Twenty weeks. Nearly 800 miles. All leading up to one day. Race day. No matter how much you train, there’s always the unknown. Things out of your control that can throw a wrench in your plans. For me and 56,000 fellow runners, that came in the form of warm weather on race day. But that’s the thing about marathon training; you can control the miles, the paces, the workouts, but you can’t control the conditions. What you can do is show up, give it everything you’ve got, and respect the distance. I trusted my training, focused on the effort, and embraced the experience. The London Marathon was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for me, and I was ready to take it all in. Every mile. Every cheer. Every stride.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to mention the NSPCC UK and the incredible work they do for children’s lives. Their mission to protect children from abuse and neglect, while supporting families in need, is something I truly believe in. Knowing that I’m raising money for such an important cause kept me pushing through the hard miles on race day. Each step became more than just a personal achievement; it’s a way to make a real, lasting impact on the lives of children and families who need help the most. You can help support my journey to raise money for the NSPCC by clicking below.

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THE TRAINING PLAN

The training plan did exactly what it was supposed to do; get me to the start line strong and to the finish line. My legs still had life late in the race, and I could feel the work paying off with every mile. The result? A 9-minute PR. Runna played a huge part in helping me stay consistent and push just enough week after week.

THE GEAR

Nutrition was my biggest concern going into race day. I’d practiced fueling on long runs, but you never really know how the gut is going to react when it counts. I planned to take a Carbs Fuel gel every 7K, but almost missed one; caught it after 9K and adjusted. I carried a bottle with Carbs Fuel mix and sipped on it each mile during the first half. I planned to hand it off to Katie, but I never spotted her on the course. Still, no gut issues, no cramping, and I didn’t dread that fifth gel; I actually looked forward to it. 

The Suunto Race performed solidly throughout. Battery dropped just 8% over the whole race. I tried setting a nutrition reminder on the watch, but since it’s an added app and not native to the watch, I couldn’t get it to work the way I wanted. A built-in option would’ve been a big help. I did lose GPS in a few spots, but that felt more like a quirk of the course than the watch.

THE SHOE

The Diadora Gara Carbon 2 held up well over the full 26.2. The upper stayed comfortable the entire way, and the lower drop really took some pressure off my knees. I did get a bit of chafing around the tongue on my left foot, but nothing that threw things off. The midsole responded exactly how I hoped: the more I gave, the more it gave back. It really came alive when I pushed. Only downside? I didn’t spot another pair out on the course; it felt like Diadora’s best-kept secret. Full review coming soon.

THE RACE

Miles 1-7:

Miles 1 through 7 were all about patience. The plan was to run each one about 15 seconds slower than goal pace, and I nailed every split. It felt effortless; legs were fresh, energy was high, and even though I wanted to push, I held back just like I wanted. The crowd support was unreal from the start, but things really hit another level around Cutty Sark at 6.5 miles. It gave me chills. These miles flew by, knowing I’d get to shift gears soon. Took my first Carb Fuel gel right at 7K, and everything was clicking into place.

Miles 8-17:

This is where the real work started. I dropped down to goal pace (8:12 per mile) and still felt strong, even as the sun started to heat things up. Running over Tower Bridge at mile 12 was unreal. Nothing I’ve ever experienced compares to that energy. I crossed the halfway point with a half-marathon PR, which gave me a boost. But I began to realize my pacing strategy didn’t fully account for the sheer volume of runners. I was constantly weaving through traffic, which started to feel more like a fartlek workout than a marathon. The crowd support dipped a bit after mile 14, and mentally it got quieter too. I finished off my Carb Fuel mix at mile 13 and kept up with gels at 14K, 23K, and 28K. The pace was holding steady, but those miles started to stretch out. I was still moving well, but the effort was starting to creep in.

Miles 18-20:

Miles 18 to 20 were where things started to get real. The constant weaving through shoulder-to-shoulder runners finally caught up with me, physically and mentally. Add in the heat, which had fully settled in by this point, and my pace started to slip by a few seconds. I made the call to shift focus from chasing a 3:35 finish to locking in a strong PR, Goal B. The cold water showers along the course were a blessing and came at the perfect time. Just when things were starting to feel heavy, the crowds picked up again near mile 20, giving me a much-needed second wind heading into the final stretch.

Miles 21-26.2:

It was now all about digging deep and soaking it in. I took my final gel and focused on finding shade whenever I could. The crowd support stayed electric and gave me the push I needed to keep moving forward. When I caught sight of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, it added fuel to the fire. I knew I was getting close. As I made the right turn toward Buckingham Palace, it was all heart. Knowing a PR was locked in, I let myself take it all in, fully present in those last two miles. All the training, the early mornings, the speed days, the long runs, and the endless miles; every single one of them rolled into that moment I crossed the finish line, legs heavy, heart full, knowing it all mattered.

WRAP UP

Race day delivered everything I hoped for and then some: a 9-minute PR despite the heat, the crowds, and the chaos. It wasn’t perfect, but what marathons are? Every mile was a reminder that discipline, perseverance, and a healthy dose of stubbornness can carry you further than you think. I stuck to the plan, adjusted when I had to, and kept moving forward. The race tested me in every way, but I didn’t back down. I crossed that finish line proud, not just of the time on the clock, but of the work it took to get there.

I couldn’t have done it without the people in my corner. To all my family and friends who supported me through the 20 weeks of training, thank you for cheering me on, listening to the ups and downs, and keeping me going. The pre-race messages from so many meant more than you know. Big thanks to Allison and Grey for creating a space through Run Your Story where I could share this journey. Your encouragement and belief in the power of storytelling gave extra meaning to every mile. But most of all, thank you to Katie, who has stood by me since day one of this running journey. From sacrificing to help me chase big goals, to carving time out of our vacation for race day, to simply believing in me when I needed it most; you’ve had my back every step of the way, and I’ll never take that for granted.

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