2025 London Marathon Review with Stephen Johnson | Race Highlights & Insights

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 fundraising approach—perfect for runners, marathon enthusiasts, and anyone looking for inspiration. Tune in to hear how determination, preparation, and smart fundraising can make all the difference.

If you'd like to follow in Stephen'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   marathon, training, fundraising, race day, nutrition, challenges, running tips, Stephen, London Marathon, Scoliosis Support   Summary   In this episode, Tim Rogers interviews Stephen, who shares his experiences running the London Marathon for Scoliosis Support and Research. Stephen discusses the highs and lows of his training journey, including injuries and setbacks, as well as the excitement of race day. He emphasises the importance of planning, nutrition, and adapting to race conditions. Stephen also shares insights into his fundraising efforts, highlighting the significance of early engagement and targeted communication. The conversation concludes with reflections on lessons learned and the future of running and fundraising.   Takeaways

• The atmosphere of running a marathon is unparalleled.
• Training can be unpredictable with injuries and illnesses.
• Planning is crucial for race day success.
• Nutrition strategy is essential during the marathon.
• Fundraising requires early and targeted efforts.
• Personalized communication can enhance fundraising success.
• Mental preparation is as important as physical training.
• Long runs are vital for building confidence and endurance.
• Adapting to race day conditions is key to performance.
• Future races may require innovative fundraising strategies.

Titles

• Running Through Challenges: Stephen's Marathon Journey
• From Training to Triumph: A Marathon Story

Sound Bites

• "It was a fun day."
• "It's just about planning."
• "You need to get in early."
• "People are very receptive."
• "We live to fight another day."

Chapters   00:00 Introduction to Marathon Challenges 03:11 Training Journey and Setbacks 06:00 Race Day Preparations 09:01 Race Strategy and Nutrition 12:03 Fundraising Efforts and Strategies 17:00 Lessons Learned from the Marathon 19:55 Future of Running and Fundraising