WHEN new gran Mary Pattison was asked how she wanted to celebrate her 60th birthday, she turned down a party... opting instead to run a marathon!

Care support worker Mary, of Amisfield Place, Longniddry, told husband Steve she wanted to take on the challenge in Prague for her special day.

The couple are now hard in training for the big event, at the start of May.

Mary, who has been running since her thirties, said she fancied taking on the challenge as a unique way to mark her birthday.

She said: “I didn’t want a party and instead said I fancied running a marathon.

“Steve had a look and found the one in Prague and we signed up. We’ve both been there before and we are really looking forward to it.” Mary and Steven have both taken part in races in the Czech Republic, where Mary came second in her age category in a half marathon in Pardubice in 2013.

The couple are both members of Tyne Bridge Harriers but started out with Musselburgh Athletic Club.

Mary was club champion for six years and Steve for three years.

Mary said: “I started running in my thirties and just became hooked on it.

“I became a coach helping others run and one day I asked Steve to come for a run with me. Since then we’ve enjoyed running together and travelling to races to compete.” Steve said the couple, who have two grown-up sons and a new baby granddaughter, have taken part in more than 1,000 races between them.

He said: “Training started in January but we have had a couple of setbacks as Mary tripped over a friend’s dog while running in February and had a nasty accident as she fell face first on to the gravel road near Tranent.

“She obviously was a bit shocked and lost some confidence but a week later we travelled to Florida to see our first granddaughter, which was special; the weather was so hot that our training runs had to be cut short, though.

“We got a boost in Florida, though, as we ran two races there and both finished first in our age categories.” The couple will fly out to Prague a few days before the race, which takes place next Sunday (May 3).

Mary said: “We’re looking forward to the challenge and representing our club and East Lothian in Prague.”