Marathons for Miracles

The final episode before the final marathon takes us to Norfolk, where Olly will complete marathon number 39 – and there couldn’t be a more fitting pair of guests than Will and Chrissy. They’ve been involved with Marathons for Miracles almost from the start; some of our biggest cheerleaders, built and run the website, and have organised the big final party in Norfolk. Before their daughter Edie was born, Will and Chrissy experienced three miscarriages. They discuss the uncertainty and anxiety that came with each pregnancy, the experience of going through miscarriage in hospital, searching for answers, and eventually finding an underlying infection which may have played a role in what they had been through. They cover the exhausting process of advocating for yourself, the gaps they encountered in the system, and why they believe more support and earlier investigation could make such a difference to people experiencing recurrent miscarriage. Will has already joined Olly for three marathons during the challenge in honour of their losses, and on Saturday he’ll join him for number four along the Norfolk coast – making for a particularly fitting end to the challenge. All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com

This week Olly is joined by Emma, an old rowing friend and one of the first people to get behind the Marathons for Miracles challenge. Emma shares her experience of her miscarriage at 10 weeks, talking about the physical pain but also the confusion that followed — not knowing who to turn to, what support was available, and feeling like she was simply expected to carry on. She talks about going into a subsequent pregnancy with her son, Jasper, without really knowing why she'd miscarried, and how her experience has left her more aware of the need to get things checked out rather than simply hoping everything is okay. And, because this is Marathons for Miracles, we also talk a bit of running. Emma is preparing to run the New Forest Marathon in Hampshire with Olly on this Sunday 13th September, despite picking up what may be the most appropriately Marathons for Miracles injury yet: a painful rib injury sustained while playing on the floor with Jasper. Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com . All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Topics are not replacement for medical advice. Listener discretion advised.

This week, Olly is joined by Jordan as they prepare for 26.2 miles in Huntingdonshire this Saturday, 5th September. In March 2023, Jordan and his wife Kat lost their daughter Orlaith, when Kat was just 28 weeks pregnant. After her death, they discovered that Jordan carries a rare genetic condition which had contributed to the complications in pregnancy. Jordan talks openly about the experience of losing Orlaith, the support they received, the difficult journey towards having another child and the IVF treatment that eventually led to their daughter Aoife. He also talks about the things that helped him move forwards, from counselling and finding a place to remember Orlaith, to learning that it is okay to talk about loss rather than avoiding it. And then there is the running. Jordan had barely run before this challenge, but after a conversation with Olly during a chance meeting at a wedding, he committed to taking on a marathon for Orlaith and for Tommy’s. What followed was months of training, plenty of pain, and the incredible determination that has taken him from struggling to run 1K to being marathon ready. Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief.

This week, Olly is joined by Lauren ahead of Marathon 36 in Berkshire. Lauren shares her incredibly personal journey through eight pregnancies, six losses, and the years of uncertainty, treatment and fighting for answers. She talks openly about the impact of recurrent miscarriage, the difficulty of grieving while already being a mum, and the moment she realised she needed help to process everything she had been through. Lauren also discusses finding specialist care, advocating for herself and the importance of being armed with knowledge when navigating recurrent loss. After an incredibly difficult few years, she went on to welcome her second daughter, Heidi, joining her first, Isabella. It's a moving conversation about recurrent miscarriage, searching for answers, the importance of community, and not being afraid to push for the care you need. 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Listener discretion advised.

This week, Olly is joined by Shan for a conversation about miscarriage, pregnancy after loss and finding her way back to running after having her second child. Shan experienced an early miscarriage between her two children. She talks openly about the assumption that an early loss should somehow be easier to deal with, the physical and emotional impact it had on her, and the anxiety that followed into her next pregnancy. They also discuss how important it is to be able to talk openly about loss, how friends, family and employers can respond more helpfully, and some of the well-meaning things people say that can actually make things harder. Alongside the conversation, Shan talks about training for her first marathon after having a baby, the challenges of finding time to run with two young children, and why having a goal like Marathons for Miracles gave her the motivation to get back out there. This Saturday, the pair head to Buckinghamshire, starting at Shan's childhood home in Amersham and finishing at the Royal Standard of England in Forty Green. 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Listener discretion advised.

