The Biggest London Marathon Ever
What it's like to run the London Marathon, as a GoodGymer
May 06, 2025
56,640 finishers made the 2025 London marathon the biggest to every happen, among them were GoodGymers galore. Richard and Danica, two GoodGymers from Bristol, battled flu, injury and heat - proving perfect conditions and PB's isn't what makes you a hero at GoodGym.
It’s unparalleled in what they’ve done. Even if you don’t like road racing it’s a race that needs to be done - Richard
2025 is the first time Richard or Danica had the chance to run the London marathon, however both are experienced runners with multiple ultra marathons under their belts. Danica finding her love for races at the London marathon GoodGym cheer point many years prior.
Despite considerable race experience both of our runners, Richard and Danica, admit the challenge of a road race is unfamiliar - both opting for trail running when given a choice. Richard recognised the unforgiving nature of road races, saying “running road races is very different. It’s relentless on the key muscle groups with no rest until the end".
Richard secured his place at the 2025 London marathon as part of the GoodGym Race Team prize draw, a single place being given out as part of GoodGym's affiliation with Sport England. On the other hand, Danica finally got lucky on the ballot, despite forgetting she had applied and finding the ticket in her spam folder a week later than everyone else!
Training, trials and tribulations
Danica confesses to some slip ups during training, “I did my long runs on the weekend but not as many as I should have midweek”. Richard's regime was more structured, using GoodGym sessions and parkruns to keep things fresh throughout some heavy training weeks, opting to get the majority of his distance done each weekend. Richard’s recommendation for any first timer being “start early, get a good [fitness] base in. Don’t worry about your pace, just get the long runs in”.
Despite best intentions, something always goes wrong. For Richard it was flu. He described the experience as “painfully annoying”, catching flu 4 weeks before race day. It was 2 weeks before the marathon before he had recovered enough to run again. His hopes of a PB feeling further out of reach, only to be confirmed as temperatures on the day soared as high as 24 degrees celcius.
Danica's goals were never of personal bests, still on her journey back to long distance running since an injury last year. With illness, recovery and the heat on the day, PB's were off the table. Instead our runners took in the experience, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying what would become a record breaking London marathon.
Race day
"Absolutely amazing, unlike anything I’d done before”, Richard’s account paints a picture of the atmosphere. “It’s like Glastonbury festival people everywhere… every kilometre is lined with people supporting". Even before the day, Richard heard ‘good luck!’ and other support from passers by once he had picked up his race number and could be easily identified on the Saturday. For one weekend a year London goes running mad.
Enjoy the atmosphere, it’s so unique - Danica
Both of our runners described the breath of relief as they transitioned from the organised chaos of the start line, to the residential streets of Woolwich. Still lined with supporters, Danica found the atmosphere from members of the community here was unparalleled, unlike the rest of the race which at times felt more like a spectator sport.
The beginning was really nice… the community had an amazing energy there - Danica
Our runners highlights include a bustling Cutty Sark, the iconic London Bridge crossing and fire hydrate showers every 5km to cool off. Had it not been such a hot day it's likely some of the other landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Big Ben might have been ranked higher. Danica's only picture from the day, captured as she crossed London Bridge with fellow runners, “it’s the only picture I got, I must have been too focused on running to notice anything else!”.
I get by with a little help from my friends
The GoodGym cheer squad always provides much needed encouragement to runners at mile 24, right when they need it most. Both Richard and Danica recall how motivating it was to see GoodGymers cheering them on towards the finish line. “I was starting to flag” Richard admitted, “it was amazing to see GoodGym… that made the difference and kept me from walking the final few kms”.
I had nothing left in me. I felt like I was crawling until someone next to me shouted ‘you got this, you can do it’ - Danica
"Be prepared to walk a few miles before and after the race. I ran a total of 27 miles because of all the swerving I did on the course”, Danica shared as closing advice for other London marathon first timers. Congratulations to all 56,640 runners, the many GoodGymers amongst them, and the GoodGym cheer points, all contributing to a record breaking 45th London marathon.