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In this episode of the 12 Months to Marathon podcast, I’m joined by Dawn Caddell to talk about her journey to completing the 2026 London Marathon at 51 years old.

Dawn shares how she returned to running after a long break from raising a family, how running became a huge part of her mental wellbeing, and why she kept pushing herself further — from 10Ks to half marathons and eventually the marathon distance.

But this wasn’t a smooth build-up.

We talk openly about:

•  Returning to running after years away 
•  Balancing family life, work, and marathon training 
•  Injury setbacks during marathon prep 
•  The emotional impact of nearly pulling out 
•  Why resilience matters more than perfection 
•  The reality of marathon training after 50 
•  The incredible atmosphere of the London Marathon 
•  Why challenging yourself changes how you see yourself 

This is an honest conversation about perseverance, identity, purpose, and refusing to quit when things don’t go to plan.

Dawn’s story will resonate with a lot of runners — especially anyone who feels they’ve left it “too late”, struggled with setbacks, or wondered whether they’re still capable of doing something big.

You can follow Dawn on Instagram:
 @dawnyc1234_

And if you enjoy the podcast, please follow, rate, and share it. It genuinely helps more runners over 35 discover the show.

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