RUNNER Rich Vanson will be taking on the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon on Sunday, on the same day his pregnant wife is due to have their first baby.

The pressure is on for 34-year-old Rich, from Harrogate, to finish the marathon in time to be at Emma’s side for the birth.

Emma will be two weeks overdue on Sunday and is set to be induced in hospital, more than 22 miles away in Harrogate.

Emma, also 34, said: “We have a lot of people on standby in case I haven’t given birth by Sunday so that Rich can get back to Harrogate in time if needs be.

“The road closures are worrying us a bit, but Rich’s brother and sister will be with him in York on the day and my sister will be with me in Harrogate.

“There’s nothing like running 26 miles not knowing if your wife’s having a child or not.

“I don’t know yet what time I’ll be induced so that is further complicating things.

“To be honest though, I am trying not to think about it all too much and just stay calm.”

Rich, a fitness and wellbeing manager at Nuffield Health in Harrogate, is running to fundraise for Open Arms Malawi, a charity for which Emma works.

The charity cares for abandoned children in Malawi.

Its work involved looking after babies until they are two years of age.

Emma, who was meant to be running the marathon herself until she fell pregnant, said: “Rich has really put in a lot of training and would really like to complete the race. The charity now means so much more because we are having our own child.”

York will be Rich’s fourth marathon.

He has previously run in races in Paris, London and Chicago.

To make a donation go to www.justgiving.com/Richard-Vanson