A NEWPORT runner will be taking on his first marathon in memory of his father, who died of a heart attack last month.

Chris Hill, of Winchester Close, will be running 26.2 miles as part of the Long Course Weekend in Tenby on Sunday, July 13, just a day before his father Roy Hill would have been 80 years old.

Mr Hill, 49, said: "He always wanted to know what I was up to with my running. He was a good father.

"I’ve done fundraising for Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff for the last few years at a few half marathons but this year, I’ve been doing the running for myself.

"After my dad passed away a few weeks ago, I thought I’d dedicate the marathon to him."

Mr Hill's father, who used to work at Llanwern steelworks before he retired, died of a heart attack on Wednesday, May 7.

In preparation for the marathon, Mr Hill, an NHS worker, has been taking part in Newport's parkrun every Saturday and has clocked up 112 appearances.

He is also a keen member of new running club Run Newport and has used his hobby to lose 5st in the last three years.

Maesglas Slimming World group named him Man of the Year 2014 to mark his weight loss achievement.

The Long Course weekend includes three triathlon events, the Wales Swim, the Wales Sportive and the Wales Marathon.