Meet our supporters: William Taylor

“Having really gotten into my running over the last year or so, I was eager to get involved with some races as the world began to open up again, post-COVID. I have already entered a number of 10ks, but I was really looking for something bigger and more challenging and that was when I discovered the London Marathon was being held in October this year. Immediately I got in contact with Retina UK, the charity that is closest to my heart and enquired if they had places. I’ve run the marathon for them before and done various other fundraising activities in their name, so I was excited when I found out I could join the team.

“I’m most looking forward to the final mile. I remember very little of the Marathon from when I ran it in 2014, but that final mile sticks in my mind like it was yesterday. It’s the sound of the crowd, the atmosphere, people cheering your name and that pure adrenaline as you turn round the corner onto The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace, knowing that just an hour or two before you some of the most famous names in world running have done the exact same thing. The feeling is like no other and why people go back year on year.

“If you’re thinking of taking part this year, the best advice I can give – train hard, race easy! If you put the hard effort in beforehand and cover those training miles come rain or shine, you’ll be fine on the day!”