2025 London Marathon Review with Riley James | Race Highlights & Training Insights

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 dedicated runner, this episode is packed with insights and motivation.

If you'd like to follow in Riley'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 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   London Marathon, Scoliosis, fundraising, running, race day, training, nutrition, personal story, marathon experience, charity   Summary   In this episode of the Runner Stories podcast, Tim Rogers interviews Riley James, a standout fundraiser for Scoliosis Support and Research, who shares his experiences leading up to and during the London Marathon. Riley discusses the emotional highs and lows of race day, the challenges of training, and the importance of nutrition and hydration. He also highlights his successful fundraising efforts through a raffle and reflects on his personal journey with scoliosis, aiming to inspire others. Looking ahead, Riley expresses his desire to continue running and exploring new opportunities in the sport.   Takeaways

• The London Marathon is a dream-like experience.
• Training can be mentally challenging, especially with injuries.
• Race day conditions can differ significantly from training.
• Adrenaline plays a huge role in marathon running.
• Nutrition and hydration are crucial for performance.
• Fundraising can be creatively approached through raffles.
• Personal connections to causes can enhance motivation.
• Running can be a transformative experience.
• It's important to enjoy the journey, not just focus on time.
• Future running opportunities are abundant and exciting.

Titles

• Running for a Cause: Riley's Marathon Journey
• From Training to Triumph: The London Marathon Experience

Sound Bites

• "It feels like you're living a dream."
• "I think I got nutrition spot on really."
• "The crowd will carry you through it."
• "Don't rule anything out."

  Chapters   00:00 The Excitement of Race Day 03:06 Training Journey and Challenges 05:59 Race Day Experience and Strategy 08:54 Nutrition and Hydration on the Course 11:56 Fundraising Success and Raffle Strategy 14:59 Personal Connection to Scoliosis 17:48 Future Running Aspirations