Upon completing my final university exam and becoming a qualified Architect, I bid farewell to looking at screens on the weekend and was seeking a new challenge to infuse some movement and joy back into my life. I was never an avid runner before entering the London Marathon ballot and eventually receiving confirmation that I had gained a place in the 2024 line-up. Watching the race the year before, I wanted to be a part of the challenge, to accomplish something exceptional, and push my body and mind outside of my comfort zone. The allure of participating in one of Britain’s biggest events coupled with having the opportunity to raise money for a really meaningful charity was hugely motivational and encouraging.

Training for the London Marathon had its highs and lows. Physically, having injuries and illness made me question whether it was all possible and mentally thinking about undertaking a three-hour run on what would likely be a cold, grey April Sunday morning was not an enticing thought.

My brain would tell me all the reasons why not to go and train; it would be monotonous, difficult, draining and it would hurt. But once I had stepped out the front door, treated myself to several biscuits on the way as an incentive for motivation, almost every time I really enjoyed myself. I returned after each training session tired, but so proud of my achievement and how much my body and mind were able to overcome.

The last eight months really tested my mental resilience and taught me a lot about overcoming mental barriers. I discovered so much about myself and learnt a lot about how I function best when facing a mammoth challenge. If I went out with a positive attitude, the run would be so much easier, and I actually enjoyed myself.

Building up the miles and distance was such a great sense of achievement. It is rare you can see improvement in yourself so vividly, and this was of course also evident when analysing the Strava statistics. In a time of continued change and turbulence, I was grateful to have a positive focus which I was in control of and could navigate to suit my life. It was an activity that allowed me to have space to myself, process information and thoughts, and helped look after my own wellbeing. So often, exercise is the first thing to be forgotten about and ignored when things get tough. I was lucky that I could weave this challenge into my daily routine and having the race deadline made sure I gave training the time it deserves.

I wanted to run the London Marathon to prove to myself that anything is possible if you want it and work hard enough to achieve it. It was an incredible journey, and I would recommend it to anyone, whether that is running a marathon or taking on another challenge that has been on your mind for a while. One of the most important things we can do to help protect our mental health is regular movement. It increases our energy, reduces stress and anxiety, and can boost our self-esteem. By encouraging movement into our daily lives and routines, we can focus on enhancing our mental health and taking time for ourselves. At the end of the day, the moral of my story is, sign up, push yourself to get out the door, and see what you can achieve!