18 March 2025

Running for Redwings: Part 2

Two supporters wearing Redwings running tops stand outside a stable with a small pony poking their head over the door.

In April, two supporters will be running the London Marathon for Redwings. We believe it’s the first time anyone will have completed the special event on our behalf!

This blog is the second instalment in their training journey, and Steph and Stephen are here with an update on how their running is going, and the ways you can support them.

First up, Steph shares how her training is really stepping up:

"The problem with spring marathons is that the training really kicks-up a pace during the winter, when it’s naturally cold, wet and the sun is reluctant to show its face.

It’s meant that many of my weekend long runs, which have recently been anything between 10 and 15 miles, have mostly started with frost on the ground! It really does take every last sap of motivation to haul yourself out of bed and strap on your running shoes on these days. However, I’m pleased to say I’ve been ticking off the miles and knowing the great cause my sponsorship is going towards helps make those early mornings and sore legs worth it.

At the start of March, I also completed my first half marathon in six years! If you had told me at the start of 2024, I would have been back to running 10ks after a break of almost five years, I would have been chuffed. So to have a half marathon medal around my neck felt amazing.

It’s also given me the boost I need to attack the final long runs of this training block with confidence, which will be hitting 20 miles in length soon!

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me. I’m now a third towards my fundraising target for Redwings and I can’t thank everyone enough."

Steph is holding a half marathon medal and smiling for the camera.

It's not all medals though...

Whilst a medal in the sunshine may look glamorous. Steph has also seen the other (not so picturesque!) side of marathon training! With the dark evenings (and less than ideal weather!) Steph's parents kindly made her an 'at-home' running set-up in one of the outbuildings on their farm.

Marathon training can be all-consuming and our runners' family and friends are crucial support in their ongoing challenge for Redwings!

A treadmill is under a gazebo in a farm outbuilding, dimly lit with a lamp

Juggling life (and work!) with marathon training...

Meanwhile Stephen has been juggling the demands of marathon training with a busy life, and his job as a landscaper.

Training’s been going fairly well, but I’ll be honest — I’ve had to miss a few workouts recently due to how physical my work has been. Last week, I only managed one run, but on the plus side, my recovery has been solid.

I’m feeling refreshed and ready to get stuck into this week’s plan, which includes some key sessions like an 11km Easy Run, a 5km Tempo Run, and a big 24km (that's over 14 miles!) Long Run on Sunday!

Balancing training with work can be tough, but I’m staying positive and focused on the bigger goal — crossing that London Marathon finish line in April while raising funds for all the horses and donkeys at Redwings!"

If you'd like to support our marathon runners and give them an extra boost as they continue their training, you can sponsor Steph here and Stephen here.

Thank you #RedwingsAngels!