Joe and Flo join Olly ahead of the Westmorland marathon this Saturday, 15th August, to talk about their experience of birth trauma, postnatal depression and PTSD following the birth of their first son, Lockie. After a 76-hour labour and a traumatic birth, Flo struggled with postnatal depression and PTSD, eventually spending around 18 months accessing therapy and support. Joe also reflects on how the experience affected him, as they both found themselves caught up in simply getting through the next day, the next feed, and the next challenge. They discuss the importance of recognising that difficult experiences don't need to be compared, the impact trauma can have on both parents, and how running became an important outlet for Joe. With the arrival of their second son, Rory, they experienced a very different birth — one that ultimately felt healing. Joe will join Olly for this week's marathon in Westmorland, taking on a seriously hilly route as they summit Helvellyn in the Lake District. 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com This episode contains discussions around birth trauma, postnatal depression, PTSD. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Listener discretion is advised.

After two heartbreaking pregnancy losses in the space of six months, Lottie wasn't sure if she would ever become a mum. The first miscarriage ended in a life-threatening haemorrhage requiring emergency surgery. The second brought more unanswered questions, after doctors discovered multiple empty gestational sacs instead of a developing pregnancy. As a doctor herself, Lottie understood the medicine. Living through it was something entirely different. In this episode, Lottie is joined by her mum, Rosy, who will be running the Suffolk marathon on her behalf while Lottie cheers from the sidelines—38 weeks pregnant with the baby they never stopped hoping for. Together they talk about recurrent miscarriage, the importance of specialist support, the role Tommy's played in giving them hope, and why speaking openly about pregnancy loss matters so much. It's an emotional conversation about resilience, family, and finding joy again after unimaginable heartbreak. 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com Marathons for Miracles follows Olly as he runs 39 marathons across England's historic counties in 2026, raising money for Tommy's to help fund research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. This episode contains sensitive discussions around miscarriage, pregnancy loss and emergency medical treatment. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Listener discretion is advised.

Ahead of Marathon 32 in Northumberland, Olly is joined by Rebecca, who shares the heartbreaking story of losing her daughter, Wren, during labour at full term in February 2024. Rebecca speaks openly about the trauma of stillbirth, the long wait for answers, and how specialist care from Tommy's Pregnancy Research Centre in Manchester helped her understand what happened and supported her through a subsequent pregnancy with her rainbow baby, Lark. This episode is also a powerful insight into the life-changing work Tommy's does—not just through groundbreaking research, but through specialist clinics, bereavement support, online communities and compassionate care for families navigating pregnancy after loss. Rebecca also shares what helped her through grief, why community matters, and why she's now taking on her first marathon as part of Marathons for Miracles. 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com Please note: This episode contains sensitive discussions around stillbirth, pregnancy loss and grief. The experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion is advised.

This week, Charlie joins Olly ahead of Marathon 30 in Cumberland on Saturday 18th July, where they'll take on Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain. Already a mum to two daughters, Charlie shares her personal experience of miscarrying a third pregnancy. She opens up about the long, emotional process of pregnancy loss whilst parenting, choosing surgical management, the difficult decision to stop trying for another baby, and why grief shouldn't be compared or minimised. The conversation also explores the incredible support she found through friends, family and running, and how setting new goals helped her begin to heal. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com This episode contains sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

