Megan's Marathon Story (London Marathon 2025)

The London Marathon 2025… what a day and an experience. You always hear people say how amazing it is and words can’t describe it. Personally i’ve always wondered how and why but I think they’re right, theres not a word to summarise it.

For me it’s always been a bucket list experience and was never about a time. Don’t get me wrong as a competitive runner, I wanted to challenge myself so I had a target time in my head. However, I knew if I didn’t get that time I would still have been so happy to have completed it and ever participated. 

The training went as well as could be expected. Long hours put in for long runs and then the taper arrives and you’re grateful for a bit more spare time back. A few bruised toenails but nothing that I couldn’t handle. As a physiotherapist I tried to be rigid with my training knowing its importance and avoiding injury in the build up and on the day. I couldn’t face telling a client I hadn’t done what I would have advised! 

The week building up to the Sunday I started to question if I had anything else to talk about apart from marathon day, it seemed to have become my only personality! Sunday morning bright and early start to get to Blackheath for 8am, navigating the less than ideal Sunday public transport. 

Something that took me completely by surprise is quite how emotional the day is. Arriving at the start area and calling my boyfriend with excitement and ending it welling up, joking with him I needed to pull myself together. 

It was so lovely to get to speak to different people about their marathon journeys, whether it be their first or tenth. Those due to complete the Abbott World Majors that day, for which I am completely in awe of. Everyone has a story and a reason and I think you can feel that in the air, mixed with nervous energy. 

The race in itself is a bit of a blur, the first 5k flew by and I was greeted by my first family member cheering me on which was an instant boost. This continued to follow, my sister had spent months unbeknown to me organising all my family and friends to be at different points around the course to cheer me on. Many of which I didn’t expect or know to be coming. All had banners and screamed my name loud enough that I would spot them. I cannot imagine how I would have done it without them. 

And of course the unwavering support from every spectator, no 100m was left empty without people cheering and shouting. The music, dancing and posters were constant entertainment to take your mind off the miles and body aches. 

After Canary Wharf I could feel my feet burning and definitely a few blisters were forming. The heat on the day was a blessing and a curse, I love the sunshine and it definitely brought out the thousands of spectators. For us runners it became a challenge especially in the last few miles, counting down to the water stations. I’m not going to lie the last 7km’s was painful and mentally I had to dig deep but I kept thinking to myself there was no way I wanted to give up until I crossed that line.