Lockdown during the pandemic had a funny effect on some people. Conscious of the need to stay busy to protect my mental health, I took up many things to occupy my time and, deprived of the chance to go to my regular yoga classes or gym, I went back to running.

I am not a natural runner. At school, I was an overweight child and not the greatest at sports. As I grew older and took on more and more stressful roles at work, having some form of exercise became critical to me. It also led to my association with London Sport, an organization that focuses on getting more people active, to improve mental health and social good.

I first flirted with running about 10 years ago – when a friend challenged me to complete the London Duathon, which led to me hauling myself round a couple of half marathons. After seriously hating them, I declared I would never run a race again. So getting back into running during lockdown was a big shift, but it helped me challenge myself and to clear my head. I was running long distances fairly regularly when, through a chance conversation at London Sport, I casually threw in that if they ever had a marathon place spare, I would be happy to take it up for them.

Fast forward two years – I was completely embedded in a job where I live on conference calls and work global hours when that conversation came back to haunt me. Before I knew it, I was committed to running the 2022 London Marathon to raise money and awareness for London Sport.

The range of emotions in the run up to the marathon were vast. There was some excitement, but also some panic – how am I ever going to fit in the training for this? How much was it going to hurt? How would it look if I failed? Also, did I mention panic? And an irrational fear of getting cold?

These emotions were at their peak just before the marathon, but they were also balanced by an overwhelming feeling of being supported. My friends, family and my Avanade colleagues were so positive, and kind. The sense of feeling that I was trying something very challenging was invigorating – attempting a marathon was an opportunity for me to put some personal demons to rest.

Having met a senior member of the London Marathon team after the big day, she told me that the real hurdle is not starting the run but picking up your number and pack in the days before. Actually, 99% of people who start on the day finish, and the London Marathon team stay for as long it takes to make sure every single finisher has someone to walk with them and cheer them over the line. I wish I had known that at the time.

The day of the race dawned. I lined up right at the back, and then I ran. For 26.2 miles. It was nothing to do with anyone or anything else, just about me getting to the finish line. I was cheered on by complete strangers reading my name off my vest. My friend who was waiting to pick up the pieces at the finish line started sending me regular texts that played through my headphones, which got increasingly incredulous at the fact I was still moving so fast! Before I knew it (OK, nearly five hours later), I was sprinting across the finish line.

As I crossed the line, I received a text with my finish time and when I heard it, I promptly swore and burst into tears. As I turned around to apologize to the random stranger behind me for swearing, she burst into tears too, said “I know,” and gave me a hug. It was that kind of moment.

Discovering I can do a marathon was empowering, and discovering that I have that kind of support from people was reassuring. 

Getting active is not about finishing first or overachieving, it is about being the strongest you can, keeping going and not giving up – skills which carry over to all walks of life – balancing all that you have to do or dealing with continual change.

Pushing yourself to do something which is a seemingly slightly unachievable goal is an amazing way to build those skills. It is good to feel nervous and have something to work towards, and it is good to give it a go, however it turns out.

And next for me? Today I signed up to do it all over again in April 2023 on behalf of London Sport, and this time I’ve convinced others to join in.