Join Tim Rogers from the Sapphire Running Zone as he chats with Andrea Watt, Stewardship Officer at the Stroke Association and passionate marathon runner from northeast Scotland. From running the London Marathon with a Walkman, paper sponsor forms, and no GPS tracking, to completing the New York City Marathon alongside her daughter Rebecca, Andrea shares stories from nearly three decades of running, fundraising, and community spirit.

In this inspiring episode, Andrea reflects on how marathon culture has changed over the years, the unforgettable atmosphere of New York and London, and why she still loves the challenge of training and race day in her fifties. She also shares practical fundraising advice for charity runners, including how to use your local community, social media, and creative ideas to hit ambitious targets without being afraid to ask for support.

The conversation also explores the emotional side of running; the friendships formed on race day, the shared experience of wearing a charity vest, and why every early-morning training run becomes worth it when you cross the finish line. Andrea talks openly about returning to running after raising her children, chasing new marathons, and learning to focus less on finish times and more on enjoying the experience.

Whether you’re preparing for your first half marathon, fundraising for a cause close to your heart, or dreaming about running one of the big city centre marathons, this episode is full of warmth, humour, nostalgia, and motivation.

For more podcasts go to https://www.sapphirerunningzone.com/podcasts. We have three channels, this one, one on event podcasts and one for members only. If you'd to be the focus of one just let us know using the chat function on the homepage.

If you'd like to join Andrea and run for the Stroke Association you can find out more here

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