Great Windsor Park alongside Tomas Cardillo-Zallo, one of the 312 people running for the charity. 

Dressed in black running leggings and sporting a pink and white marathon Mencap vest logo, the royal looked in high spirits – despite the torrential rain. 

A video showing Sophie and Tomas – who is a member of the charity’s Learning Disability Running team – putting in their best efforts during the marathon has been shared on the Royal Family’s Instagram account.  

She said: ‘It was an honour to join Tomas, even just for a small part of his triumph today, as he completes the virtual London Marathon in support of Mencap.

‘Tomas has shown what people with a learning disability can achieve with the right support. He is an inspiration.’

Sophie, a mother-of-two, looked the perfect athlete in light blue and grey trainers,  and didn’t seem bothered by the rain, her blonde locked scraped back in a neat ponytail. 

Mencap, which was created in 1946 by Judy Fryd, a mother whose child had learning disabilities, became one of the queen’s patronages in 1986. 

The charity offers support for carers and families of children with learning disabilities, as well as the children themselves.  

In 2004, Sophie Wessex took over the charity’s patronage and has been involved in promoting its message ever since. 

Sophie and Tomas were among the 45,000 who took part in today’s virtual London Marathon. 

Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata emerged from the rain and the gloom to become the new champion of the men’s London Marathon – as Kenyan world record holder Brigid Kosgei reigned supreme in the women’s race. 

Only elite athletes were allowed to brave the pouring rain to run over 19.8 laps of a fenced-off course in a ‘controlled secure biosphere’ around St James’s Park, London, today after the usual mass event was scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The annual race was due to take place on April 26 but was pushed back to October 4, and it was later decided only the elite athletes would be able to compete in central London.

To ensure all runners at the official event keep a safe distance apart once they finish the race, all athletes and race staff must wear Bump devices around their necks. They will beep if two wearers get too close to each other.

In an address to participants, the Duke of Sussex praised the ‘extraordinary spirit’ of runners taking part from his home in Los Angeles. 

‘This year, sadly, it’s not possible for everyone to run together on the streets of London in the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon,’ he said.

‘Instead, 45,000 runners from the UK and 109 countries around the world will run The 40th Race in their own way, taking on the 26.2 miles in their own communities.

He continues: ‘Thanks to all of you, the extraordinary spirit of the London Marathon will continue to shine across the globe.

‘While we won’t be together in person, we are together in spirit. And the amazing tenacity of runners from around the world is a reminder of our strength and sense of community during these difficult times.