Why I’m Running London Again – And Why This One Feels Different

Earlier this year, I applied for a charity place with Cardiomyopathy UK to run the 2026 London Marathon. I’ve run London before, back in 2022, for a different charity — and anyone who’s been there will know the atmosphere is like nothing else. It stays with you long after you cross the finish line.

This time, though, feels different.

Cardiomyopathy UK is a charity that is incredibly close to my heart (no pun intended). A very close family member was taken from us unexpectedly, leaving a huge hole in our lives that will never truly be filled. Running for this charity feels personal. It feels like a way of honouring them, of turning grief into something purposeful.

Before I could officially start fundraising, the charity quite rightly asked me to have some health checks carried out. After a slightly nerve-wracking wait, I was given the all-clear — and that was the green light to begin this journey properly.

Training… and Listening to My Body (Eventually)

Over the past few months, I’ve slowly started increasing my distance, with the aim of being at half-marathon distance by January. That should put me in a strong position for the longer runs later on. I’m following the same training plan I used back in 2022, which worked well then — so why reinvent the wheel?

After several solid 10-mile runs, everything was feeling good, so I decided to push on to 11 miles. And it was all going perfectly… until mile 9.

I nearly fell off a kerb (as you do), and shortly after felt a tightening in my calf. I carried on, finished the run, and was pleased with my time — but my calf definitely wasn’t happy. I rested it for a few days, then tried a gentle three miles. I didn’t even make it to the end.

Next attempt: a gentle two miles. I could walk afterwards, but it still wasn’t comfortable. Frustrating doesn’t even begin to cover it.

So now I’m doing the hardest thing for any runner: slowing down and listening to my body.

Easier said than done.

Shoes, Wide Feet, and Lessons Learned

I was lucky enough to get some new trainers for Christmas, which means I’ll start breaking those in and (hopefully) use them on race day. I’m a huge fan of New Balance trainers, though that wasn’t always the case.

I started my running journey years ago in ASICS — at the time, the most expensive pair of shoes I’d ever bought. I loved them… until marathon training gave me the most horrific blisters imaginable.

What I didn’t understand back then was that running shoes are a bit like diets or training plans — one size definitely does not fit all. Turns out I have wide (let’s be honest, fat) feet, and ASICS just weren’t right for me. I moved to New Balance almost by chance, and I’ve never looked back. Me and my wide feet get on very well with them — and blister-free running is a joy I don’t take for granted.

What This Blog Will Be About

This blog is going to be about the highs and lows of marathon training — physically and mentally. The good runs, the bad runs, the runs where you question all your life choices. It’ll cover training tips, equipment, mindset, and what it’s really like being a 40-something, peri-menopausal woman trying her absolute best to beat her previous marathon time.

I won’t sugar-coat it. There will be days I don’t want to do the long run. Days when it’s cold, dark, pouring with rain, and the sofa feels far more appealing. But it has to be done.

If you’d like to follow along on this journey — the good, the bad, and the slightly painful — I’d love to have you with me.

Your support means more than you probably realise. 💛