20/10/2026
Amsterdam Marathon. A day I’ll never forget.
2:39:29.
I still can’t quite believe it.
I hadn’t made it easy for myself. I’d been very public about the time I was going for, then flown my family out to stand in the rain and watch.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel some pressure.
My GPS was off almost from the start. Luckily, I was manually lapping my watch at every 5k marker and I knew I needed to be running around 18:55 per 5k to stay on track.
I went through halfway in 1:20:10. Slightly down, but I knew I was in a good spot.
I kept ticking off the kilometres, getting my gels down and waiting for the inevitable wall to hit… but it never came.
Running those final few kilometres was an unbelievable feeling, knowing that, barring a massive blow-up, it was going to happen.
I worked hard for this and it all came together on Sunday. I’m still on a high writing this now.
To everyone who sent a message, liked a post or donated to the MS Society via my JustGiving page, thank you. It means so much. We’ve raised £1,841!
A lot of credit has to go to my coach, Cameron at RÁS. He took me on 12 weeks ago and I have no doubt he’s raised my level.
And of course big thank you to my wife and family for the constant encouragement, it takes a village.
Life’s a marathon not a sprint - Stride Financial Advice