Amy joins Olly for the Essex leg of Marathons for Miracles on Saturday 11th July, and shares the deeply personal story of losing her baby at 12 weeks. After unexpectedly falling pregnant while navigating life with a baby who never slept, Amy admits her first reaction was fear. But by the time she and her partner had embraced the idea of becoming parents to two under two, everything changed. She opens up about repeated bleeding throughout early pregnancy, the scan that confirmed her baby had died just days before their 12-week appointment, the guilt she carried afterwards, and why she still wonders whether she somehow caused her miscarriage. Amy also speaks about: Coming to terms with pregnancy after loss The pressure to minimise miscarriage because "others have it worse" Choosing to hold a funeral after her miscarriage Why running the London Marathon became part of her healing journey Finding hope as she thinks about trying for another baby Alongside Amy's story, Olly returns to Finchingfield, the village where he and his wife lived, where their daughter was born, and where they experienced their own miscarriage—making this one of the most personal marathon routes of the challenge. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube. 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com This episode contains discussions around miscarriage, pregnancy loss, grief and birth trauma. Listener discretion is advised. All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed.

This week, Olly heads to Worcestershire to run alongside Amelia, whose experience reminds us that bringing a healthy baby home doesn't always mean the journey was safe—or free from trauma. Unlike many of our guests, Amelia didn't experience infertility or baby loss. But after a straightforward path to pregnancy, her second birth became a life-threatening medical emergency. Following days of labour after her waters broke, Amelia says she felt pressured into an induction she had already decided she wasn't comfortable with. After finally giving birth, she suffered a catastrophic postpartum haemorrhage, lost around five litres of blood, underwent emergency surgery under general anaesthetic, developed sepsis, required blood transfusions, and was left with post-traumatic stress disorder. In this powerful conversation, Amelia shares: Why informed consent during childbirth matters The lasting impact of birth trauma and PTSD Learning to trust her body again through movement and fitness Why charities like Tommy's are vital in improving maternity care Her thoughts on the latest maternity care review and why meaningful change is urgently needed Amelia's story is a powerful reminder that making pregnancy and birth safer doesn't end when a baby is born. 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

Nellie joins us ahead of Marathon 27 in Hertfordshire to share her journey through miscarriage, infertility, IVF, and pregnancy after loss. After a missed miscarriage at 12 weeks, Nellie and her husband faced years of uncertainty, including two rounds of IVF and the rare experience of total fertilisation failure. Just as they were preparing for further treatment, and to their great surprise, Nellie fell pregnant naturally. She reflects on the emotional impact of loss, the anxiety that followed, and the arrival of their son, Arthur, in 2025. This Sunday, we head to Hertfordshire for Marathon 26. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

Jess and Laura join us from Somerset ahead of Marathon 25 in Cheddar Gorge. Both are student midwives nearing the end of their training, balancing family life with the demands of becoming the people many parents rely on during some of life's most significant moments. We discuss what draws someone to midwifery, the realities of caring for families experiencing miscarriage and baby loss, and the privilege of supporting parents through incredibly difficult circumstances. Jess and Laura share their experiences of bereavement care placements, what they've learned from families they've cared for, and why compassion and presence matter so much. We also talk about how common pregnancy loss really is, the lasting impact it can have on future pregnancies, and the importance of helping parents feel seen, heard, and supported. This Sunday, we tackle Marathon 25 in Somerset, taking on the many climbs of Cheddar Gorge. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

Jonny joins us ahead of Marathon 24 this Sunday, to share the story of his niece, Ness, who was stillborn at 38 weeks in 2021. He reflects on supporting his sister and wider family through an unimaginable loss, the challenges of knowing what to say, and the importance of simply being there for those grieving. We also discuss the creation of the Ness Fund, established in Ness's memory to support research into stillbirth through Tommy's, helping fund work that aims to better understand and prevent future losses. Alongside his fundraising efforts, Jonny has taken on some extraordinary endurance challenges, including an Ironman and the infamous 270-mile Winter Spine Race, raising thousands of pounds to support this vital work. This Sunday, we head to Surrey, starting in Battersea and following the Thames towards Walton-on-Thames, where Ness's family live today. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

