I was incredibly lucky to secure a charity in the London place with The Brain Tumour Charity, a group that helped my family when my Dad was diagnosed. Originally, I was meant to run in 2025, but I fell pregnant, and my son was due in April, so I had to defer. This meant my Dad didn’t get to see me race, but he did meet his Grandson.
Coming back to training postpartum wasn’t straightforward. An unplanned C-section brought challenges I hadn’t anticipated, both physically and mentally. The labour knocked my confidence. But having a goal was extremely motivating for me, and following a training plan was familiar after years of professional sport.
I had already stepped away from badminton when I became pregnant, so the identity change was huge. Very quickly, I went from athlete to full-time mum. Training gave me a way to reconnect with that part of myself again.
Logistically, it wasn’t easy. My son isn’t in consistent childcare, so every run required planning, flexibility, and a lot of support. My family were incredible and made it possible for me to get the miles in when it mattered most.
Going into race day, my target was 3:45. It was a bit more conservative than my training pace, but I knew the reality of marathon day, crowds, congestion, and the sheer scale of the event meant I needed to be sensible.
The race started brilliantly. Early on, I spotted Daddy Pig, the crowds were as good as everyone says, if not better, bands playing, DJs blasting music, funny signs everywhere. There was a real supportive buzz across the course.
I slowed a little from the 20-mile mark, without even realising I was beginning to seriously overheat!
In the final miles, I became increasingly disoriented. I kept checking my watch, searching for distance markers, trying to hold it together. By the time I reached Big Ben, I was extremely unsteady.
Somehow, I pushed on toward The Mall. I was falling at this point, but two incredible men stepped in, each taking an arm and helping me get to the finish, and an act of kindness I’ll never forget.
Also, something I’ll only know about through video footage. Everything had gone blank.
I collapsed at the finish line and have no memory of crossing it. I later woke up in the medical tent, where I was treated for severe heat stroke and placed in an ice bath to bring my temperature down, an invigorating experience.
The team from St John Ambulance were amazing, calm, kind, and reassuring throughout. I’m very grateful to them, even if I’d have preferred not to meet them under those circumstances.
It wasn’t the finish I had imagined. But I did make it in 3:42:05, with a little help.
More than that, I’m incredibly proud to have been part of something bigger. The team at The Brain Tumour Charity raised over £600,000, which is just amazing. Knowing I contributed to that, in memory of my dad, means everything. He would have been so proud and probably had a good laugh at my finish-line dramatics, too.
So, what did I learn?
That I’m determined, maybe a little too stubborn at times. That I am absolutely not built for running in the heat. And most importantly, that becoming a mother hasn’t taken away the athlete in me.
And as for another marathon?
Absolutely not. Never again… probably.