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 wa...

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 int...

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...

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 everythin...

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 i...

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 t...

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...

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 s...

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...

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 op...

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...

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, Nelli...

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 pri...

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 re...

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 th...

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 a...

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 pregna...

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...

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, th...

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 conver...

This week, Olly is joined by Leanne, a neonatal doctor, to explore the reality of life inside NICU. Leanne was introduced to us through Myles, our Nottinghamshire runner and paediatric nurse, ahead of Marathon 17 this weekend. From extremely premature babies to unexpected complications at birth, this episode sheds light on the care, communication, and emotional complexity families experience — and...

Olly is joined by Bobby, whose daughter Phoebe was born at 23 weeks and 5 days after months of unexplained pregnancy complications, and tragically lived for just five hours. Bobby shares the reality of navigating repeated hospital admissions with his wife Clemmie, extreme prematurity, and the unimaginable decisions faced in NICU — as well as life and fatherhood after such a heartbreaking loss. Pho...

In episode fourteen of Marathons for Miracles , Olly is joined by his close friend Faye , who will be leading the Shropshire leg — a particularly special one as it takes place close to home in Shrewsbury . Faye shares her experience of miscarriage nearly a decade ago , a story she’s never spoken about publicly before, and reflects on the lasting emotional impact of loss — especially as she and her...

In episode thirteen of Marathons for Miracles, Olly is joined by Alice, who will be leading the Dorset leg of the challenge this Sunday, 29th March. Alice shares her and her partner Nick’s eight-year journey through recurrent miscarriage and IVF, including five pregnancy losses and the emotional toll of prolonged uncertainty, treatment, and recovery. She speaks openly about the reality of miscarri...

In episode twelve of Marathons for Miracles, Olly is joined by Finn, who will be running the next leg of the challenge this Saturday 21st March. Finn shares his and his partner’s experience of a termination for medical reasons (TFMR), following a devastating diagnosis during pregnancy. He speaks openly about the shock of that news and the emotional weight of the decision. They discuss how grief is...