Student experience: running the London Marathon

Two Capital City College students talk about their experience of running this year’s London Marathon.

On 27 April, two Capital City College (CCC)  students, Elham Noori and Matin Tordman, were among the record-breaking 56,640 participants who crossed the finish line at this year’s London Marathon. Elham and Matin both ran on behalf of The Running Charity, an organisation that uses the power of running to support young people who are experiencing homelessness or have complex needs. 

Elham is studying Business – Level 3 Access to Higher Education Diploma and Matin is studying 

Digital and IT Skills – Level 2 Diploma. We caught up with the two students to learn more about their passion for running and what it was like to take part in the London Marathon.

How long have you been running?

Elham: I started running in August last year, so I’ve been running for around 10 months.

Matin I’ve been running for over a year now, but I’ve been playing football for a while so I’m used to running.

What are your other interests?

Elham: I’m really interested in business and technology, especially how communication and information management help organizations run efficiently. I also enjoy reading, volunteering and spending time outdoors.

Matin: I play football and I like writing.

What inspired you to enter the London Marathon? 

Elham:  Before registering for the London Marathon, I hadn’t run any long distance races before, only a 5k. I wanted to challenge myself mentally and physically, and I saw the London Marathon as a great opportunity to push my limits. I was inspired by the positive energy of past participants, and the sense of community the marathon brings. I also wanted to support The Running Charity, which has helped me. I think it was the best opportunity to support them and have an impact as I was wearing their T-shirt and running with them, so people could see the charity’s name and donate on the website.

Matin: I joined a running group early last year, and some of the young people had signed up to run the marathon. I thought I could do it and wanted to try it so I just went for it.

How did you prepare for the marathon?

Elham: It was my first time running the London Marathon so I did my training with The Running Charity and they helped me a lot. We started training around four months before the race by doing 15k runs every weekend. During the week, I took a break to help my body recover. I ran with other people from the charity and that was very helpful. If I’d tried to do it on my own, I would have found it too tiring, but when you’re with other people, you don’t notice how long it’s taking and how far you’ve run.

Matin: I have a running coach through The Running Charity, so about three months prior to the race we started training on Saturdays and Mondays, doing longer and shorter runs. You have to do some running on your own so you can get in shape, so I usually ran about three times a week, doing two short runs and one longer run of about 12k or 15k.

How did you feel on the day?

Elham: It was very incredible, and the support from the crowds kept me going. There were tough moments, but crossing the finishing line was an unforgettable achievement.

Matin: I woke up in the morning on the day of the race feeling very nervous because it was my first time. I told one of my coaches that I was feeling nervous and that the day felt different for me, but my coach reassured me that it was just another Sunday and that I shouldn’t let it get to me.

What were the highlights of the marathon?

Elham: The best part was the crowds cheering along the road. It gave me such a boost. Seeing people of all backgrounds running together from different causes was also really inspiring.

Matin:  I started the race and, about 20 minutes in, I remember thinking “Oh, I’ve got a long way to go. Can I do this?” but it was amazing, because as soon as I started getting tired, people kept cheering my name so I had the confidence to keep going. Everyone showed positive energy and it was a good experience as well.

What were the challenges?

Elham: The most difficult thing was staying motivated during the race. When I started running, I felt good and was motivated, but when other people started to overtake me, it affected my motivation and I thought I might be the last person to finish. When I looked behind me and saw there were lots of people behind me, it motivated me to keep running. It was a hot day but I completed the race in 5 hours and 34 minutes.

Matin: The difficult part was after 30k. The last 10k was very difficult because, by that time, my body was done and my energy was gone. But then people kept on shouting out my name, and that’s what kept me going. In the end, I finished in 4 hours and 7 minutes

How did you feel after the race?

Elham: After the race my whole body was in pain, but when I got into a cold bath it helped my body to recover faster. After two days my body was almost 50% recovered and after four days I was ready to get back to running.

Matin: After the race, my legs were gone and I started feeling pain. I played football last week and then I tried running a 5k yesterday but it hurt, so I think I’ll start in a few days instead.

Are you planning to enter similar events in the future?

Elham: Absolutely. I’d like to do it again and again.

Matin: Yes, if there was another marathon next week, I’d go for it – it’s an amazing feeling. When I was running, I was thinking “When I’m done with this, I’m not doing a marathon again.” but 10 minutes after I finished I thought “This is a lovely experience, I’d do this again any day.”

What advice would you give to someone who is planning to run a marathon?

Elham: If it’s your first time doing a marathon, start training early – around three or four months before the race, and be consistent. Don’t be too hard on yourself, trust the process and make sure you listen to your body. Most importantly, enjoy the journey – it’s a big achievement.

Matin: I had a time in mind to finish and I’d planned to finish in under four hours because I felt like I could do that, but on the day, I couldn’t finish in under four hours and I finished in 4 hours and 7 minutes. For anyone trying to do a marathon for the first time, you should make sure you’re prepared and not think too much about hitting a specific time – just try to finish it. Then maybe for the second one you should prepare for the race and maybe have a time in mind.

The marathon is an amazing experience, especially when you’re doing it for a purpose. When you’re running, I think a lot of things go through your head, and as you’re running you start getting answers to some of the questions in your mind. I like running a lot – yes, sometimes it’s uncomfortable, but after you’re done you feel relieved and very happy you did it. So, for anyone planning on running a marathon, I’d say “Go for it!” – it’s a good experience and it’s a great feeling when you’ve done it.

If you’re interested in running, why not consider joining one of CCC’s Sports Academies such as the Athletics Academy. Joining the academy will provide you with elite training, support, guidance, and coaching and allow you to enter athletics competitions.

Congratulations to Elham and Matin for completing the London Marathon!

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