In April 1985 I ran the London Marathon in 2 hours 43 minutes. I never improved on that time. Starting university at Heriot Watt in Edinburgh in October 1985, I had high hopes of advancing my running, and early on it seemed that I would – then I self-sabotaged the night before a trial to represent Scottish Universities in an international cross-country meet and it never got better. Although I did set the university record (at the time) for finishing in the British Students Cross Country Championships in 1986, I never really got back to running on a consistent basis.
Going downhill
Since then, I have run only one other full marathon, the New York Marathon in November 1992, which I finished in 2 hours 57 mins and 10 seconds and a couple of half marathons in Hong Kong.
I moved to Australia in January 2009, and I’ve dabbled in running since then but nothing serious. In February 2014 I was medically retired from my career in geotechnical engineering, with significant mental health and substance misuse issues. Later that year, I also discovered why I was in so much physical pain – I need bilateral total hip replacement surgery! Whilst waiting for the surgery and with the help of some strong anti-inflammatory medication, I completed the Canberra Times 10k in September 2014 in 49 minutes 58 seconds!
A couple of weeks later I completed the Sydney to the Gong Bike Ride.
I underwent surgery in April and July 2024 and started the journey back to employment. I went for a change in career and studied for Certificates IV in Mental Health and Alcohol & Other Drugs and then a Diploma in Alcohol & Other Drugs from the Canberra Institute of Technology before commencing a double degree in Psychology and Sports & Exercise Science and the University of Canberra. I’m now in my penultimate unit of a Masters in Disability and Inclusion at Deakin University. My first job in recovery was delivering newspapers, which required getting up a 2am. This was fine in summer, but not so great in the freezing Canberra Winters. Since then, I’ve worked as a residential disability support worker, an alcohol & drug support worker. and I’m currently a senior community development coordinator.
My running and other sporting activities took a back seat during this period, but I did run City to Surf in August 2019. Finishing despite an injury to my left calf.
In January 2020, I contracted pneumonia and have barely exercised since then. In October 2023, I was diagnosed with focal epilepsy, which was a bit of a shock but explained a few things that I had been experiencing.
The Bug is Back
I’m significantly heavier than I was in 1985 and I’m starting almost from scratch whereas I was a competitive runner when I entered the 1985 London Marathon, but the bug is back and as it will be 40 years on, and it’s over 16 years since I was last in the UK, I thought “Why not?” and I entered the 2025 London Marathon and booked my holidays! In addition to visiting London, I will also visit family and friends in Staffordshire, Edinburgh and Leicester. I will also get back to the place of my birth, Morecambe, for the first time since 1988.
This blog will chart my progress from an overweight 62-year-old who can barely run for more than a couple of minutes to what will hopefully be a successful return to the course of the London Marathon. It is as much for my own enjoyment as for others to read, but if you do read it and find enjoyment or inspiration, then so much the better.
Back to London 