On Sunday 27th April 2025, Nicki Custance (Office Manager) and Anthony Johnson (Director) ran the London Marathon.
They had both been preparing for the big day since January 2025. They racked up over 1000 miles of running in training between them, so they both felt well-prepared for the big day.
Everything had been going to plan, other than the weather forecast which was approximately 20-22 degrees with no clouds.
Despite it being very sunny, both runners adapted their plans slightly and came in with new personal best times they were both proud of:
Nicki: 5:13:00
Anthony: 3:50:08
They also raised over £7,500 for Young Lives Vs Cancer!!
Nicki said:
“What an inspiring day!
Sharing the pavement with thousands of runners, each bringing resilience, heart, and determination was truly something special. It was an unforgettable experience, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of it.
I want to extend a huge thank you to all you wonderful instructors for your kind messages of support, and to everyone who generously sponsored me in aid of my favourite charity, YLvC. Your encouragement meant the world, and the YLvC team have been brilliant, in particular on the day cheering me on and shouting my name as I ran past the cheer stations.
I first ran the London Marathon in 2022, thinking I had trained enough. This year, I came back stronger and managed to shave 24 minutes off my time, finishing in a very respectable 5 hours and 13 minutes. While in my training I had originally set my sights on 4 hours and 55 minutes, I had to adjust my goal due to the heat on the day. More than anything, I wanted to enjoy the experience and I did! It was tough, but I stayed focused and determined to reach that finish line with a new personal best.”
Anthony said:
“It was an amazing day. The crowd was electric, and the support from YLvC, our instructors, office staff, friends and family was fantastic from the beginning to the end. My wife Carla (5 months pregnant) has also been so supportive throughout, which has really helped too.
I ran the London Marathon last year, and I couldn’t train very much due to injury and my late mum having cancer too, so to be able to train properly this time round and slash last year’s time from 4 hours 19 minutes to 3 hours 50 minutes this year was a good feeling.
It was a very hot day, and I have to say there were certain points in the race that were mentally challenging. I’m proud I kept running throughout when the demons were telling me to walk!
Thank you to everyone who has supported Nicki and myself throughout this process!”
What’s next for Nicki?
“The journey isn’t over yet! I’m now setting my sights on improving my half marathon times and building speed. One day, I’m hoping to catch up with (or even overtake!) Anthony, so watch this space!”
What’s next for Anthony?
Anthony has bagged a ballot for the Chicago 2025 Marathon in October, so he will start training for that around August. In between, he is considering focusing on 50k ultra runs. He also has many half-marathons throughout the summer to keep him on his toes. You can keep an eye on our charity and sponsorship page to stay up to date with his next events.
