London Marathon 2025 — A Love Letter

Dear London Marathon,

my heart is still full. What a weekend, what a way to go (run) into my birthday! I feel proud, elated, exhausted, relieved, also a little sad that it's over, all at the same time. You promised a star-studded field, magnetic views and the wildest crowd ever — and you lived up to it all.

On race morning, temperatures rose quickly while we sat on the damp fields of Blackheath (London runners, tip #1: don't forget something plastic to sit on & keep your shoes dry!) waiting for the corrals to open.

Running in the heat is no joke. I was determined to take it conservative from start to at least mile 20. Until I didn't. The excitement, the roaring crowds, the initial downhill miles all added up to me just taking it away by feel. Around mile 10 I had locked into a steady goal pace, but started to feel the heat. I focused on holding the effort, fueling every 20min and staying on top of my hydration. For every 250ml bottle I grabbed at the water stations, I grabbed a 2nd bottle to squeeze over my neck for cooling (London runners, tip #2: those little bottles are really handy, you can easily run with & sip on them — so leave your bottles & vests at home if you want to reduce load). 

Around mile 20 I realized that I had a real chance on a new PR. I was hurting but confident that I could push a little more. At the same time I saw people collapsing everywhere around me on that final 10K and felt my mental game crumbling. All of a sudden I heard a voice beside me: "I know it's hard. Just hold on, you're almost there." I turned and saw a 3:25 pacer smiling at me. This encounter really turned it around for me (tip #3: whenever you're struggling, focus on others — high-five a kid, cheer on the guy in the chicken costume, tell a random fellow runner they are a rockstar. Trust me, it helps)!

I hung onto Mr. Pacer until Buckingham Palace where he sent me off to fly down The Mall. I cried with overwhelm all the way to the finish line where the volunteers greeted me with the medal and the unmatched British "well done, Daaahling".

Here I am back home with another shiny personal best (plus BQ) and a third WMM star on my medal rack. Here I am realizing once again that the marathon is about running — and it is always about more than just running.

Here's to 44. Here's to you, London. I'll be back 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