53 at 53

Two Marathons, One Week, Fifty-Three Miles of Midlife Strength

In April 2026, I’ll be running two full marathons in one week; the Manchester Marathon on 19 April and the London Marathon on 26 April, a total of 53 miles at the age of 53.

I’m calling it “53 at 53: Two marathons. One week apart. Fifty-three miles to celebrate midlife strength.”

For me, it’s more than a running challenge; it’s a statement that our fifties can be a time of confidence, capability and courage.

Living and training on the Isle of Wight, I spend many hours out on the coastal paths and forest trails, often running solo. Knowing that WightSAR (Isle of Wight Search and Rescue) are always ready to respond if someone goes missing has given me quiet reassurance on every long run. Their presence in the background lets people like me explore freely and safely.

WightSAR are volunteers who dedicate countless hours to searching for missing people, assisting emergency services, and providing comfort to families in distress. They train hard, work selflessly, and are funded entirely through donations. Every pound raised helps keep their vehicles equipped, their radios working and their volunteers trained.

By running these two marathons back-to-back, I hope to raise both funds and awareness for this incredible local team and to show what’s possible when we keep moving forward, one determined step at a time.

Thank you for supporting me, and for standing behind the remarkable volunteers who keep our island community safe.

Together, we’ll turn every mile into support for WightSAR.