THE SAPPHIRE RUNNING ZONE RUNNER STORIES

How long does it take to train for a marathon? The general consensus is that you need to embark on a 16-20 week training programme, but what about if you've got 20 years of elite swim training under your belt? Adam has exactly that and he did things very differently...

For more podcasts head to https://www.sapphirerunningzone.com/podcasts. We have four channels, one on training support, another on fundraising, a third on runner sto...

10 years after losing his son Mark is still running and still fundraising. He's now in training for the 150km West Highland Way, an epic ultra, with breathtaking scenery and he's about to hit £20k of fundraising. Find out what's involved in running an event of this magnitude and the mental and physical commitment that's needed.

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

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

Race day in London 2025 wasn't a day for PB's, but George smashed his and only just missed going under 3 hours. Listen to how he progressed from 4.20 in his first marathon, to this new impressive landmark.

For more podcasts head to https://www.sapphirerunningzone.com/podcasts. We have four channels, one on training support, another on fundraising, a third on runner stories and a fourth on events. If you'd to be the focus on one jus...

As a member of the Cornwall Hospice Care fundraising team Jade has a little more pressure than the other runners raising money for the charity. No problem. She raised well over the pledge amount and had an amazing day in the London sun. Her journey has inspired others to lace up their running shoes and now she's looking at an ultra!

Here's Jade's Just Giving page if you'd like to make a donation.

If you'd like to follow in Jade's f...

Everything was going so well for Sian in training, but then she hit by a knee injury. It nearly prevented her from making the start line, but it didn't, just. She battled on and walked London in the sun, raising over £3000 and enjoying every single minute of it. Now it's off to the physio, to get ready for the next one...

Here's Sian's Just Giving page if you'd like to make a donation.

If you'd like to follow in Sian's footsteps an...

With a marathon as part of her training programme, back in December, Melissa had a different approach to traditional training and it really worked. With £3000 already raised her approach to fundraising also really worked, so it was no wonder her London Marathon adventure was so special. 

Here's Melissa's Just Giving page if you'd like to make a donation.

If you'd like to follow in Melissa's footsteps and run your next event for Sco...

Matt trained well and fundraised well and that means one thing - a day packed full of positive memories. While the heat added a few minutes onto his time it just didn't matter. He loved every part of his training and it all went perfectly to plan on the day. 

Here's Matt's Just Giving page if you'd like to make a donation.

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

Michael only got his London Marathon entry from Kidney Research UK in January this year, but he still managed to raise over £3500 and have the day of his life at the London Marathon 2025. His sub 4 hour time capped off a great campaign, with some innovative fundraising ideas and lots of new friends made at his local running club.

Here's Michael's fundraising page if you'd like to sponsor him.

For more podcasts head to https://www.s...

Stephen had his fair share of injury challenges during his training, including a fall in a warm up event that led to badly bruised ribs and a bad knee that needed a cortisone injection a few days before the London Marathon...and there was the heat on race day. No worries, he still battled through to a great time and smashed his fundraising target!

Here's Stephen's Just Giving page if you'd like to make a donation.

If you'd like to ...

Riley is a fundraising superstar who developed a raffle that has helped him raise £4400 so far for Scoliosis Support & Research. Combine that with the day of his life in London on April 27 and watching his football team, Crystal Palace win an FA Cup Semi-Final the day before and this was a time in his life he will never forget.  

Here's Riley's Just Giving page if you'd like to make a donation.

If you'd like to follow in Riley'...

Lucy is one of the lucky few to get a ballot entry in the London Marathon 2025 and she made the most of it. Having undergone scoliosis surgery twice she wanted to raise funds for Scoliosis Support & Research and started with a target of £500. A few weeks later she has raised nearly five times that figure and had the day of her life on April 27. Listen to her marathon experiences.

Here's Lucy's Just Giving page if you'd like to ...

Jade's London Marathon 2025 training and fundraising has all gone to plan and even a bit of 'Runner's Knee' didn't hold her back. With £3400 already raised can she combine an unforgettable day with £4000 for Cornwall Hospice Care? If you missed Jade's early training and fundraising stories you can hear them on Episode 1.

Here's Jade's Just Giving page if you'd like to make a donation.

If you'd like to follow in Jade's footsteps an...

Sian's training had been going so well. She followed her training plan to the letter, run the hilly Run Falmouth Half Marathon in Cornwall, got to 16 miles on her long run and then it struck -  a knee twinge developed into the dreaded IT Band problem; 'Runner's Knee' as it's known. Will she able to get on to the start line in London?

For more podcasts head to https://www.sapphirerunningzone.com/podcasts. We have four channels, one ...

The taper is always a strange experience. After weeks of intense training, suddenly it all slows down. In Episode 2 Matt talks us through the challenges of dealing with the last 3 weeks of marathon training and also gives some great fundraising tips that could make a real difference to your fundraising efforts. He has had a great build up to the London Marathon 2025 and is ready for action! If you missed it here is a link to Episod...

Frank White set himself a challenge, to run 3 half marathons in a month for the Young Lives vs Cancer charity. He started with his local half in Bideford, then took on Bath and finished off with London Landmarks, one of the UK's biggest. How did he get on and how did his fundraising go? 

You can listen to Episode 1 here 

To h...

Mattie and his best mate Chris are running the length of Hadrian's Wall (that's 74 miles!) on June 14th to support Playskill, a charity that has given him and his family so much help over the last 18 months. Mattie's son Arthur and his twin were born on 5th September 2023 and so far he has had over 43 admissions to multiple different hospitals, undergone multiple surgeries, more testing, hospital...

Michael Woodward has only had 11 weeks of training, but he got himself a coach and fully committed himself to the challenge of running the London Marathon. He also came up with a great way of fundraising that made his £2500 much easier than he first thought. With plenty of time still to go the amount raised could get close to £3500. But will he hit his new target race time of 3.30?

Here's Michael's fundraising page if you'd like to...

After months of training and fundraising Melissa continues to follow the playbook on how to train and fundraise for the London Marathon. With her longest long run complete and £2400 already raised everything looks good for a truly memorable race day. Will she hit her target time of 5 hours and will she raise the magical £3000? If you missed it here is a link to Episode 1.

Here's Melissa's Just Giving page if you'd like to make a d...

Lots of quality long runs had Stephen on course for a sub 3.30 London Marathon, but then a bad fall in a warm up event put his running on ice. Will he recover and storm the field at the end of the month and will he build on the £2000 already raised for Scoliosis Support & Research? If you missed it here is a link to Episode 1.

Here's Stephen's Just Giving page if you'd like to support him.

If you'd like to follow in Stephen's ...