The Road They Run
19 stories, One marathon
In the quiet light of Sunday morning, 19 runners will stand on the edge of history.
The sky above Greenwich will be pale with promise. Behind them, months, years of early alarms, long miles, injury setbacks, gritty resolve.
Ahead, a city unfurling in cheering waves, from the echoing arc of Tower Bridge to the thundering glory of The Mall.
This is London. This is the marathon.
And these are our Ranelagh Harriers.
Each of our 19 have their own reason. Each of them carries someone, something, some part of themselves over the 26.2 miles ahead.
And each of them, in their own way, is about to become part of something much bigger.
Take Emma de Heveningham, for instance.
Nineteen years ago, she ran her first marathon on these streets. Now, she's back, older, stronger, curious to see what this version of herself can do. She doesn’t want to race the past, just to keep pace with joy.
Ed Smith knows the value of patience.
After 25 years of failed ballot attempts, it's only thanks to his club place that he's finally here. He’s not chasing a time. He’s chasing a feeling. A sense of being fully present, fully grateful, and wearing the Ranelagh vest with quiet pride.
Candice Goddard, running her first ever London marathon.
She will wear 26 bracelet bands, one for each mile, each one moved from arm to arm as they count down, each a dedication to someone she loves. For her, the race is a journey of gratitude as much as endurance. A celebration of the people who made her strong.
Gareth Williams, with 60 marathons behind him.
Gareth has nothing left to prove. A championship entry from last year’s 2:37 PB, this time he’s running not for glory, but for love of the day. “A fun run”, he says. The kind that still ends sub-3 for a man with miles in his soul.
His namesake, Gareth Hopkins, is chasing a 2:35.
One part jet engine, one part Guinness-lover, and a new full member of the club, he calls London a "complete sensory overload". And yet, it’s that very electricity he’s counting on to pull him through the pain cave.
Mike Morris, Ranelagh’s silver fox.
Mike ran his first London back in 1989, aged 19. This year will be his sixth time on the course, and he’s hoping for his fastest yet. Decades may pass, but the finish line thrill never dulls.
Speaking of legends, Mike Peace will be starting his 45th consecutive London Marathon.
Yes, you read that right. Forty-five. One of the event’s “Ever Presents,” he’s been part of this story from the very beginning. As a Ranelagh stalwart and a London Marathon icon, he runs for the joy, for the love, and because habit is a powerful thing when your heart’s in it.
Marc Leyshon, 2023’s silverware bagger.
Marc returns to London for the first time since 2010. Back in form, and quietly gunning for a champs time, he’s proof that form may dip but class is permanent.
James Whistler or Jimmy, as most know him, is hoping to break 2:40.
No harlequin costume this year, just fast feet and sharp focus. But let’s be honest: even if he was in dress shoes again, we’d still bet on him.
Matt Hirschler grew up with Ranelagh in his blood as a club junior.
He then wandered the world, only to return years later, older and wiser. Now, with a GFA spot and a PB to chase, he’s ready to take on the capital’s greatest hits: Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, while leaving a few of his own.
Aoife Kilpatrick started running with our beginners' C25K.
Now she’s heading into marathon number eight, and her third London, this time as a Good For Age qualifier. From a 4:30 debut to a sub-3:36 goal? That’s what we call lift-off.
Agnes Nagy, who joined Ranelagh just last year.
She’s already blazing a trail - both on the course and as our club kit rep. With 20 marathons under her belt and a 3:11 PB from Berlin, she calls London her favourite. And we suspect London will return the feeling.
Lauren Robertson, chasing a Boston qualifying time.
But she’ll be content with a "fun" marathon (her version of “fun” likely quicker than most people’s sprint), is another GFA runner who’s found her rhythm and isn’t done yet.
Joe Killip, the quiet storm.
He joins the start line after years of ballot rejections. Now, with a sub-2:40 goal, Joe’s not running to prove anything to anyone but himself. And with youth on his side and talent in his stride, the road is his to own.
Claire Warner, returns to London after smashing Berlin.
Aiming for a 3:30, she’s full of joy to be back on home turf, and as a Ranelagh runner this time, the circle feels beautifully complete.
Andy Starr, who grew up watching the marathon on TV in the 80s.
Andy’s running his ninth London this year. He’s fundraising for Children with Cancer, keeping it steady, aiming for sub-2:50. Some dreams never age.
Neil Rae, whose London PB dates back to 1994, is still out there pushing.
He may even throw in a jump if you catch him early enough. Whether he’ll jump at mile 25 is another matter.
Becs Bissell isn’t just running London — she’s running two world majors in one week.
Boston on Monday, London on Sunday… six stars in her eyes, passion in her heart, and determination in her legs.
And Ed Perry has run eight marathons since his first in 2015.
That debut was dedicated to the memory of his father, a man who loved this city.
This year’s race falls eleven years to the day since his dad passed away.
A full circle. A sacred loop, and a reminder to us all, that taking part in London is really about something deeper; love, joy, remembrance and running as celebration.
19 stories. 19 reasons. 19 hearts full of fire.
From Ranelagh’s own Chris Brasher, who helped found this very race in 1981, to Mike Peace still toeing the line 45 years later, our club has always run deep in the veins of this event.
This Sunday, Ranelagh will ripple through London in 19 pairs of shoes, cheered by thousands, remembered by many, representing something old and something new; endurance, joy, community, and the relentless human urge to go the distance.
So to our runners - when you stand on that start line, know this:
You’re not alone. You carry with you the stories of every Ranelagh runner who came before.
You carry the cheers of every clubmate watching from the sidelines, every message in a WhatsApp group, every hand-drawn sign held along the course and every raucous, sore-throated scream along the way.
You are the spirit of this club. The soul of this city. And whatever your goal - to PB, simply finish, have fun, or fundraising, by toeing that start line, you’ve already won.