I took on the Original Marathon because I wanted to do a big event to start the year. I’m 40 later this year and wanted to cap off my 30s with a big scale event. I found the Original Marathon which seemed like such a unique and exciting event which appealed to me because of the history. Starting at Windsor Castle was such a brilliant backdrop, and seeing the changing of the guards before we started topped it off. 

I didn’t start running until I was 32, originally setting out to do a 10k on the treadmill.  I found that quicker to achieve than I expected, so from there I started road running and built up my confidence. Whenever I go on holiday I try to do a 10k as it’s a great way to see a city. I originally trained for the Manchester marathon in 2020, training until it was cancelled due to Covid, but I did complete the 2022 London Marathon which was my only marathon before this one. 

The Original Marathon was so intimate that it was completely different to London, but meeting in the Guildhall gave it a sense of importance due to its history. There were only about 130 runners but it made for a friendly atmosphere as did running in a small group for Aspire, which was nice. Around the course there were a few families that followed us around and encouraged us as did members of the public. The support was limited due to the size of the event but that made each support that little bit more special. 

It was so hot, I think it got to about 19 degrees and it was sunny throughout. My weather app had said it was going to be cloudy and 16 so I wore under-layers which was a big mistake and made it hard, especially as there were a lot of hills.  You were constantly looking for pink ribbons to make sure you were on the right track so that added a layer of anxiety to make sure you weren’t lost, which I nearly was at one point! 

I never thought I wasn’t going to finish but the last ¾ miles I was so thirsty and desperate for water and my legs felt like lead. When I finished, I felt elated and relieved because I was so dehydrated by that point. Enjoying a pint of Guinness afterwards felt like a deserved reward!

I really enjoyed running the Original Marathon. There were some really nice sights throughout and I was better prepared for this marathon than my last. I tried not to overdo it early and that paid off towards the end and in my recovery the following day. 

When taking part in events I think it’s nice to support a charity. When I found this event it made sense to run for Aspire. I did some reading about the charity and it sounded like a wonderful organisation and I wanted to support however I could. 

My fundraising went really well and I’ve raised £527. There was a late surge last week - I was hoping to hit £400 so was really pleased to go beyond that. I’m so glad I got to support Aspire. The people working for the charity were so kind and easy to work with and supportive.  They do such good work so I’m glad I could help in a small way. 

Sponsor Tom

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