Meet the power couple running the London Marathon

Two sporty UEA students will be some of the many people flocking to London to take part in the London Marathon.

They’ll be running a whopping 26 miles in the race, which takes place on Sunday 26 April.

Second year Education student Katie Godfrey will be running for mental health charity “Mind”. As captain of UEA Rowing Club, her 24-hour row has already raised over £2000.

She said: “I want to raise money for a charity that is not only close to home, but is also one that is trying to eliminate the stigma that surrounds mental health and I want to help support this movement.

“Sport came to my rescue. If it wasn’t for joining the rowing team I wouldn’t be at university – frankly, I don’t have a clue what I would be doing.

“The friendships I made supported me through the toughest time I have ever experienced, and the release I felt from being out on the water or in the gym with my teammates allowed me to leave the toxic routine I’d trapped myself in and become free again.

“On 26 April I will run 26.2 miles. I will still be on medication for my depression. I will still be the extremely loud laughing girl I am today.”

She’s running alongside her boyfriend Sim, a third year Economics student. He told us he’s running the marathon “because Katie is” and has so far raised over £1500 for “EMERGENCY”, a humanitarian organisation, by completing various challenges.

His favourite challenge was jumping into a river wearing a cape and shouting “THIS IS SPARTA!”

He said: “My biggest inspiration is my dad who has always been a keen runner. I want to beat his marathon time.”

Despite only starting training in February, he insists he’ll finish the marathon before his girlfriend.

The couple say that any student can run the marathon, as long as they’re determined and “wear granny knickers”.

Katie added: “Just put one foot in front of the other. The first half will fly by. The last six miles will be hard but give everything you have and do a pre-marathon poo.”

And if that wasn’t impressive enough, Katie and Sim are tackling the marathon with their deadlines.

Sim explained: “I generally find running and revision go hand in hand. It frees my mind from thinking about work. I relax and I come back to revision refreshed.

“I would often go for early morning runs before revising or go for runs after rowing training as it saves showering twice.”

If you would like to donate visit either Katie or Sim’s page.

Good luck to them both!