I Can Run A Marathon

The final episode before London Marathon 2026 is here... and Emma B has pulled out the big guns!Joining her for this episode is running royalty Paula Radcliffe, three-time London Marathon champion, former world record holder (2:15:25, held for an 16 incredible years), and one of the greatest British distance runners in history.Whether you're pacing with maranoia, buzzing with excitement, or quietly terrified, this episode is your ultimate pre-race survival guide. Paula shares why your body will feel heavy and sluggish right before the big day, her golden advice for pacing in the heat, the smart trick of walking through early water stations, and the emotion she promises will hit you at the finish line. Plus, the top 5 tips from the entire series from Helen Thorne's kit checklist to Hugh Brasher's "don't go out too fast" warning. Emma is also joined by TalkSPORT's Andy Goldstein and Weekend Sports Breakfast's Shebhan Aherne - who share their own fuelling strategies!

We’re one week away from the London Marathon, so Emma calls upon her friend and biggest cheerleader, Angellica Bell for a reassuring chat ahead of race day!Angellica, who you'll know from The One Show, winning Celebrity MasterChef and CBBC, ran the London Marathon in 2002 as well as the Great North Run seven times! Emma and Angellica cover everything from the party atmosphere of race day and the truth about hitting the wall, to running with Basil Brush and being overtaken by Mr. Tickle at mile 25!This one will leave you feeling inspired and ready to go! Boom Boom.Every week, we want to hear how your marathon journey is going... the wins or the wobbles, or good luck messages. Just WhatsApp us on +44 333 00 333 00This episode is sponsored by the British Heart Foundation. Find out more: https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/events

We're just two weeks away from the London Marathon 2026 and things are suddenly getting very real! In this episode, Emma B is joined by Tracy Parker, a Dietician from the British Heart Foundation and first-time marathon runner Lucie Bond for a reassuring chat about one of the biggest race day stress points... nutrition. Tracy shares her advice on glycogen, hydration, electrolytes, cramp, breakfast timing, fuelling early, recovery, why sticking to what your body already knows is one of the smartest things you can do, and what happens when your long run has been powered by mini eggs and jelly babies!Alongside Tracy's expert tips, Lucie tells us how she is running for the British Heart Foundation after her son Archie was born with congenital heart disease. It’s a moving reminder of the reasons so many people take on this huge challenge in the first place. Every week, we want to hear how your marathon journey is going… the wins or the wobbles, or good luck messages. Just WhatsApp us on +44 333 00 333 00.This episode is sponsored by the British Heart Foundation. Learn more at bhf.org.uk/events 

We’re a month away from the London Marathon 2026, so who better to join Emma B this week than Race Director, Hugh Brasher! As a first-timer, Emma B gets to ask all the questions you’re probably thinking, or searching online for. Hugh reveals the biggest mistakes first-timers make on the course, his single most important piece of race-day advice, and exactly what happens in those first moments after you cross the finish line. Plus, find out why the weather matters more than you think, what the organisers learned from the brutal 2018 heat, and the fascinating story of how Hugh's father co-founded the event with one extraordinary mission in mind. Think of this as your London Marathon cheat sheet! We 'Run It By Hugh' so you don't have to!Every week, we want to hear how your marathon journey is going… the wins or the wobbles. Just WhatsApp us on +44 333 00 333 00.This episode is sponsored by the British Heart Foundation. Learn more at bhf.org.uk/events Watch the full episode on the Virgin Radio YouTube Channel from 6pm on Thursday 26th March 2026.

What was the London Marathon like before gels, super shoes, and sports science?In this episode of I Can Run a Marathon, Emma B meets Vernon Thomas, a runner from the very first London Marathon in 1981, right at the finish line on The Mall. From running in retro shoes to advice that completely flips modern marathon thinking, Vernon shares what it was really like… and why you might be overcomplicating your own race.As we head towards the London Marathon 2026, we think you’ll find this episode reassuring about how to run your own race!Every week, we want to hear how your marathon journey is going… the wins or the wobbles. Just WhatsApp us on +44 333 00 333 00.This episode is sponsored by the British Heart Foundation. Learn more at bhf.org.uk/events Watch the full episode on the Virgin Radio YouTube Channel from 6pm on Thursday 19th March 2026.

After Emma B had to pause her running from a setback, this week’s episode is all about resilience. She’s joined by Royal Ballet principal dancer Steven McRae, whose career was nearly ended when he snapped his Achilles during a performance at the Royal Opera House in front of 2,500 people! Emma B and Steven talk about how he rebuilt his body after having to learn to walk again, why setbacks can become your a strength, and the mindset that helps you keep going when everything feels stacked against you.Steven may never have run a marathon, but his story of recovery and mental strength will be useful whether you’re running, or just going through a tough patch.Every week, we want to hear how your marathon journey is going… the wins or the wobbles. Just WhatsApp us on +44 333 00 333 00.This episode is sponsored by the British Heart Foundation. Learn more at bhf.org.uk/events 

Emma B goes inside a biomechanics running lab with Dr Paul Brice at PB Biomechanics in Oxfordshire, to find out about the real science of running, why tiny technique tweaks can massively change your efficiency and how to best optimise your body later on in a run.You’ll see Emma B tested on force plates and a high-speed treadmill, which pulls 150+ running metrics in seconds! We break down the stuff runners obsess over (cadence, overstriding, ground contact time) and call out the myths, including why chasing “180 cadence” can be complete nonsense, and what you should focus on instead.This is a very visual episode! Please watch the full video from Thursday 5th March at 6pm on the Virgin Radio YouTube channel, where you'll see all the graphics and breakdowns.Find out more about Dr Paul Brice’s work: https://www.pbbiomechanics.com/ Every week we want to hear about how your training is going - any wins, wobbles, or footage of you stretching to 80s anthems (like Emma!), please WhatsApp us on +44 333 00 333 00.This episode is sponsored by British Heart Foundation. Learn more at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/events 

Emma's joined by leading women’s health coach and menopause fitness expert Kate Rowe-Ham. Kate tells Emma how she ran a marathon in 3:47 in her 20s, and did the same 20 years later! Plus, what really changes in our bodies as we grow older? What works best for your tummy on a long run? The simple trick to helping your long runs feel easier on the legs, and how to get over a "nervous wee".Every week we want to hear about how your training is going - any wins, wobbles, or footage of you stretching to 80s anthems (like Emma!), please WhatsApp us on +44 333 00 333 00.Find out more about Kate: https://www.owningyourmenopause.com/ Kate's new book 'The Longevity Solution' is out now: https://www.hodder.co.uk/titles/kate-rowe-ham/the-longevity-solution/9781399751575/