My Story

I'm training for the 2025 London Marathon on 27th April with the aim of raising £2,500 for Breast Cancer Now.

After my daughter Katherine successfully completed last year's event it occurred to me that I was the only person in our family NOT to have run a marathon, so the challenge was on. She also ran for Breast Cancer Now, so I wanted to carry on that good work. 

I'm not a natural runner and this will actually be two marathons for me in one day: my first and my last!  I may have 200+ parkruns under my belt, but there's a bit of a difference between running 3.1 miles and running 26 :-)

I'm supporting Breast Cancer Now as I'm sure we all have someone close to us who has been affected. Let's hope that together we can help towards positive outcomes.

Any support would be really appreciated - thank you!

Nick

Update 13th May

Wow - We've done it! Thank you to EVERYONE who has donated and helped me to reach the target, which we've now done!

I'm probably prouder of this as an achievment than running the marathon and hope it will lead to a postive outcome for an individual or family.

I'm a little overwhelmed. Thank you again.

Nick 

Update 28th April

Wow what a day! I finished the marathon in 4hrs 32mins, which is a little outside what I'd hoped for - but the hot weather made it tough.

I was fine for about the first 16 miles, but those final 10 miles were a real struggle and my pace dropped. Still, I got round and just being part of the event was amazing.

Thank you again to EVERYONE who has not only donated, but also messaged with support and advice. It's all been really appreciated.

It definately WAS two marathons in one day: my first and my last. Never again!

Thanks all

Nick

Update 23rd April

Here we go - it's this Sunday! After having a cold last week I'm recovered and ready to go. I'm Bib no 59816 with a start time of 10.30am. You can follow me on the official TCS London Marathon app and (I think) website.

Following the 20-mile run it was 'just' a half-marathon on 13th April and it felt like a stroll in the park. Then an 8-miler last weekend as part of the tapering and I reckon this training may just be paying off. 

After 16 weeks of training through some numbingly cold days in Jan and Feb I'm really looking forward to Sunday. No headphones or anything like that - I'm going to lap up the atmosphere and enjoy every minute of it. All I have to do is run 26.2 miles.

But huge thanks again to EVERYONE who has donated and supported me. It's a little overwhelming but also really appreciated.

Thank you again

Nick

Update 7th April

Yesterday saw my longest training run and from now we start tapering: a half marathon next week, 8 miles the week after then it's Marathon day. 

I was anxious about yesterday's 20-miler after having struggled massively in my previous two longer-distance runs, but it went well. I deliberately chose the flat Nottingham 'Big Track' circuit which sticks to the banks of River Trent and the canal, and is a joy to run. It helped having Chris Taylor with me, a very experienced long distance runner who paced me, coached me, chatted with me and gave me loads of advice for the big day. Three weeks to go!

Update: 24th March

Just over a month to go and the long runs are getting longer! Last week we were in Rome as daughter Becky was running the Rome marathon with her boyfriend, so I managed to get in a 14-miler on a flat route by the banks of the Tiber.

My Runna plan told me to do a 17-miler yesterday which was OK until I took a gel on around mile 10, which immediately made me feel sick. I really struggled for the final five miles (esp on the long uphill drag between Cotes and Hoton). I guess this is why we do training. Hopefully it will all come together on the day.

Update: February 24th

I'm using an app called Runna for my training plan and I'm now into Week 8 (of 16). There have been some bone-chilling runs in Jan and Feb - but it has to be done! 

I'm feeling pretty comfortable running 10-12 miles at around 9mins per mile, but I'm not even half way there yet. The next eight weeks will be a big (and tough) test. 

Update 10th March 

Yesterday was tough. My Runna app told be to do a 13.1 mile half-marathon, so I decided to do the hilly Turkey Trot route and parked near Keyworth. Unfortunately I've been suffering from bad cold and chesty cough this week, so I knew it would be a test - but little did I know!

Within a couple of miles I was really struggling and had to stop on the Bunny Hill climb. I would have abandoned at Willoughby, except I was as far as I could be from my car so had no option but to plod on and get round. I had to stop several times. 

We all have good days and bad days. Hopefully that's the worst one out of the way and, as they say, 'we go again'!

Thank you to EVERYONE who has donated so far - you are amazing!

Nick