Gav Young’s London Marathon | 27th April 2025

“I’m a 46-year-old dad of two, doing my best to juggle a busy corporate job in the city which involves a fair bit of travelling, being a husband to an amazing wife, and hopefully the best Dad I can be to two young and very energetic boys! Since having the boys, I realised my fitness had taken a back seat and I was keen to rectify that and get running again (something I used to enjoy pre-kids but have since found every excuse possible to avoid!). To provide some much-needed motivation, I applied for a ballot place in last year’s London Marathon, secretly relieved when I didn’t get in due to it being so oversubscribed. I applied again this year with the mindset that yet again I’d be unlikely to get a place. To my horror though, I was one of the ‘lucky’ ones to get accepted and the full realization dawned on me that I had no more excuses and I had to get out training!

It’s been a tough winter battling the endless bugs from the kids and the cold early mornings trying to get the miles in. But somehow, I made it to 15 miles last weekend, and with just over seven weeks to go, the reality is setting in and I desperately need to increase my mileage week by week!

That said, I’m really looking forward to London Marathon— especially the support and atmosphere on the day, though I also have a healthy amount of fear and knowledge that I’m no longer anywhere near my prime and that the training (and recovery) is taking it’s toll. But what’s keeping me going is the chance to raise money for such an incredible charity. Thanks to my wife Anna, I get to see first-hand the amazing impact it has on deaf children, young people and their families, and knowing I’m supporting them will (hopefully) push me through those last, painful miles.”