It would be safe to say that London Marathon 2025 Iolanthe team member Louis likes a challenge. But running is something he’s returned to only relatively recently.
“I was a good runner at school,” he says. “But as I got older, there was no time for it, though I did always manage to fit football in at least. It was the isolation of the pandemic that got me back into running, because that was the only exercise I could access. I was in Australia at the time, and I used to train at Melbourne’s Albert Park, the home of the Formula 1 racetrack.
Six months ago Louis returned to the UK, wanting to be near family again. Now working in finance in central London, he runs 5 days a week by the Thames, with a backdrop of London Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral, or at home in Hertfordshire.
While in Australia, Louis completed marathons at both the Gold Coast and in Melbourne. Now, gearing up to the London Marathon, he recently ran a half marathon at London’s Olympic Park, and has a 26k run scheduled for mid March.
“It’s actually the long solo runs I find tough,” he comments. “They’re really mind numbing. The Olympic Park run was great as I was running with a crowd. That’s definitely what I’m looking forward to with the London Marathon; being with lots of people, all the excitement. I’m also doing the run with my dad and brother, and my stepmum and sister will be there to cheer us all on. Might have some colleagues from work down too, we’ll see.”
When asked what he likes to do outside work and running, Louis notes there isn’t really much time left after those. However, he is currently doing something called the 75 Hard Challenge. For 75 days, he has to drink no alcohol, stick to a strict healthy diet, drink 3.6 litres of water a day, and complete two 45 minute workouts a day, once of which must be outside. Also, read 10 pages of non fiction a day. What’s more, if participants miss any of these, they have to go right back to day 1!
Louis is 25 days in, and is determined not to slip up even once, as he has timed day 75 to be April 27, London Marathon Day.
He says, “I remember the sense of being at peak fitness for the Gold Coast Marathon, and I’m heading towards that now – I can feel I’m getting faster.”
I’m really grateful to Iolanthe for giving me this opportunity, and glad to be able to support UK birthing families in this way. Everyone needs a midwife – they are our unsung heroes.
Introducing Iolanthe's London Marathon 2025 Team! Top left clockwise: Joanne, Leigh, Karen, Myriam, Mike & Louis. Our amazing team of runners taking part on April 27th to support UK midwives, student midwives, & birthing families. If you can, please consider supporting them by making a donation.