Meet Jack – a Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice marathon runner. Jack is 29 and a solicitor from Battersea. Before 2025, Jack had only ran 10K, this year he is running three and a half marathons for us. He completed The London Half Marathon in early April, closely followed by his first ever marathon in Paris quickly followed by The London Marathon – all in one month! Jack will finish his impressive challenge in October 2025 with the Palma Marathon in Mallorca.
We asked Jack how he was feeling after the London Marathon, Jack replied:
‘I’m quite tired still and I’ve got DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) and even my arms hurt. The heat was really difficult and my time was much slower than Paris a couple of weeks ago. Even before we started moving it was so hot in the pens and I did struggle with the lack water which was only every 5k, it was a bit of a slog but very enjoyable still. I’m still standing, that’s the main thing.’
Jack started supporting Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice when his previous employer chose us as their Charity of the Year. Jack has taken us with him and continues to actively support us not least by running three and a half marathons in one year, which is a real challenge for any runner, even an experienced marathon runner. Jack has always built running into his fitness schedule, he says:
‘I describe myself as active and run about twice a week. I think long-distance running is what I’ve always been suited to. I also play quite a lot of football and golf and then in terms of running, I work quite near where I live so I regularly run to and from work.’
Jack enjoys running as part of his active lifestyle and says:
‘I enjoy the sense of escapism that comes with running. My job can be quite stressful so when I go out for a run it can be the only time I can really de-stress. I would like to keep marathon running but I’ve had quite a few physical niggles to contend with like a problem with my hip, runner’s knee and Plantar Fasciitis which is really painful. I’d like to take a step back and do long distances but not quite a whole marathon. Having said that there is the marathon bug and I think there is a chance I could do another one at the back of next year maybe in Berlin or Tokyo. I do need a break as my girlfriend has started calling me boring as I haven’t been drinking and we haven’t been going on holidays.’
Jack says that while he’s not actively training for or running marathons, he’d like to be on hand as a support resource for new marathon runners to advise on training or motivation. Jack describes the things that kept him motivated:
‘Tony was a big factor (Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice‘s Supporter Engagement Officer). He has been incredible, I’ve had so many calls from him, just checking in on how I am and what’s going on with me personally, nothing to do with the race and my fundraising. Apart from that it’s just my own self-competitive nature that keeps me going. I use an app called ‘Runna’ that keeps your motivation going because it gives you structure. I’m also the kind of person, if I say I’m going to do something, I’ll do it and I’ll do it to the best of my ability.’
Jack is now going to have a rest and start running again in around a month. Jack says:
‘I don’t know what to expect with Palma. It’s in late October so it should be cooler but there’s always the risk it could be hotter. I’m going to change my mentality a bit in the sense that I’m going to slow down and just try to enjoy it. There was a point in Paris where I didn’t even realise that I’d ran past the Eiffel Tower because I was in so much pain. The Palma Marathon is on the seafront which will be lovely so I want to get this idea out of my head that I need to hit a specific time or prove something.’
Jack’s times have been amazing, in Paris he made 3.36 hours and in London 3.55 hours which is much faster than the average.
Jack’s fundraising is also going really well and he is keeping his fundraising page open till his Palma run. He has also been sending update emails to supporters and potential donors, keeping them up-to-date on everything from training schedules to new pieces of kit. Jack’s glad he chose to fundraise for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, he says:
‘ I didn’t want to run for a really big charity. I assume that they do offer support but not the type of personal support I’ve had with you guys. I think Noah’s Ark just seems to go that extra mile.’