Former Headington Roadrunner Mara Yamauchi continues her build-up to next month’s Virgin London Marathon when she competes in the New York City Half Mara-thon tomorrow.

Yamauchi, who was runner-up in London last year, is battling back from a foot injury that ruled her out of the world championships in Berlin.

“Given the time I had off from running, I’m reasonably happy with my form (70 mins 46 secs in the half-marathon). It was about two minutes off my best,” she said.

“New York will be my last race before the marathon, so it’s the tune-up for London – an opportunity to see how my form is, and what more I need to work on.

“This will be my second visit to New York following the 10K I did in 2007.

The day after the London race, Yamauchi, who was brought up in Oxford but now lives in Japan, will return to Alburquerque, New Mexico, for three and a half weeks of training, before flying back to the UK in the middle of April.

The London Marathon is on Sunday, April 25.

Yamauchi’s race is being streamed live online tomorrow at 11.30am at www.universalsports.com