2025 London Marathon Review with Lucy Russell-Bates | Race Highlights & Marathon Tips

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 journey, fundraising tips, and personal insights on overcoming challenges, making it a must-listen for runners, marathon enthusiasts, and anyone looking for inspiration.

If you'd like to follow in Lucy's footsteps and run your next event for Scoliosis Support & Research, or you're interested in one of the charity's London Marathon entries, email Will [e-mail]. Thank you.

To find out more about scoliosis head to https://ssr.org.uk

For more podcasts head to https://www.sapphirerunningzone.com/podcasts. We have 3 channels, one on training and fundraising support, this one on runner stories and a third one for members only. If you'd to be the focus on one just let us know using the chat function on the homepage.

PODCAST NOTES

Keywords   scoliosis, marathon, charity, running, training, fundraising, London Marathon, personal journey, inspiration, health   Summary   In this episode of the Runner Stories podcast, Tim Rogers speaks with Lucy, a runner who participated in the London Marathon to raise funds for Scoliosis Support and Research. Lucy shares her personal journey with scoliosis, her training experience, the challenges she faced leading up to race day, and the overwhelming support she received from spectators during the marathon. She also discusses her successful fundraising efforts and the importance of sharing her story to inspire others. Lucy concludes by reflecting on her future running goals and the joy of being part of a charitable team.   Takeaways

• Lucy was diagnosed with scoliosis at 14 and had two surgeries.
• She was inspired to run the marathon after watching her dad.
• Training for the marathon was both challenging and enjoyable.
• Running with friends and family made the training process special.
• The race day atmosphere was electric, with immense crowd support.
• Hydration and nutrition were key to her race strategy.
• Lucy raised over £2,300 for Scoliosis Support and Research.
• Sharing her personal story helped her connect with donors.
• Being part of a charity team added to her marathon experience.
• Lucy plans to continue running but will take a break from marathons.

Sound Bites

• "I have scoliosis."
• "It was overwhelming."
• "I felt very much part of the team."

Chapters   00:00 Lucy’s Journey with Scoliosis 02:35 Training for the Marathon 06:35  Race Day Experience 11:08The Atmosphere of the Marathon 16:03 Crossing the Finish Line 20:00 Fundraising Success 24:06 Inspiration and Future Goals