London Marathon '25 Race Report
The London Marathon doesn’t really need much of an introduction, does it? For me, it’s the best - maybe on par with New York - but definitely right up there. I’ve done about 15 different marathons, so I’ve got a decent frame of reference. I had a good-for-age qualifying time, and with a UK driver’s licence, I could use that entry option. You do need to be a UK resident for that to work, which is sometimes a bit of a sore point in the community, but it is what it is.
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London came not long after I’d done Seville - about seven or eight weeks later. I wasn’t going into this one to race hard. With Comrades coming up in June, I wanted to run London just to enjoy it.
Training-wise, I focused on keeping mileage up without aggravating my tendon. I was doing the strength work and when I felt a bit better, I threw in a couple of speed sessions. But there was no strict plan - I was just listening to my body and keeping things steady. I gave myself a mini taper in the final week, but nothing major. I didn’t even cut back the long runs in the weeks before.
Getting there from Gibraltar was a dream. Straight flight to Heathrow, then Elizabeth Line direct to the expo. I was joking with my friend Lindsay all weekend that we never had to wait for a single train or tube - it all just clicked into place.
People sometimes think London’s a logistical nightmare because it’s so big, but honestly, it’s so well organised. The transport network, signage, free travel for runners - it all works. If you’ve seeded yourself correctly, there’s no reason you can’t run a great time. I didn’t see any real congestion issues.
The expo is huge. I’m normally a get-in-get-out person, but if you like shopping for all the running gear and gadgets, it’s heaven. Reda, my friend, went all in on the arm sleeves and gadgets - if you’ve got room on the credit card, you can spend big.
Race morning was brilliant. We stayed at the Lalit Hotel - great spot. I was up early, buzzing with excitement. No nerves, just joy. Got into my Wonder Woman outfit, stuck on an 80s Pete Bromley SoundCloud mix on my watch and danced around the room. Lindsay thought I’d lost it. But that’s how excited I was - I love London.
I was in the green start this year - the new environmental one where you opt out of sending a bag to the finish. There was free tea and coffee, loads of toilets, even women’s urinals. It was already getting hot by 8am, so I sat on my foil blanket and chatted to a few runners around me. When you’re dressed as Wonder Woman, people just come over and say hi. It’s great.
I didn’t have a pacing plan - the plan was just to enjoy it. I knew I’d go off too fast, but I didn’t care. The start is net downhill and I felt good, so I just went with it. I could’ve pushed more in the second half, but with Comrades coming up, I didn’t want to dig too deep and compromise my training. So I kept it comfortable and soaked up the experience.
The crowds were unreal. Honestly, it’s the crowd support that makes London what it is. From start to finish, it’s electric. Coming over Tower Bridge is one of the best bits in any marathon, anywhere. I was scanning the crowd for my family and friends when I suddenly spotted Gordon Ramsay - I just ran straight over, high-fived him and kept going. It gave me such a buzz.
At the finish, I got mobbed. People were cheering for Wonder Woman, high-fiving me, and then one of the announcers pulled me over for an interview. Five minutes talking about how super I was. It was such a laugh.
Running in costume meant support the whole way - people shouting “Go Wonder Woman!” and “Go Supergirl!” the whole route. It lifted me the entire race.
What makes London stand out? It’s the energy, the emotion, the sense of occasion. The crowds rival New York. It’s not the flattest major, but it’s packed with meaning - all the charity runners, all the stories. There’s nothing quite like it.
Who should run it? Anyone. Everyone. It really is for all runners.
Next up for me? Comrades Ultra - 90K in South Africa, with 1,000m of climbing even on a “down” year. That’s going to be epic.
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