12 Months to Marathon

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In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon podcast, I’m joined by Dawn Caddell to talk about her journey to completing the 2026 London Marathon at 51 years old.
Dawn shares how she returned to running after a long break from raising a family, how running became a huge part of her mental wellbeing, and why she kept pushing herself further — from 10Ks to half marathons and eventually the marathon distance.
But this wasn’t a smooth build-up.
We talk openly about:
 Returning to running after years away 
 Balancing family life, work, and marathon training 
 Injury setbacks during marathon prep 
 The emotional impact of nearly pulling out 
 Why resilience matters more than perfection 
 The reality of marathon training after 50 
 The incredible atmosphere of the London Marathon 
 Why challenging yourself changes how you see yourself 
This is an honest conversation about perseverance, identity, purpose, and refusing to quit when things don’t go to plan.
Dawn’s story will resonate with a lot of runners — especially anyone who feels they’ve left it “too late”, struggled with setbacks, or wondered whether they’re still capable of doing something big.
You can follow Dawn on Instagram:
 @dawnyc1234_
And if you enjoy the podcast, please follow, rate, and share it. It genuinely helps more runners over 35 discover the show.
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In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon podcast, I’m joined by an extraordinary guest — Andy Reid.
Andy lost both legs and his right arm in Afghanistan in 2009 after stepping on an IED while serving in the British Army. Since then, he’s rebuilt his life in a way that genuinely redefines resilience.
We talk about:
 Andy’s journey into the military 
 The day his life changed forever 
 Recovery, resilience, and rebuilding identity 
 Mental health, purpose, and asking for help 
 Why he became the first triple amputee to complete the London Marathon 
 The mindset required to keep moving forward through adversity 
 The work of the Standing Tall Foundation supports people struggling with mental health, addiction, and life challenges 
This isn’t just a conversation about endurance events or marathons. It’s a conversation about perspective, purpose, gratitude, and what human beings are truly capable of when they refuse to give up.
Andy also shares some powerful lessons about discomfort, discipline, community, and why “anything is possible” often starts with simply taking the next step.
You can follow Andy here:
 Instagram: @andyreid2506
Find out more about the Standing Tall Foundation and Andy’s book Standing Tall here:

https://www.standingtallfoundation.org.uk/
If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, rate, and share it. It genuinely helps more runners over 35 find the show.
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In this episode, I’m joined by Beth McArdle, who recently completed the London Marathon 2026 after months of structured training.
Beth shares her journey from losing three and a half stone, rebuilding her fitness through Women on the Move, taking on HYROX, and then stepping up to the challenge of the London Marathon.
We talk about:
 Starting again in her late forties and early fifties 
 Weight loss, confidence and fitness 
 Training for a marathon around work and family life 
 Running for charity 
 Dealing with injury on marathon day 
 The emotional pull of London Marathon 
 Why your “why” matters 
 The power of community, support and stubbornness 
 Why it’s never too late to do something remarkable 
This is a brilliant episode for any over 35 runner, especially anyone who thinks they may have left it too late to take on a big challenge.
Beth’s story is honest, emotional and inspiring. It’s a reminder that the race itself is only one part of the journey.
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Episode 95 – The Record-Breaking 2026 London Marathon Review
In this episode, I break down one of the greatest marathon days in history — the incredible 2026 London Marathon.
We dive into:
 Sabastian Sawe’s historic 1:59:30 marathon
 Two men going sub-2 in the same race 
 Jacob Kiplimo breaking the world record and still finishing third 
 Tigst Assefa’s women-only world record 
 The astonishing pacing statistics behind the performances 
 Why Sawe’s second half marathon was faster than the current American half marathon record 
 The role of super shoes, skepticism and elite performance 
 What everyday runners can learn from the greatest marathon ever run 
I also reflect on my own recent half marathon, booking Newport Marathon for next spring, and why performances like this should challenge all of us to rethink what’s possible — not just in running, but in life.
This is a deep dive into marathon running, mindset, human potential and the culture around elite sport.
If you’re an over-35 runner chasing your own marathon dreams, this one’s for you.
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In this episode, I’m joined by Dawn Deaville, who recently completed her first marathon at Manchester Marathon after working with me inside the coaching programme.
Dawn shares how running helped her rebuild herself after having three children in five years, struggling mentally after her third child, and feeling like parts of herself had disappeared.
We talk about:
 Starting with a run around the block 
 Using running for mental health 
 Finding time as a mum of three 
 Building from 10K to half marathons 
 Overcoming race anxiety 
 Training for a first marathon 
 Managing fatigue, family life and recovery 
 Why Manchester Marathon changed her confidence 
 What she learned from the whole journey 
This is a brilliant listen for any over 35 runner, especially mums who feel like they’ve lost a bit of themselves and want to start doing something for them again.
Dawn’s story is a reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out. Start small, keep showing up, and see where it takes you.
Follow me on Instagram: @12monthstomarathon
Join my free running community for over 35s via the link in my bio.
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