I Can Run A Marathon

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 

As April arrives and the London Marathon approaches, Emma B welcomes comedian Zoe Lyons, who went from being “laughably bad” at sport… to completing ultra marathons of up to 100KM.Zoe tells us the reality of running 100KM (including what really happens to your body…), why you don’t need to “look like a runner” to become one, and the simple mental trick that keeps her going when everything says stop! Plus, take Zoe’s advice on what NOT to do after you’ve finished a race (she ended up in A&E), to discovering the power of “just getting to the next cow”!If you’ve ever thought “I could never do that”, Zoe and Emma B might just change your mind to say “I CAN!”.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'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/

In this episode of I Can Run A Marathon, Emma sits down with ultra-runner, UK Athletics approved running coach and author of ’Start Where You Are’, Sabrina Pace-Humphreys to talk about the one thing beginner runners have been missing (especially in midlife). Sabrina tells Emma about starting from scratch after severe postnatal depression, the “shuffle” run-walk method that helped her, and why so many people quit too early. They also chat about the pressure to “look like a runner”, training through periods, the menopause, and the myth that running ruins your knees.Don't forget you can WhatsApp the programme and let us know how you are getting on, the number is +44 333 00 333 00

This is the one where Emma B completes her FIRST EVER half marathon - running it alongside Virgin Radio’s very own CHRIS EVANS. We bring you all the mud and mayhem as they (literally) run for the hills in Marlow! Plus, our first rock ’n’ roll runner as SKIN from Skunk Anansie joins us from New York! What starts as a chat about running quickly becomes a masterclass in life, longevity, and the most unexpected workout playlist you've ever heard! Skin chats about why treating rock 'n' roll like athletic training is the secret to her 30 year career, why running has become her way of meditating, and we learn about running naked (it's NOT what you think!)Don't forget to WhatsApp us on +44 333 00 333 00 with your running wins, wobbles, and weekly running updates!