Iolanthe's amazing team have completed the 2023 London Marathon - all 9 of them. We couldn't be prouder of their efforts. So what was it like to be out there on the course?
Rebecca Barden shares the high and low points of her Marathon day…
“Some tough things were the rain (which meant my feet got wet and I developed nasty blisters from about mile 13), and a very congested course which made it difficult to run at times. As to the highpoints, firstly seeing my support crew around the course - my family, and friends from my running club. Then running over Tower Bridge with my friends Fleur and Nicky (see pic below), and running down the Mall to the finish and knowing I'd managed a good time. Also all the support from Iolanthe before, during and after the race.
Running is a big part of my life; in fact I couldn't imagine life without it. I'm in Montreal at the moment and looking forward to running the local trails when I can carve out some time from work meetings. There's an incredible running community and I've made many good friends through running and taking part in races like the London Marathon. I was proud to run for Iolanthe and grateful for the opportunity to run in London.
I've run marathons in New York, Berlin, Stockholm and Edinburgh, but London will always hold a special place in my heart - nothing beats the crowds, the charity runners in their fabulous costumes, and the exhilaration from taking part in this iconic event.”
Haroun Sesay, who completed the 26.2 km of the Marathon in a fantastic time of 2 hours, 53 minutes, and 59 seconds, says...
“The hardest part actually was the start. The weather was not good – it started raining about 15 minutes before, which made it hard. The highlight of the day was crossing the finish line - the feeling was overwhelming, it was unbelievable. Even today, I am still getting that feeling.
I run because it’s my escape. I am a recovering addict and I was diagnosed with ptsd, so running means a lot. I get to help others while doing what I love. I’d say to a new runner - consistency is the key. I only started running during the pandemic and I never imagined I could run this fast.
You’ve got to love running; it gives you back confidence and belief in yourself. Just stay consistent, the rest will be history!”