RUNNERS can often have odd racing habits. It is well-known that Paula Radcliffe bathes in ice after a gruelling race.

So perhaps it should not be a surprise that one Osbaldwick runner prepared for Sunday's London Marathon by training with a dog.

Phillip Oliver and Smudga have been running together in preparation for the 26.2 miles but Phillip, 40, will be without his four-legged companion in the race tomorrow.

Animal-lover Phillip, who works in the veterinary industry, said: "I found it much easier to stick to a routine knowing I had company for the hard graft of the training regime."

So far Phillip has raised more than £1,000 for the Queen Mother Hospital For Animals Development Appeal, a trust fund to improve the national animal hospital.

David Heppell, 59, and his daughter Karen Scott, 25, from Badger Hill, York, are also raising cash for dogs after David's wife, Dorothy, received an assistance dog, Swift, from Dogs For The Disabled two years ago. She has seen an "incredible difference" in her quality of life since Swift's arrival to help out around the house.

David and Karen hope others can continue to benefit in the same way and donations can be made by phoning 01904 415242.

Meanwhile, pensioners Brian and Sheila Latto, from Upper Poppleton, York, have decided Sunday's event will be their last. It will be Brian's 11th London marathon and Sheila's fourth. They will be raising money for Action Medical Research.

Mrs Latto first got involved through her husband - a keen runner for many years. His best performance was a three-and-a-half hour time, but he will be glad just to finish this year after a recent knee operation.

Two lecturers from the University of York will be running for Care International in memory of Margaret Hassan, the Care worker who was murdered in Iraq. Megan Roughley and Tim Vicary, who have a combined age of 106, raised £1,200 when they both completed the Great North Run in September. They hope to surpass that total tomorrow and sponsors can help by logging on to the website www.justgiving.com/megandtim.

The Teenage Cancer Trust is another worthy cause to benefit from York athletes' charitable nature. Richard Byfield and Russell Hirst, of London York, in Foss Islands Road, are competing on the trust's behalf. Russell is aiming to smash the five-and-a-half hours it took him last year, by setting his sights on five hours this year.

Updated: 09:45 Saturday, April 16, 2005