Marathon Moments at the 2026 London Marathon
- May 22
- 4 min read
This year, four of our club members were fortunate enough to gain entry to the iconic London Marathon. Here is what they had to say about their experiences on an unforgettable day in the capital.
Kev Carpenter lined up at the 2026 London Marathon alongside his son Lewis and brother Paul in what turned out to be a truly memorable family occasion.
The race itself made history, with both winner Sabastian Sawe and runner-up Ymorth Kejelcha finishing in under two hours.
Kev also had a superb race, crossing the line in 3:02:01 — comfortably securing a “Good for Age” qualifying time for next year’s London Marathon. At 52 years of age, Kev needed to run under 3:07:00 to qualify, meaning he finished almost five minutes inside the standard.
Kev’s long-term goal remains a sub-three-hour marathon and, at just over two minutes away, he is agonisingly close to achieving it.
However, this marathon was about far more than times. Sharing the experience with son Lewis and brother Paul made it an especially proud and emotional day for Kev.
After finishing, Kev made his way to Embankment opposite the London Eye to wait for Lewis and Paul. Paul appeared first, shortly followed by Lewis as the crowds cheered runners towards Buckingham Palace and the finish line.
Reflecting afterwards, Kev said:
“It was very emotional seeing Lewis as I could tell he was hurting, but the guts and determination he showed to finish is a memory that I’ll cherish forever.”
Jo Sargent was fortunate to secure the club ballot place for the 2026 London Marathon.
Her previous marathon experience came at Brighton in 2018, which coincidentally was the hottest London Marathon on record. Despite that experience putting her off for a while, this year felt like the right time to return to the marathon distance.
Training had gone well and Jo arrived on the start line excited and ready to embrace the occasion. Running alongside friend Geraldine in the early miles, she soaked up the incredible atmosphere and enjoyed seeing the many charities represented throughout the event.
Passing iconic landmarks including the Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge brought the television spectacle to life, but as temperatures climbed the race became increasingly challenging. Thankfully, organisers provided sprinklers, fluids, gels and ice stations to help runners stay cool.
Although missing family and friends on the course proved mentally tough, Jo never doubted she would finish. A timely boost arrived at mile 20 when clubmates Katrina and Kay appeared with encouragement and support.
The closing miles passed quickly as Big Ben came into view before Jo crossed the finish line to collect her medal and celebrate an emotional achievement.
Jo reflected afterwards:
“It was hot, busy and the noise levels were unbelievable, but the atmosphere and support around the whole course was incredible. It really is an amazing race.”
Jo also raised nearly £1,500 for the Alzheimer’s Society in memory of her Mum.
For Geraldine Suckling, the 2026 London Marathon was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. After travelling to London on a very warm weekend and collecting her race number at the busy Marathon Expo, the excitement and nerves quickly became real.
Race morning brought warm conditions from the outset, but meeting fellow runners and eventually finding Jo at the start helped settle the nerves. Starting together, the pair enjoyed the opening miles before the increasing heat encouraged a steadier run-walk strategy.
Despite the tough conditions, Geraldine thoroughly enjoyed the occasion, chatting with runners and spectators alike while embracing the electric atmosphere around the course.
Tower Bridge proved to be a standout moment:
“It’s very hard to describe the feeling, but if you’ve done it, you know.”
The crowds, music and support from start to finish created an incredible atmosphere throughout the entire 26.2 miles. Geraldine finished in 4:45 and summed up the day perfectly:
“I loved every mile and couldn’t get over the craic. It was like a rave without the illegal substances!”
After receiving a “Good for Age” place for the 2026 London Marathon, Stuart Price eagerly accepted the opportunity for another crack at the famous event. Strong performances earlier in the year at the Tarpley 10 and Colchester Half Marathon provided confidence that training was heading in the right direction.
Starting at 9:35am in warm sunshine, Stuart settled into the race comfortably despite the huge numbers. However, as temperatures rose, staying cool became increasingly important, with water being poured over his head as often as it was being drunk. By mile 20 the race was becoming a real battle, with tired legs and fading pace making the final 10 kilometres especially demanding. Encouragement from family on Embankment helped provide a final lift towards the finish.
There was late drama too, as a hamstring locked up with only 400 metres remaining, forcing a brief stop before Stuart could finally cross the finish line. The effort was worth it, with a superb finishing time of 2:49:20 — four minutes quicker than last year’s performance.
Stuart also used the marathon to raise close to £1,500 for Lymphoma Action.
