Some runners arrive at the start line chasing a time. Others come with a story that stretches far beyond the race itself. Linda is firmly in the second camp.
If you spend even five minutes talking to her, one thing becomes clear: this is someone who has lived, lost, rebuilt - and discovered just how much is still possible.
Linda bravely shared with us that after the loss of her Husband (ten years ago), her world shifted overnight. She didn’t know what she would do as they had built a truly wonderful life together.
Linda explained that she started small, with lifestyle changes and a few new friends. Her routine became, something much quieter: getting up early, going to the gym, and putting one foot in front of the other.
From there, things started to grow.
She noticed the swimming pool she walked past every day - and decided she wanted to learn. With the help of her coach (and now close friend) Chris Hill, she did exactly that. But lockdown come and she was unable to be inside, so with Chris’s support, in the middle of lockdown, she was learning to swim - but in the sea!
Then came cycling. Then running. Then distances she’d never imagined.
“I cycled 66 miles, I didn’t even know what an Ironman was.”
A year later, she completed one.
Pushing boundaries (and then some)
Since then, Linda hasn’t slowed down.
Her adventures read like a bucket list and its only April:
- Half marathons, include The St David’s Day run
- The Loch Ness Half Marathon a week later
- The Great Wall of China - where she was the oldest participant and tackled every challenge head-on (The“Spider-Man’s Wall and The Stairway to Heaven… She didn’t say no to anything”)
- 4 x Ironman events at 70.3 distances complete
- Qualified for World Championships in NZ and missed the cut off by 4 mins !!
And she’s not done yet.
She has another world champion ship qualifying race in Estonia, and her first full Iron Man in Barcelona later in the year. Her trusted coach Chris Hill will be there cheering her on as they race side by side.
“I’d love to do my best and qualify for the World Championships give it another go,” she says.
Oh - and she turned 65 in January.
Why Outward Bound?
For Linda, choosing to run for Outward Bound was about alignment.
Through her work supporting women and children across the world, she’s seen some of the hardest realities.
“I’ve stood in some awful places,” she says.
That’s why Outward Bound’s work resonates so deeply. Giving young people the chance to discover who they are, to build confidence, to feel capable - it matters.
“Outward Bound shows children who they can be - and why that’s special.”
There’s also something beautifully simple at the heart of Linda’s motivation:
“I always think - Who can I make smile today? There was a time when I couldn’t smile. Now I want to help others do that just that.”
Why the London Marathon?
After years of endurance challenges across the world, you might think the London Marathon would be just another event. However, this is in fact Linda’s first Marathon!
It’s part of a bigger journey and a chance to stand on one of the world’s biggest stages and prove, once again, what she is truly capable of.
She’s aiming for around 5 to 5.5 hours - and every step will mean something.
Training and Mindset
Linda’s been training seriously for six years with a coach who shares her mindset: Nothing is impossible !
Linda mentioned that she recently completed a 30km run before heading off to speak at church on a Sunday morning. Long distances aren’t new - but she’s still learning, refining, improving.
“The biggest thing isn’t fitness,” she says. “It’s fuelling your body.”
She’s dialled into what works for her:
- Tailwind for carbs and electrolytes
- Maple syrup sachets as a natural alternative to gels
- The occasional Deliciously Ella snack bar for a morale boost
And one golden rule: “Nothing new on race day.”
Fundraising: powered by people
When it comes to fundraising, Linda took a different approach - leaning into the strength of her network.
“I sent my first message out and raised an amazing £1,000,” she says.
Her contacts, friends, colleagues, people she’s met through her work - know her, trust her, and believe in the causes she supports.
Linda is no stranger to fundraising with her work aligning with supporting international mission projects across the world, Linda is always thinking bigger.
“If everyone gave £1 a week,” she says, “we could change the world.”
Challenges and lessons along the way
Even with all her experience, this journey hasn’t been without its questions.
Logistics, pacing, race-day planning - it’s all part of the process. And like many runners, she’s still figuring out the small details (like what to do with her clothes at the start line).
But the bigger lessons are clear:
- Start as early as you can – get fundraising from the get-go
- Train consistently – fit it in even when you think ‘I don’t have time’
- Learn what your body needs – trial and error, and carbs!
“Believe it’s all possible”
More to discover
Zoe’s London Marathon Journey
Why we're running the London Marathon
They’re back on the water
