THE SAPPHIRE RUNNING ZONE RUNNER STORIES

Charity Running Inspiration: Izzy Hunter’s 10K Challenge Izzy Hunter, diagnosed with scoliosis, ran her first 10K in 30-degree heat and raised £1,655 for the Scoliosis Support & Research charity. Listen to her inspirational running story and learn how she turned a running challenge into a powerful fundraising achievement.

If you'd like to follow in Izzy's footsteps and run your next event for Scoliosis Support & Research, e...

Ultra Marathon Inspiration: Mark’s West Highland Way Challenge Ten years after losing his son, Mark completed the 150km West Highland Way ultra marathon, raising over £9,000 for charity. Listen to his inspirational running story and discover how he conquered this gruelling endurance challenge from start to finish.

If you'd like to support Mark here's his fundraising page

This is the charity that he is supporting sands.org.uk

For mo...

Mary Keane’s London Marathon 2026 Journey for BackCare Charity After Covid and injuries delayed her plans, Mary Keane is back, training for the 2026 London Marathon and fundraising for BackCare Charity. Follow her inspirational running journey, get training insights, and see how she’s preparing for race day.

You can support Mary by making a donation on her fundraising page here 

If you'd like to follow in Mary footsteps and run you...

Running, Fitness & Wellbeing: Chris’s Inspirational Story Chris overcame cancer and life’s challenges to get back in the best shape of his life. A former elite marathon runner, he shares how running, fitness, and fundraising helped him manage stress, prioritize wellbeing, and reclaim his passion for life. An emotional and motivational listen.

For more podcasts head to https://www.sapphirerunningzone.com/podcasts. We have 3 chan...

Chef Joel Mays III: From Beginner to Marathoner & BackCare Charity Runner Joel Mays III started running in June 2022 and has already completed three marathons. He shares his running journey, training tips in the heat of Dallas, and preparation for the London Marathon 2026, where he’ll run for the BackCare Charity.

You can support him by making a donation on his fundraising page here 

If you'd like to follow in Chef Joel's foots...

Tapantosh Chakrabarty began running marathons at age 50 in 2000, and 25 years later, he shows no signs of stopping. With over 30 of the World Marathon Majors, races on all seven continents, and numerous top destination marathons completed, Tapantosh has a wealth of experience to share. In this episode, he recounts his most memorable marathon stories, offers words of wisdom for runners, and discusses his training for upcoming events...

Grant recently restarted running and has already signed up for a Tough Mudder and the Loch Ness Marathon. As a diabetic, he carefully manages his nutrition and training as he increases his long runs. In this episode, follow Grant’s running journey, get insights into training for endurance events, and see how he prepares for one of the most scenic and famous marathons in the world. Perfect for runners managing health conditions, beg...

Jon, a chef from the West Midlands, ran his first marathon to raise funds for Scoliosis Support & Research, inspired by his daughter Poppy, who was diagnosed with scoliosis before her first birthday. Battling the heat of the London Marathon, he raised over £3,000 for this important cause. In this episode, Jon shares his inspirational running story, the challenges of marathon training and race day, and the motivation behind runn...

How long does it really take to train for a marathon? While most runners follow a 16–20 week training program, Adam took a different approach. With 20 years of elite swim training behind him, he adapted his preparation in a unique way. In this episode, discover how an elite swimmer transitioned to marathon running, the strategies he used, and what his story can teach runners about training duration, cross-training, and performance ...

Race day at the London Marathon 2025 wasn’t ideal for personal bests—but George Heslop nearly broke the 3-hour barrier! From a 4:20 debut marathon to this incredible milestone, George shares his journey, the training strategies he used, and his top tips for running a faster marathon. Listen to his marathon progression story, discover how he improved his performance, and get actionable advice to help you run your next marathon faste...

Jade, a dedicated member of the Cornwall Hospice Care fundraising team, faced extra pressure raising funds for the charity—but she delivered, surpassing her pledge and enjoying an incredible day at the London Marathon. Her inspirational running story has motivated others to lace up their shoes and start running for charity. Now, Jade is setting her sights on an ultra marathon, proving that dedication, training, and passion can achi...

Everything was going smoothly for Sian during marathon training, until a knee injury threatened to stop her from reaching the start line. But she persevered, walking the London Marathon in the sun, raising over £3,000 for charity, and enjoying every moment of the experience. In this episode, Sian shares her inspirational journey, insights on walking a marathon, overcoming injury, and the challenges and rewards of marathon fundraisi...

Melissa took a unique approach to marathon training in December, combining her training plan with innovative strategies that paid off on race day. With over £3,000 raised for charity, her fundraising approach was just as effective as her running preparation. Listen to Melissa share her London Marathon journey, her insights on training differently, and how she made her marathon experience truly unforgettable. Perfect for runners loo...

Join Matt, a dedicated runner from Derby, as he shares his 2025 London Marathon review. Despite the heat adding a few minutes to his finish time, it didn’t matter—Matt loved every moment of his marathon training and executed his race perfectly on the day. In this episode, he discusses his race day experience, training insights, and lessons learned, providing inspiration for runners of all levels preparing for their next marathon.

I...

Michael secured his London Marathon 2025 entry through Kidney Research UK in January, and despite the short notice, he raised over £3,500 for the charity. On race day, he enjoyed every moment and achieved an impressive sub-4-hour marathon, capping off an incredible campaign. Michael also shares his innovative fundraising ideas, the camaraderie of his local running club, and the friendships he made along the way. Perfect for runners...

Stephen Johnson faced a challenging journey to the 2025 London Marathon, battling injuries like bruised ribs from a warm-up fall and a knee that required a cortisone injection just days before race day. Despite the heat and these setbacks, Stephen powered through to achieve an impressive finish time and exceeded his fundraising goals. In this episode, he shares his marathon training strategies, injury recovery tips, and effective f...

Riley James is a fundraising superstar who raised an impressive £4,500 for Scoliosis Support & Research through a creative marathon raffle. In this episode, Riley shares his 2025 London Marathon experience, including behind-the-scenes stories, race-day challenges, and practical tips for future marathon runners. Whether you’re preparing for your first marathon, looking for fundraising ideas, or seeking inspiration from a dedicat...

Lucy Russell-Bates was one of the lucky few to secure a ballot entry for the 2025 London Marathon, and she made every moment count. Having undergone scoliosis surgery twice, Lucy set out to raise funds for Scoliosis Support & Research, initially targeting £500. By race day, she had raised nearly five times her goal and enjoyed an unforgettable experience on April 27, 2025. In this episode, Lucy shares her London Marathon journe...

Andrew Ogierman reached an incredible milestone by running his 100th half marathon at the London Landmarks Half Marathon—and his running journey doesn’t stop there. From 14 full marathons to a Captain Tom-style virtual marathon during COVID, Andrew has experienced some truly unforgettable races and traveled to amazing destinations along the way. In this episode, he shares his running tips, inspirational stories, and insights for ha...