This week, we head to Gloucestershire for Marathon 23, joined by Bex. Bex shares her experience of recurrent miscarriage after a straightforward first pregnancy with her son, Leo. What followed were three consecutive losses, including a silent miscarriage discovered at a routine scan, and months filled with uncertainty, unanswered questions and anxiety around pregnancy after loss. We talk about the emotional toll of repeated miscarriage, the guilt and self-blame that can follow, and how difficult it can be to trust a pregnancy again once loss becomes part of your experience. Bex also reflects on finally welcoming her second son, Charlie, and the conversations that inspired her to join Marathons for Miracles and support Tommy’s. This Sunday, we head to the Forest of Dean for Marathon 23 on what promises to be a beautiful Gloucestershire route. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

Week 22 takes us to Devon, as James joins us ahead of another marathon on the South West coast. James shares the story of losing his son Luca after a devastating diagnosis during pregnancy, followed by a miscarriage, and later the loss of Leila. He speaks openly about navigating repeated loss, the emotional toll of difficult decisions, and the long road that has followed through genetics testing and IVF treatment. We talk about the reality of living year-to-year between pregnancies, the frustration of unanswered questions, and how running became an outlet for grief, purpose and hope. This Sunday, we head to Devon for Marathon 22, running alongside James on a route shaped by family, memory and meaning. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

Nicole joins us this week ahead of the Cornwall Marathon on Sunday. After experiencing a missed miscarriage in 2021, Nicole shares the emotional impact of losing a pregnancy after hearing a heartbeat — and the difficult months that followed as she tried to process grief, anxiety, and the feeling that somehow it must have been her fault. She talks openly about shutting people out, navigating pregnancy announcements around her, and how the resources and stories shared through Tommy’s helped her realise she wasn’t alone. Nicole also reflects on the anxiety that followed in subsequent pregnancies, from countless scans and bleeding scares to not buying a single baby item until 36 weeks pregnant. Running became a huge coping mechanism for Nicole, which makes the devastating timing of a stress fracture ruling her out of Sunday’s marathon all the more frustrating. But despite not being able to run, she’ll still be there as part of the team as we take on the Cornish coast for Marathon 21. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

Week 20. The half-way point! Olly is joined by long-time friends Tom and Amy ahead of the Leeds Marathon this Sunday marking the halfway point of the challenge. They share their experience of three consecutive pregnancy losses over just over a year, after the seamless arrival of their now-toddler, Florence. They cover the partial molar pregnancy that required surgery and a medically enforced wait before trying again, the limited information available at each stage, and the frustration of an NHS system that only triggers recurrent miscarriage support after a third loss. They also talk about what it's like as a couple — managing each other's expectations, the anxiety that replaces excitement when a positive test comes around again, and the value of being able to talk honestly with someone who's been through something similar. They discuss what running offers that's hard to find elsewhere — the conversations that happen outdoors, at pace, in the sunshine. Therapy for many. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

Ryan joins us to share his personal story shaped by loss, resilience, and perspective. From an ectopic pregnancy with a previous partner, to the loss of his partner, Olivia, and later a miscarriage of twins with his wife, Beth, Ryan reflects on how grief has evolved over time — and how he’s found ways to keep moving forward. He talks about the role running plays in processing difficult moments, the strength he’s found in family, and how faith has helped him hold onto hope. This Sunday, we head to rural Herefordshire for Marathon 19, with Ryan joined by his sister, Kathy, for what promises to be a stunning outing. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

Marathon 18 brings us to Middlesex and the London Marathon — but this episode goes far beyond the race. Olly is joined by his best friend Charlie, who shares the personal journey that led him to the start line. From early assumptions about fertility to the harsh realities of secondary infertility, Charlie opens up about the emotional strain of IVF and the hidden challenges couples face. The conversation explores the physical toll of treatment, the loneliness and stigma surrounding infertility, and the toll it places on relationships — alongside the moments of hope that kept them going. After years of uncertainty, setbacks, and a <2% chance of success, Charlie and his wife Alice’s story ultimately led to the arrival of their son, turning 1 this summer. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube 👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.