Runner and I Can Run volunteer Lauren tells us about her London Marathon experience!

The London Marathon. Those words are so iconic that everyone around the world knows what they mean, even if they aren’t a runner. Usually you’ll know someone who has taken part. I never dreamed in a million years I’d say ‘I’ve run the London Marathon’, but here I am, having run it three times now.

Funnily enough I hated sports growing up. My Dad was a triathlete, with a very impression 5.45 minute mile at his peak. He’s also a Geordie, and ran the iconic Great North Run in his hometown but that was the furthest he would ever run. I always admired me Dad, we’re like two peas in a pod, but the love of sport was something I couldn’t understand. I was much happier doing anything else.

Fast forward a few years to 2014, I was 26 and in a bad place. I needed something to kick me out of my cocoon like state, so I decided to start running – mainly because I was too skint to go to the gym.

I tried the Couch to 5k but panicked when I had to run for 20 minutes. How ridiculous, I can’t do that! So I gave up. But Dad encouraged me to try again, sorted my winter running gear and gave me some useful tips and advice. 8 years later I’ve done 6 half marathons (including the Great North twice) and 4 marathons (London twice for charity and Brighton) as well as becoming a regular Parkrunner.

I’ve never done a long-distance virtual race, and the thought of doing it without the crowds, the drink and fuel stops and THAT finish line, made me think why bother? But my best friend Sarah had one of those coveted ballot places for 2020 (on her first entry. I’m not jealous, not one bit) and she’d secured her place for next years, so when we found out that Joe Public could buy a place in the virtual race this year and get that medal, I knew I had to join her!

The only downside was I had just 5 weeks to train for it. I’ve been furloughed from my job as a Senior Marketing Officer for the National Trust since April, and lockdown hasn’t been kind to my mental health. I couldn’t overcome frontdooritis, so my running had almost become non-existent.

But we trained slow and steady by jeffing the long runs and making sure we were hydrated and fuelled. The route we chose was along the coast in South Devon, from Paignton to Torquay, in 3 loops of 8.5 miles. Lots of vantage points so family and friends could support us, and boy did they!

We started at 6.30am on Sunday 4 October 2020, in the darkness with a few friends and before we knew it, we’d run a third of the race. The miles flew by, and we were lucky that it only drizzled a bit. We knew the routes, we were fully prepared with Shot Bloks and Lucozade, and we settled in for the long haul.

When we signed up to the race, we were told every runner had to track their progress using the special London Marathon Event App, and I know it had some issues for other runners but for us it was brilliant. As you passed each mile you were rewarded with the sound of clapping and cheering, as well as tips and advice from athletes like Paula Radcliffe. When we came to iconic milestones, we could hear them describing Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge, and it added such a wonderfully interactive element to the run.

In the end we only stopped to walk a few times, as the support from our dearest was incredible, as was the beeping of horns from lots of road users and even the sirens from an ambulance as they cheered us on!
We came down the final straight with a socially distanced crowd waiting for us, finish line flags made at home and cardboard medals. It may have been the hardest, but it was the most rewarding, and having my Dad right there with me as I crossed the finish line was incredible.

If I could say one thing to anyone out there who has ever considered the London Marathon – go for it. There is no feeling in the world than crossing the finish line after 26.2 miles. And seriously, if I can do it, so can you!