FORMER British international Holly Rush finished top Wiltshire runner in the Virgin Money London Marathon.

Rush, who is a member of Avon Valley Runners, completed the course in 2hrs 45mins 41secs, to finish 18th in the women’s championships race and also third in the V40 age group.

Remarkably, it was her third marathon in just seven weeks as she also ran Barcelona on March 10 and Manchester on April 7.

“After all those marathons, my legs felt a bit like concrete during the race on Sunday,” said Rush, who lives in Bradford on Avon.

“But now I am fine and don’t feel like I have run a marathon at all. Some people have said to me that if I concentrated on just the marathon, could I run much faster again? I am not sure.

“I am like a diesel engine, so perhaps I wouldn’t go much faster. I can just keep going. It is interesting that I have run those times off no specific marathon preparation at all, but I have enjoyed them all.”

Rush’s job with ASICS UK Frontrunners project has taken her to all these races.

Rather than just stand, watch and encourage, she is happy to join in, because at worse, it is good preparation for her ultra ambitions where she has made her mark in recent years after a career high on the roads when she took part in the Commonwealth Games and European Championship marathons in 2010, finishing ninth and 18th respectively.

“After London, I am getting back to the ultras and will run the trials for the World Mountain Running Championships, which are being held on Snowdon in the summer,” added Rush.

“It is going to be tough to qualify for the team because the Worlds are being held in Argentina this year, so there will be a lot of competition for places.”

According to provisional results, Rush was the only Wiltshire woman to duck under three hours in London, with the next fastest being her AVR clubmate Jackie Rockliffe (3:04.05).

Chippenham Harriers’ veteran Emma Hines smashed her PB by over 10 minutes (3:13.07).

Top of the Wiltshire charts for men was of Elliott Jones, of Devizes Running Club, who also smashed his PB by just over 10 minutes (2:43.46). Club-mate Dan Sault clocked 2:49.40.