15/05/2026
London Marathon 2026 - 2:49. Almost a 5 minute personal best. A race and a day I will never forget.
I almost didn’t make the start line. Our family is going through a really difficult time, and mentally, I just wasn’t sure I had it in me. Physically, maybe – but emotionally, I was wrecked. Then my husband said to me the night before: “We will be fine. We love you. You’ve put in too much work to not race tomorrow. Just go. Go and get on with it. Go smash it”. So that’s what I did.
A dear friend practically got me out the door at 6:30am, into London, to the start area, kit on – all whilst wearing the most gloriously awful T-shirt so I could spot her in the crowd. She handed me extra drinks and fuel, and simply knowing she was there was enough. There if I needed her. Still there if I didn’t.
I ran my own race, exactly as I planned at 9pm the night before whilst eating rice and putting my kit bag together (nothing like last minute preparation). Through half at 1:24, feeling controlled and comfortable. I fuelled and hydrated well, and worked hard to keep pace around the tricky Canary Wharf section. Legs were tiring but I still felt strong in those last few miles, and that’s exactly what you train for. I knew I had my ‘A’ goal of 2:49 in the bag if I could just hold pace for that last 5k. Crossing the line I felt pure relief. It was done.
Celebrations were brief – a pint & a packet of crisps (not recommended recovery) before heading home – so I didn’t make it back to to celebrate with the team. But what an incredible group of runners. has been a brilliant experience, and I’m genuinely grateful for every part of it. I’m not sure I’d have chased – let alone run – that time without the support and genuine want for us to succeed.
I don’t say this often. But I am so proud of myself. Proud of the work I put in. Proud of how I ran the race. Proud that I took all that stress and emotion and channelled it into the best marathon of my life. And proud that, with the love and support of my friends and family, I just “got on with it” – and absolutely smashed it.
