They say third time’s a charm…

After the success I had in Paris, I was lucky enough to receive a Good For Age place in the London Marathon 2026 — and there was no way I could turn it down. So this April, I’ll be lining up for my FOURTH MARATHON (which still feels slightly unhinged). At this point it’s less “bucket list” and more “apparently I enjoy long-distance suffering.”

Running a marathon is a huge personal achievement, but doing it for others is what really pushes me to dig deep and makes the whole experience feel more meaningful.

This year though, there’s a twist. Instead of a traditional “please donate,” I’m running a little prediction challenge.

THE CHALLENGE (entirely optional)

1. Donate £5 (or more, if you’re feeling generous)

2. Leave your guess for my finish time in the comments with your donation

3. The closest guess wins an award… and eternal bragging rights

Absolutely no pressure — cheering, sharing, or rolling your eyes at the fact I’m doing another marathon is also very welcome.

THE CHARITY

Nova is a charity based in North Kensington, one of the most deprived areas in the country. With one in four people in London living in poverty and one in five adults lacking basic skills, Nova provides a lifeline to over 2,500 people a year.

For over four decades, they have offered a unique mix of community support—education, advice for those facing hardship, and a wide-ranging family support programme, combined with initiatives that bring people together, build understanding and challenge prejudice and inequality. It’s helped people of all ages get their lives back on track and move forward with confidence and hope.

Even as a small charity, they have made a big difference, recognised through numerous awards including Imperial College London’s Inspirational Partner of the Year.

To find out more, you can flick through here: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/43f94fd9a8.html#page/1

THE END

If running 26.2 miles can help support the work Nova does and positively impact even a few lives, then it feels like a very good reason to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Your wildly optimistic (or pessimistic) time guesses will help too.

Thank you for reading, guessing, donating, sharing or simply wishing me luck.