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TCS London Marathon 2026

Donate to Richard and help them hit their goal of £2400!

So it begins......

The ABF is the Army’s national charity, providing lifelong support to soldiers, veterans, and their families. They work directly with individuals and partner charities to ensure help is always there — from newborns to centenarians. Last year alone, they supported people aged from just 1 day old to 104 years old.

You can read more of their stories on their website, and as a veteran, I understand the hard work, sacrifice, and resilience that defines military life — and I’ve experienced how vital it is to have support when it’s needed most.

 That’s why I’m proud to be running the 2026 TCS London Marathon in support of the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF).

Now, here’s the typical Richie twist:
I’ve only just secured my marathon place — with just 6 weeks to train.
This will be my first marathon (I've been told Snickers bars don't count - even if you eat 26.2 of them!).
So I’m asking friends, family, and colleagues old and new — military and civilian — to donate.
If not for the charity, then at least for the thought of me running 26.2 miles.

Please help me help them by giving whatever you can using the donate button and share this page far and wide.

Thank you in advance for your generosity. It means a lot, and I will keep you posted on my journey and training.

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

£1,496 + £271.95 GiftAid

My Goal

£2,400

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Could help pay for adapting a disabled veteran's home to increase their independence
£50
Could help towards care home fees for an elderly veteran who can no longer live at home
£30
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£20
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My Updates

Finished!

Its 2 days after what can only be described as one of the most amazing experiences ever! Legs are still stiff, but I'm moving! 1 marathon 6 weeks notice 1 injury 2.5 weeks of being able to actually train My thanks to everyone that has supported me. Without you I wouldn't have made it to the start line, let alone the finish line!

Final run!

Last run before Sunday! Now for stretching and muscle soaks! Need to pick up a few last minute bits, weather is going to be hotter than originally planned. Fortunately there’s plenty of water stations. May have to get a camelback that can then double up as a backpack for all the Haribo and deep heat. Just have to make sure I don’t get them confused while I’m running! It’s going to be an experience either way. We’re almost half way to the fundraising target. Any support you can give will help the Army Benevolent Fund continue their work supporting soldiers, veterans and their families.

Well, this is an interesting read......

The Running Week has posted 10 Essential things to know before running a marathon, let’s see how I'm doing

Serious Commitment - 6 weeks? Is that serious? May have been too late to that party….

Start Small First - I'd say 3 miles is small

Walking Breaks are Fine - That’s good to know, I'll be doing plenty of them!

You might not love running every day - Yep got that one sorted!

Gear up right - Er, maybe? Won't know until I start....and then finish....

You won’t run 26.2 miles in training - Didn't get past 6 miles in training so that's this one ticked off!

You'll train in all kinds of weather - Yep, cloud AND sun. Nailed it!

Running a marathon doesn’t guarantee weight loss - In a backwards way of doing things, this will be the start of my weight loss journey. Though, that doesn't sound quite right......

Be prepared for awkward bathroom breaks - Nothing will ever beat portaloos in Iraq for "awkward"

Not everyone will understand - I'm not sure I fully understand either. Other than running to raise money for a very worthwile cause, what else is there, other than "why not"?

7/10 though. I'll take that as a win!

It's the Final Countdown!

Quoting the immortal Europe, "its the final countdown"! Picked up my event pack at the expo yesterday, along with a few other bits. I'm very much in between excitment as everyone has said London is amazing and the crowds really help people finish the run. But on the other hand, 6 weeks notice, an injury 2.5 weeks in (fortunatly now sorted)......I am feeling so underprepared..... But also so lucky to be given the oppurtunity to "run" the marathon and raise money for such a worthwile cause. I've seen posts of people saying they will be trying for the 16th year in a row to get a place for the London Marathon, and here I am, 1 shot, 1 entry. Feeling so fortunate to have this oppurtunity. Time for some expo flapjack and a coffee while I plan my morale-ibo fueling strategy.....

Time spent on recce is seldom wasted.......

Sunday is fast approaching!
Here's a video of the route, looks like it'll be a good day, get to see lots of landmarks - no doubt through plenty of sweat but hopefully not through blood and tears.
Dont forget, you can track me on the day through the TCS London Marathon App. Bib number 32707.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Aszo124Sm/

Home for Tea and Medals

Here it is, the London Marathon Finisher Medal!

All I need to do is go for a little walk round London on Sunday, then I can have Tea with medals at the end. 

And a nice peice of cake as well!

This time next week......We'll be millionaires Rodney

Maybe not, but I will have finished the London Marathon (hopefully). If not, this will be hour 8?!
If you want to see how I'm getting on, the London Marathon App is live and if you'd like to track me on the day, download the TCS London Marathon App. You can track me using my bib number - 32707

WOO HOO!!

We're back on track (ish)!

Managed a nice little shakedown run this evening. Mix of walking and running to ease myself back in. 

Now the countdown begins, 9 days to go........

Good News!!

Good News!
Everything is back where it should be following a slight pulled muscle/twist in the pelvis. I've had a couple more days of rest and now I can get back to preparing for the London Marathon (in 9 days)!
I'd like to thank those that have sponsored me, in the short time we've been doing this we've nearly hit £1000!

Time to the shorts back on and getting some mileage under the feet.....

Its Arrived!

Matrathon top has arrived! May have to wear a t-shirt underneath as I'm not convinced I have the physique to pull off a vest. In other news, the injury seems to be healing well. Have an appointment later today to make sure everything is ok. With any luck I'll be training again this weekend!

Well, its happened

In the immortal words of Winne the Pooh - "Bother"

Shakedown 4 miler yesterday, got home, didnt feel right.

