The furthest I had ever run in my life was around a rugby pitch – having reached 30, I needed a challenge, something that was completely out of my comfort zone. Like all charities close to our own hearts, I take huge amounts of pride and inspiration from having a close affiliation with the Samaritans and I wanted to give something back – what better way, than to run 26.2 miles around London fundraising for this inspirational charity. Be it gratifying or punishing, unexpectedly humorous or inspirational and life altering, my first (and probably last) marathon will be an experience I will never forget. Each runner’s experience is unique, every story different, but the pride that comes from accomplishing a marathon is unexplainable.