What happens when someone who supports charity runners decides to experience the whole journey for himself?

In this episode, Tim Rogers chats with Mikey Jones from Shelter Cymru about taking on his first ever running event, a 10K in Wrexham. With virtually no previous running experience and only around three and a half weeks to prepare, Mikey completed the race in around 53 minutes and raised approximately £640 for charity.

Mikey shares what he learned about training for his first 10K, the pressure of fundraising while preparing for an event and why becoming a charity runner changed the way he thinks about supporting fundraisers.

They also discuss some of the fundraising ideas that worked particularly well, including short training videos, LinkedIn, local Facebook groups, corporate sponsorship and getting the race organiser involved in sharing his story.

There are plenty of useful ideas for anyone running for charity, as well as some valuable lessons for charities supporting runners through their fundraising journey.

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 Mikey and run for Shelter Cymru you can find out more here

Keywords

charity running, charity fundraising, running for charity, fundraising tips, first 10K, Shelter Cymru

In this episode of the Sapphire Running Zone podcast, Tim Rogers talks to Sophie Badman, an Events Fundraiser at Samaritans, about her running journey and the fundraising lessons she has learned along the way.

Sophie started running in 2018, initially for her own mental health, before turning her first 10K into a much bigger fundraising challenge for Samaritans. She went on to complete numerous events, including half marathons in Dublin and London, and set herself the challenge of covering around 500 miles through her events over the course of a year.

Sophie shares some of the fundraising ideas that worked particularly well, including her Inspire A Mile initiative, virtual running events, raffles, cake sales, approaching local businesses and using social media to keep supporters engaged. She also explains why fundraisers need to keep finding new stories to tell rather than simply sharing the same sponsorship link repeatedly.

Now working with Samaritans runners herself, Sophie also discusses some of the creative fundraising she sees through her role, the importance of crowd support at running events and her own ambitions to return to the half marathon distance and eventually run the London Marathon.

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 Sophie and run for Samaritans you can find out more here

Sophie's fundraising page is here.

Keywords: running fundraising ideas, charity running, running for charity, marathon fundraising ideas, fundraising tips for runners, Samaritans fundraising, charity fundraising ideas, running challenge, half marathon fundraising, fundraising through running

What does it really feel like to run the London Marathon for the first time?

In this special Sapphire Running Zone podcast, we hear from eight first-time London Marathon runners who all completed the race while raising money for charity. Finishing in times from just over 3½ hours to more than 7 hours, they share their honest experiences of one of the world's most iconic marathons.

From the excitement of the Marathon Expo and the nerves in the Greenwich start area to the unforgettable crowds at Tower Bridge, the challenging miles through Docklands and the emotional finish on The Mall, this episode takes you through every stage of race day.

You'll hear inspiring stories of determination, fundraising, overcoming setbacks, adapting to difficult conditions and the incredible atmosphere that makes the London Marathon unlike any other race.

Whether you're preparing for your first London Marathon, hoping to secure a charity place or simply love hearing runners' stories, this episode will leave you informed, inspired and excited for race day.

In this episode:

• What to expect at the London Marathon Expo

• The start area and race morning nerves

• Tower Bridge, Docklands and the famous landmarks

• How the crowds carry you through 26.2 miles

• The emotional final mile and finish

• Honest advice from eight first-time marathon finishers

• Charity fundraising and why London is so much more than a marathon

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.