'Ever Presents' have run every London Marathon since it began in 1981
Dale Lyons is gearing up for his 100th race and feels under pressure to complete it or he will have to leave his running club.
Saturday 22 April 2017 01:57, UK
It is one of the most exclusive sports clubs in the world and it's little wonder that 80-year-old Dale Lyons can't bring himself to even think about having to leave it.
'The Ever Presents' is closed to new members - you can only leave it and that happens automatically if you fail to complete the London Marathon each year.
There are just 12 runners left who have finished every single gruelling edition of the 26.2 mile contest since it began in 1981 and Birmingham-based Dale is getting ready to run on Sunday, with the aid of a crutch after having had ankle surgery.
"I feel very privileged to be part of such a great group of runners, they're far better runners than I am," the one-time patisserie chef told Sky News.
"One guy who is no longer an 'Ever Present' had run 40 marathons under 2 hrs 20 minutes. Can you imagine?
"Our best runner left is Chris Finill and he has run every London marathon bar one in under three hours. It's a huge privilege to be a part of it."
The group ranges from 57 to 82 years of age and includes a teacher, a solicitor, a hairdresser and a GP.
They meet up every now and then for lunch and a few drinks, a marathon-running band of brothers brought together by their love of this epic London race.
This will be Dale's 100th marathon and he acknowledges he is under pressure from both family and time if he's to remain an 'Ever Present'.
"I'll think of something! I'll keep going whatever happens, I'll stay fit and I'll keep going. I love running, I love training and I love the London Marathon."
Dale initially took up running to get fit so he could play more squash, but quickly caught the marathon bug.
"I did the first London and then I quite fancied running the New York Marathon. I did that and thought I'd had enough of marathons after two, but before I knew it, London had come round again and that was that.
"It is unique, there's no other race like it. Around 75% of the runners are raising money for charity and you don't get that in New York or Berlin or Boston. London is special."
There are no female 'Ever Presents'. In 1981 just 5% of those on the London start line were women - last year that number stood at 37%.
The 'Ever Presents' are: Chris Finill, 57, Mike Peace, 66, Roger Low, 72, Terry Macey, 67, Charles Cousens, 73, Steve Wehrle, 68, Malcolm Speake, 74, Bill O'Connor, 70, David Walker, 70, Jeff Aston, 68, Ken Jones, 82 and Dale Lyons, 80.