DJS Research Ltd

It’s been a year like no other - with restrictions and closures and life as we knew it being turned on its head due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Many events have been postponed and live sport has been hugely affected - but earlier this month, the most famous marathon in the world finally got underway...

Virtually.

The 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon was open to runners and walkers, not only from the UK, but around the world - and our very own Project Assistant, Alex Noden, was one of them!

After having to pull out of the 2019 London Marathon due to injury - and then seeing the 2020 event cancelled in April due to Covid-19, Alex was more than happy to accept a place in the 2020 virtual event in October - running to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. 

“It went much better than I could have hoped for, and I have come out of it with a really positive experience so I’m chuffed to pieces,” said Alex after the event. 

“My main concern was that the training plan only went up to 20 miles, so I was worried about finding that additional 6.2 miles, but I did, and it was fine!  We were really lucky with the weather too – we actually had sun for most of the route, so were way luckier than lots of other people doing the same run in other parts of the country.  I really don’t think it could have gone any better.”

As well as running her first marathon, Alex raised an impressive £2,530.30 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, which amounts to £2,892.88 when including gift aid. 

“So much more sponsorship came in on the day of the event, and I’m so grateful," she said. 

"Big thanks to DJS who sponsored my challenge generously - and to my colleagues and friends - it really does mean so much. Charities have suffered so much this year, so every penny matters, even more so than usual.” 

Starting close to our offices in Strines and heading in the direction of Macclesfield, Alex and her running buddy, Helen, achieved the distance in just over five hours. Both were thrilled to achieve the 26.2 miles in this time, having only trained up to 20 miles and then facing disruption because of the pandemic.    

She said: “Given that we took it at a leisurely pace so that we were in a position to run it all and enjoy it along the way, and given that we had fairly leisurely stops, I am really pleased with this time.  My goal was to enjoy it and not kill myself, and I completely achieved that goal!”

Alex is also guaranteed a place in a future (non-virtual) London Marathon, and has requested a place in April 2023. 

Massive congratulations, Alex! 

*If you'd like to top up Alex's sponsorship pot for the Teenage Cancer Trust you can do so here