Anne Oakes

Wally Oakes

Marathon effort

Long-running

story for trio

ONE marathon may be enough for most people -- but three super-fit athletes have clocked up more than 400 between them.

Dougie Tobutt joined Anne and Wally Oakes in the millionaire's playground of Monte Carlo for their latest race to raise money for Derian House Children's Hospice.

The Monte Carlo marathon was Dougie's 90th 26-miler.

He ran his first in 1981, when a friend at his local gym suggested he take part in that year's Bolton Marathon.

Dougie, who runs a sports shop in Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge, has run marathons in Russia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, New York, South Africa, Dubai and the Australian Gold Coast.

Yet he once claimed that he did not enjoy running, and took part in marathons for the challenge and the chance to see the world.

The 53-year-old from Bromley Cross has to bow to Wally when it comes to experience.

For Wally, from Farnworth, has completed well over 200 marathons since running his first in Bolton 21 years ago.

His enthusiasm is so great that he once ran 25 marathons in a year in the early 1990s. Wally ran his 100th marathon in 1994, and chalked up 200 when he competed in New York in 2000.

His wife Anne has completed nearly 50 marathons and also plays squash for the Village Prestwich team.

RACING CERTAINTIES: Wally Oakes, Anne Oakes and Dougie Tobutt in Monte Carlo

ONE marathon may be enough for most people -- but these three super-fit athletes have clocked up more than 400 between them.

Dougie Tobutt joined Anne and Wally Oakes in the millionaire's playground of Monte Carlo for their latest race to raise money for Derian House Children's Hospice.

The Monte Carlo marathon was Dougie's 90th 26-miler.

He ran his first in 1981, when a friend at his local gym suggested he take part in that year's Bolton Marathon.

Dougie, who runs a sports shop in Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge, has run marathons in Russia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, New York, South Africa, Dubai and the Australian Gold Coast.

Yet he once claimed that he did not enjoy running, and took part in marathons for the challenge and the chance to see the world.

The 53-year-old from Bromley Cross has to bow to Wally when it came to experience.

For Wally, from Farnworth, has completed well over 200 marathons since running his first in Bolton 21 years ago.

His enthusiasm is so great that he once ran 25 marathons in a year in the early 1990s. Wally ran his 100th marathon in 1994, and chalked up 200 when he competed in New York in 2000.

His wife Anne has completed nearly 50 marathons, and also plays squash for the Village Prestwich team.