Hundal caught cold in Frankfurt as he misses out on PB by seconds

However, after following a 14-week, 1,000 mile schedule to get himself in the best possible shape, Hundal was dismayed that race day dawned with a chilling breeze and a temperature just above freezing.

He said: “It was so cold I did my ten-minute warm-up jog on a treadmill in the hotel gym.”

The benefits were soon lost as he lined up with more than 16,000 others, including more than 100 runners from the UK, with similar PB ambitions.

With the bitterly cold wind making breathing hard, it took the 46-year-old some time to warm up to his pre-race target of 6:15-minute miling.

However, on passing half-way in 83:19 Hundal was only 80 seconds down on his target time.

Maintaining an even pace, he found the chill was sapping his reserves and the last three miles were particularly tough, with Hundal finally crossing the line in 2:48:35.

Despite being 35 seconds outside his best, Hundal’s time put him 301st of the 16,000 finishers and 18th in the M45 age category.

And, after finding out that race winner and world record holder Patrick Makau (2:06;08) was more than two minutes slower than predicted, Hundal summed up the race by saying: “I think it wasn’t a day for PBs.”

Two other Leamington runners came away with creditable performances.

Steve Howes was delighted to break the three-hour barrier, coming home 683rd in 2:57:57, while Jack Gammon’s 3:38:47 put him in the top 25 per cent of finishers.

Nardia Poole ran a fantastic race to clock what is believed to be the second fastest ever marathon by a female Kenilworth Runner.

Poole made a strong start, running even-paced for the first 30k and went through halfway in 1:30:13 and on course to break three hours for the first time.

She slowed steadily in the closing 12k, although not dramatically so, finishing 61st lady in 3:08:43.

Meselech Malkamu of Ethiopia won the ladies’ race in 2:21:01.