Bishop’s Move General Manager David Guiel’s 18-year-old son Rupert, was officially named the youngest competitor in the 2017 New York Marathon.  This was Rupert’s very first marathon, making it an extra special occasion for him and his family as he completed the race alongside his father a day after his 18th birthday.  Rupert is not the youngest person ever to compete in the New York Marathon however. Before the 1988 ruling requiring runners to be 18 or over to compete, an eight- year-old from Columbia completed the 1977 race in just over three hours!  

Rupert said, “It’s definitely an experience I’ll never forget being part of and something I’m really proud to say I have done. A marathon is always something I’ve wanted to do, so I looked in advance what races were nearest to my birthday. As it turned out, New York fell on the weekend of my birthday and it just went from there.”  

For David, it was the 13th marathon of his career whilst helping raise thousands of pounds for Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital, Westminster, London. David recently took part in the Barcelona Marathon for his 50th birthday and was pleased to mark another special occasion in the family by tackling another 26.2-mile course.   

David said, “To say I’m proud is something of an understatement. This was an occasion our family will never forget. For Rupert, an 18 year old from the small town of Arundel, West Sussex, to be the youngest competitor in the world-famous run of the New York Marathon really is quite something. It’s an achievement that will never be taken away from him.”  

Photo: Rupert crossing the finishing line