Every runner taking on the TCS London Marathon to raise funds for Marie Curie is on their personal journey. Dr Sarah Holmes, Chief Medical Officer, is no different.
With six months to go, she reveals five tips that keep her focused on the road ahead, and explains why kindness, excitement and commitment are part of the process.
1. Know that you’ll make a big difference
“Having worked for Marie Curie for nearly 25 years, I believe passionately in the importance of palliative and end of life care. I see the difference that our care makes to patients and families every day.
“I worry that sometimes quality palliative and end of life care is a little bit of heaven for the few. I want to see a world where everyone can access the care and support they need, when and where they need it.”
2. It’s ok to feel excited, nervous – or both
“I've been entering the London ballot for years and never got a place, so I was massively excited at the news.
“Also, in honesty, I was slightly apprehensive. I have run marathons before, but I'm a trail runner at heart. I love running across country and road running is not really my cup of tea. I did Leeds Marathon when it first reopened after COVID, I swore at the end of that no more road marathons ever.
“But when it came up that Marie Curie was going to be the official charity partner of the year, and it was London, I thought, I can't miss out on this. I was delighted, excited and slightly apprehensive, thinking… ‘what have I let myself in for?’"
3. Be kind to yourself and make your own plan
“For me, it’s squeezing it in around my day. I’m a morning person; I will often train at 6am when the kids are asleep and before the world starts. That does give me a smug feeling when I get to the end of the day. You think ‘I’ve done my exercise, I’ve done my job, the evening is all mine to enjoy’.
“I also vary my runs. If I’m travelling, I’ll take my trainers with me and do a run by the River Thames.
“The other thing is being a bit kind to yourself. If I am having a really busy day, it’ll be a day I schedule as a rest day. Being flexible with the day that you choose to run helps.”
4. Expect ups and downs
“I was supposed to do a race in September, but I had an injury a couple of weeks before that and had to pull out. I tore my calf muscle, so I am doing a phased return to training – I'm in training but doing a lot less running than I'm used to. So that's another little apprehension, about that injury. But it seems to be going all right.”
5. Step by step, we’ll get there together
“When you care for someone, you’re focusing on what you can do even though it can be very tough at times. It’s the same with running. You feel that this is going to be a challenge. But you're going to commit to the difference that it will make in the end.”
Join Sarah in the largest, loudest and proudest team on the route
If you have a prized ballot place in the TCS London Marathon, and haven’t joined Team Marie Curie yet, we’d love you to join us. Sign up here
Not a runner and want to get involved? We need enthusiastic voices to cheer on Team Marie Curie. Email us to volunteer on the day
All rights reserved. Contact stories@mariecurie.org.uk for more information.
