Second time’s a charm as Katie takes on London Marathon

In 2024, writer Katie Thompson will be taking on the London Marathon to raise funds for Deafblind UK. Katie was honoured to be asked back in 2018 and looks forward to the challenge once more.

I always found the ‘running bug’ an odd turn of phrase. Rather than a zest for pounding the pavement, I pictured unwelcome gastrointestinal stress brought on by blisters. Of course, like anything in life, it’s best to try something before making snap judgements.

So, in 2017, I did just that. I dedicated the entire year to going from can’t-run-for-a-bus to voluntarily dragging myself around a 26.2-mile course in York. Never again.

Needless to say, that didn’t last. At the time, I had the pleasure of working with the lovely Deafblind UK, providing freelance content writing support for their Open Hand magazine. I mentioned I’d run York and they offered me a space in London for 2018.

Not my first rodeo

Fast forward six years and I’ve gone from “never again” to “what’s next?”. Fresh off a recent freelance collaboration with Deafblind UK, I’m thrilled to be running the London Marathon for them once again.

A lot has happened in six years. After London 2018, I followed up with five more marathons – York three times, Richmond-upon-Thames and Edinburgh. Not to mention a couple of goes at the Great North Run and even the Great Eastern Run, close to where Deafblind UK is based.

Suffice to say it will be a wholly different experience this time. This time, I know to expect:

• Battling the crowds on the underground and then the starting pens
• Being overtaken by firefighters, rhinos and people in their underwear
• An unprecedented spell of tropical weather.

That last one was particularly interesting. At the risk of bragging, I can claim for the time being that I ran the hottest London Marathon on record – 24.1°C. (I can also claim to have raced Mo Farah a few times. I’ve not caught him yet and won’t get the chance now. This year could have been so different!)

Getting prepped

Experience though I have, it’s important never to be complacent. That’s why I headed to London again this year for the annual ‘Meet the Experts’ event. Courtesy of the lovely team at Deafblind UK, the runners were gifted a free pass for this vital conference. All those questions you were too afraid to ask or niggling injuries – they could all be solved right there.

I also got some great tips on fundraising, delivered by a man dressed as a telephone. Ask anybody training and I bet at least half of them will tell you that fundraising is the hardest bit. And it is hard. You’ve got to nag people day in, day out. You’ve got to remind them what you’re doing it for – you’re enriching the lives of thousands of people each day. You’ve got to give them no-holds-barred access to a quick and easy fundraising page.

Back in 2018, I tried to introduce humour into my fundraising. I created a ‘dares for donations’ campaign. The premise was simple: you give me a ‘dare’ to act out in exchange for a donation. It can be as silly, embarrassing and public as you like – with some limitations, of course.

It resulted in:

• Bombing around Tesco singing at the top of my voice
• Eating the world’s hottest chilli pepper
• Eating (again) a whole chocolate cake, Bruce Bogtrotter-style.

Crucially, it got the funds in. And I dare say it was harder than running 26.2 miles in the blistering heat.

But it was all worth it…

When you think about all the miles, the fatigue, the blisters, the sugar overload…you tend to forget what it’s for. And then every now and then you’re reminded. Just like when I sat down recently to have a chat with all the other runners, and Chair Robert Nolan told us his story.

Just like when I was helping with the charity’s social media posts and saw daily life updates from Deafblind UK Ambassador Kelly.

Just like when I called them up and asked for help from the befriender service for my terminally ill grandmother.

Just like when I chatted to a visually impaired couple on holiday who told me how grateful they were for charities like these.

It’s so easy to forget what the cause is all about, but that brings it home. And no amount of sports bra chafing, gasping for air or inclement weather will change that. I once read a great way of reframing long-distance running. Rather than “I have to run today”, we should think, “I get to run today”. Charities like Deafblind UK remind us that our health is something we should never take for granted, and that humans have a remarkable triumph of spirit.

What an honour it is to run for the team once again. I shall be looking out for the other runners in their orange vests and send them all my support. See you at the finish line!

You can donate to Katie’s fundraising page here.