TWO Alton women are steeling themselves for a marathon challenge.

One will be running the famous 26.2-mile course through London with thousands of others on Sunday, while the other will cover the same distance in her neighbourhood with her two dogs attached to her waistband.

It will be a first marathon for Caroline Chalk, 35, who has lived in the town all her life and who started running two years ago after receiving a leaflet through the door advertising the St Swithun’s Way run organised by Treloars.

Of the experience, she said: “I took part as a personal challenge and discovered that I really enjoyed running.

“I am running the London Marathon for Backcare, and chose this charity as my husband, Rob Chalk, has suffered with back pain for years and underwent spinal surgery last December. So I thought it was a fitting charity.

“I work as a gardener and beauty therapist and have received lots of donations from friends, family and customers. I also held a fundraising evening including a raffle with prizes donated by businesses including Quirky Women, Pizza Express and the Cutting Room and raised £600.”

Caroline, who took part in the Great South Run two years ago, hopes to complete the London Marathon in three-and-a-half hours. "This will all depend on conditions on the day,” she said.

To sponsor Caroline, visit virginmoney.com/carolinechalk.

For Emma Giles, 44, the shock of two of her friends suffering heart attacks prompted her to sign up to “MyMarathon”, a new fundraising campaign headed by the British Heart Foundation.

Entrants cover the same distance as the London Marathon but in their own time, and Emma will be doing Canicross, with her two Alaskan Malamute dogs Kavik and Mya. Together they will run out several times a week covering between three to 10 miles each time.

Emma said: “I was extremely shocked when my friends had heart attacks and thankfully they have now recovered. It was scary to think we could have lost them both. Heart disease can affect anyone at any time in their lives.

“I am hoping to raise as much as possible for the British Heart Foundation to help fund the research that is so urgently needed to fight heart disease. My Marathon is the perfect challenge for me and my dogs and Canicross is a great way to have fun whilst keeping fit.

“You do the London Marathon’s 26 miles in your own time. Complete it in four hours, four days or four weeks. You decide the place and you decide the pace and get your friends and family to sponsor your run.”

Kathrine Maynard, the heart charity’s fundraising manager, saiid she was grateful to Emma and her dogs for "joining us in the fight for every heartbeat and signing up to MyMarathon".

To sign up, visit bhf.org.uk/mymarathon.