Think I've pulled something, still have full range of movement but pain/pulling when I walk. Hopefully just a pulled muscle.

Lets see what the doc and physio say.

Looks like I'll have to do this as a jog/walk rather than a run/jog.

EDIT - Good news! Physio has confirmed that I haven't done any damage, pulled muscle. Brufen, rest and see how we feel after the long weekend.

Aparently if you do no exercise you loose all conditioning within a few months! 

Looks like we're "jeffing" this!

Aprils Fools?

Nope! 

It's not!

This is happenning, in 25 days!

Just over 3 weeks to go until the real challenge begins!

26 Days to go!

We're on week 3 of the training plan! Bodyweight circuit today and a "4 mile steady state" tomorrow - I remember steady state runs - they were anything but.......
But we're only 26 days away until the big day!
Sunday's long run was 6 miles - I'm getting closer to Salisbury city centre each week, this weeks long run will be 8 miles??!!
To put that in perspective - thats 134 Big Bens stacked ontop of each other!!

Trainings getting real now......

Calm before the storm?

We are on week 2 of 6 into marathon training and (I may be jinxing things here) but my legs feel good. Stiff at the end before the end of run stretching, but no pain? I’ve done my “long run” (a poultry 5 miles compared to the 18 miles I've seen others in running groups do this week!), but no pain.

This feels suspicious.
Deeply suspicious.

Maybe my legs are in denial.
Maybe I’m in denial.

But, I’m easing in, building the mileage, and letting my body catch up before I start asking it to do anything crazy. Five miles on Sunday becomes six, then eight, then suddenly I’m on the starting line about to eat 26.2 snickers!

 

No, wait, that was a fever dream I had.

For now, though, I’m taking the win. No pain. Just me, the trainers, a dodgy playlist that most DJs would reject and the creeping suspicion that the real suffering is lurking somewhere ahead.....

 

Training Week 1? Completed it!

1 week down, 5 to go!

5 weeks today is the London Marathon!

Finished the week 1 training plan with a long run today - 5 miles in 52 minutes!

Onto week 2!

Starting Metrics

Right, metrics time.

Thats the first proper training session. 3 mile run with a mobility session to make sure I don’t seize up.

3 miles - 30 minutes 28 seconds

Thats well off where my fitness was and should be, but, we’ve started.

Songs we like on the playlist - les sardines by Patrick Sebastian, nowhere fast by Meatloaf and Jump by Van Halen.

Song removed from the playlist, Emma Bunton - What took you so long? I don’t need that question in my life at the moment.

Homer Simpson weighs 240 pounds. I am 6 short of that so we legitimately have Homer training for a marathon!

It will be interesting to see the metrics at the other end. 

I love it when a plan comes together!!

Here it is! The training plan that will take me from 0 to a marathon. Credit where it's due, this is all AI. Though I'm not sure I like the idea only 1 rest day a week, but needs must. I suppose I should get some trainers now.........

Thank you to my Sponsors

£148.40

Anonymous

£106

Gareth Rhymes

God speed!

£106

Paul Shearing

£106

Anonymous

£100

Anonymous

£53.32

Lucy

Run Richard Run!!

£53.32

Rob Sommerville

Good luck!

£53.32

Peter Cole

You can do it

£53.32

Rowan Carlin

All the best mate, you'll smash it.

£53.32

Fi Tompson

A great cause Richard, proud of you. Good luck with this huge challenge. Lots of love Fi xxx

£50

Daniel King

£32.23

Emma Stewart

Go smash it Richie!

£32.23

Richard Vine

Such an amazing thing to do. Good luck.

£32.23

Jennifer Lotherington

Crazy challenge....good luck.

£30

The Valentines

So proud of your efforts, looking forward to cheering you on with Elle on the big day! Looking forward to celebrating with you on the finish line! 🥳

£30

Louise Law

Good luck Richie - they say it takes months to train for a marathon… you said “nah, 6 weeks will do” 😄! Fair play. Dig deep and enjoy the madness - soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the ☀️ and keep hydrating! Have a good one 🤜🏻🤛🏻

£30

Pete And Em

£25

The Mudds

Good luck Ritchie 😊

£21.84

Richard Wolfenden

For a good cause!

£21.84

Scott

£21.84

Roddy Morrison

You've got this Richie, great training plan that will get you to the finish line.

£21.84

Anonymous

£21.84

Dolly Mazonowicz

Go, Rich, go!!! x x

£21.84

Stephen Mooring

£21.84

Dylan Rogers

Good luck, I’m sure you’ll smash it!

£21.84

Laura And Jason.

You’ve got this!!! You’re a machine. Old, rusty but still in good working order (apparently) love you Rich!!!!

£21.36

Ieuan Moraghan

Go on lad YOU GOT THIS!! im thinking you'll come in with a time of about 4hours 55 mins 🤔

£20

Lee Woodhouse

£20

Martin

Good luck!

£20

Luke Carroll

best of luck Rich, one foot in front of the other!

£20

Harry Fleming

£20

Matt Calver

Great cause and all the best for the day.

£20

Kat Clavell-bate

Good luck Rich!

£11.33

Richard Keenahan

Well done mate. I’m going to a time of 4 hours 45 minis.

£11.33

Bob Haines

£11.33

Donna Strphen

Good Luck mate. You’ll smash it!!

£11.33

Kim Watts

Best of luck mate! You can do it!

£11.33

Webb Family

Stay alive my freind. Love Verity, Patch, Melody Roo and Talitha

£11.33

Dan Harry

All the best buddy

£11.32

Alex K

9.99 just to make sure the numbers written down in case you need it.

£6.11

Muppet

Good luck Rich.

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