This time last year I was tapering and getting ready for my fourth London Marathon... what a privilege it is to line up in London.

With over 1.13 million people applying this year and around only 59,000 actually getting to take to the streets of England’s capital, it really is something special.

It’s undoubtedly one of the best marathons in the world (I know, I know… some will disagree).

Yes, it’s busy.

Yes, registering can be a bit of a ball ache.

Yes, race day is total carnage…

But WOW—if you get one of those coveted spots, you are so well rewarded.

The crowds are unbelievable. People shouting your name, high-fiving you, handing out jelly babies, ice lollies… the atmosphere is just unreal.

No, there are no mountain views—but London’s landmarks absolutely show off. I’m not sure there’s a better sight than seeing Big Ben in all its glory and knowing The Mall (and all the emotion that comes with finishing) is just around the corner.

Training for a marathon is no small thing. For most, it’s around 16 weeks of consistency, sacrifice, missed social plans, constant fuelling, feeling permanently tired… and talking about marathon training to pretty much anyone who will listen.

A spring marathon in particular takes real discipline. You’re starting your block in the depths of winter—dark mornings, cold weather, and a LOT of wet, soggy runs.

Which means… wet feet.

And your feet quickly become one of your top priorities—because without them, you’re not going anywhere.

My game completely changed after a phone call with Simon Dent, founder of Save Our Soles. A mutual friend put us in touch when he was preparing for the Dragon’s Back Race.

Not long after, he told me about the company he’d started, and a device designed to dry your trainers. Anything that helps your feet when you’re running—I’m in.

Fast forward two years, and the Atacama has been a total game changer. I never have to head out in wet trainers again.

And then there’s toe taping… honestly, another game changer. Pre-taping before long runs to avoid sore toes and blisters makes such a difference. Small things, but they add up massively over a marathon block.

This year, I won’t be lining up in London. I had every intention of going back and chasing that elusive sub-3:20, but I decided to give my body a bit of a break from the roads. Fast forward a few months, and while training for HYROX I accidentally ran a half marathon PB… which, of course, reignited the fire.

I came out of HYROX feeling fit, and suddenly the Albi Marathon (five weeks away at the time) became a real possibility. I was also toying with HYROX Paris, but once that was off the table—Albi was on.

As always in sport… the best-laid plans don’t always go to plan.The desire was there. The work was going in. But my body had other ideas, and out of nowhere my “granny hip” decided it wasn’t playing ball. (More on that another time…)

So, this week, instead of running Albi, I’ll be glued to the screen watching the colourful, inspiring, and hugely motivating London Marathon.

I’ll never forget the first time I properly watched it. I was hungover, in Cardiff, and decided that one day I’d run those streets—alongside the man in the diving suit.

Little did I know it would spark something that would take me all over the world—up the highest of mountains, through soggy fields, into hot, stuffy convention centres, and everything in between, and most importantly introduce me to some of the best people and friendships along the way.

That camaraderie is something really special.

I never thought I’d be this lucky.

To everyone running a marathon this week, wherever you are in the world—go well. Remember: pain is temporary, but finishing a marathon stays with you forever. You are still in the minority—fewer than 1% of people on the planet will ever cross that finish line.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt along the way—look after your feet.

They carry you through all of it.

FUEL. FUEL. FUEL. And PACE.