A WOMAN from Bromsgrove is running the Paris marathon after her husband entered her into the race as a surprise.

Sarah Stanhope had planned to enter the London Marathon this year after running the 26.2 miles course several years ago, but unfortunately she missed the ballot.

Unwilling to let her get away with it that easily, her husband went online and discovered that entries were still open for the Paris marathon, entering her on the spur of the moment.

Sarah said: “I missed the ballot place, so my husband went online and said ‘I’ve entered you for Paris’ which is two weeks before London. I haven’t done any of the long runs yet, I do run the same routes of about five or six miles. I’m not a marathon runner, but I have kept fit. Last time it was like having my first baby, people were so excited. It makes me feel a bit sick the pressure, but I will do it even if I’m crawling.”

Sarah, who has already raised more than £1,000 is taking up the challenge to raise money for Parkinson’s UK, a cause close to her heart after her mum was diagnosed with the disease 12 years ago at the age of 60.

She added: “She’s 72 now and she’s in a nursing home. She also has a Parkinson’s related dementia. She used to have a fabulous tremor when she was newly diagnosed, but now her main problem is the dementia. She’s quite unsteady, she’s very quiet, and she’s still young. When I look at other people who are 72 they seem so much younger. Research just doesn’t seem to have advanced, it seems weird that they haven’t cured it.”

This won’t be the first time that Sarah has visited the French capital, but she’s not imagining the trip will involve much sightseeing.

She said: “I’m really glad I’m going to Paris. We’re there for two nights, but the first night I won’t be allowed a glass of wine and I’m imagining the second night I’ll be exhausted. I think it goes through all the famous places, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Champs Elyse’s, but I just remember with London, that I don’t even remember running past Buckingham Palace.”

To help sponsor Sarah’s efforts, visit justgiving.com/SarahStanhope2/.