Robin Red Devil! Runner to train at Manchester United

Robin Harrison will be the envy of football fans across the globe tomorrow as he will be training at Manchester United.
Robin Harrison.Robin Harrison.
Robin Harrison.

And no matter how it goes, he knows he has already done enough to pull on a shirt and represent the club later this year.

Robin may not quite be the next Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but the lifelong supporter has been selected to be one of 11 worldwide athletes to run for the Manchester United Foundation at next month’s London Marathon.

And to help him be at his best for April’s 26-mile slog through the capital, he will spend six hours training at the Red Devils’ AON Training Complex tomorrow, followed by an evening watching his beloved side face FC Rostov in their Europa League last-16 second leg at Old Trafford.

And just to be taking part in a marathon represents a staggering journey for Robin, who lives in Horncastle but is a Skegness and District Running Club member

“If someone had told me 18 months ago that I would be running the London Marathon I would have thought they had been on something rather strong,” he joked.

“At that time, although I had packed up smoking for approximately five years, six months, I had put on weight, ballooning from 10st 7lbs to 15st 5lbs.

“I was like a cloud on legs, albeit a short one at 5ft 4ins.”

A rigorous fitness regime followed, seeing Robin progress from walking to cycling.

But after suffering a puncture he switched to running and completed his first 5k a fortnight later.

Robin’s family made sure he had no choice but to become a United supporter from birth, and he will finally fulful a dream and represent the club on April 23.

The MU Foundation uses football to engage with and inspire young people to build a better life for themselves and the communities in which they live, also offering education to youngsters in the UK and abroad.

You can sponsor Robin at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RobinHarrison3