March was the biggest month of the year so far – a packed racing calendar spanning Tokyo, Paris, Cambridge, Berlin, Bath, and beyond. From marathon podiums to cross country league titles, here’s everything that happened across the group this month.
Sarah Funderburk – Tokyo Marathon | March 2026
Huge congratulations to Sarah, who crossed the finish line of the Tokyo Marathon in 3:19:56 – and whose story from the past few weeks deserves to be told in full.
In the six weeks leading into race week, Sarah was carefully managing a couple of niggling injuries, which meant average weekly mileage dropped to around 27 miles – including one week with zero running at all. For most people, that would have derailed the goal entirely. Instead, Sarah adapted. Her commitment to cross-training during that period was outstanding – long bike sessions, working as hard as physically possible to maintain fitness in whatever way she could.
To then go out and run a 3:19 marathon off such limited running training is a remarkable achievement, and a true reflection of how capable, resilient, and determined Sarah is. An inspiration to everyone in the group on how to manage adversity and keep moving forward.
Marc Cohen – Thames Meander Marathon | 2nd Place – 2:55:21 | March 2026
A superb run from Marc at the Thames Meander Marathon – and one with a very clear mission attached. With a Comrades Marathon qualifier needed for June, we jumped into this race at the last minute with that goal firmly in mind. Mission very much accomplished.
Marc ran brilliantly to clock 2:55:21, finishing 2nd overall in the process – a podium finish that was a genuine bonus and a real reflection of the strength he’s carrying right now. The qualifier is ticked off in style, and the road to Comrades is looking very promising indeed.
Elise Brockhurst – Cambridge Half Marathon – 1:30:39 | March 2026
A fantastic performance from Elise at the Cambridge Half Marathon – and a huge step forward after a really strong block of training.
Before the race, the conversation centred on the importance of being brave and committing to the effort. Elise absolutely nailed it. Running 1:30:39 – more than two minutes off her previous best – with a perfectly executed negative split and a 7th place age category finish at one of the fastest half marathons in the country. A massive result and a brilliant reward for all the work that has gone in over the past few months.
Elise Brockhurst – Vets AC 5k, Battersea Park | 31 March 2026
Not content with one standout performance this month, Elise rounded off March with another PB – this time at the Vets AC 5k in Battersea Park, clocking 20:07.
This wasn’t even the target race distance, but when the fitness is there it shows no matter what you line up for. Agonisingly close to that sub-20 barrier – but it’s right there now, and it’s only a matter of time. Brilliant to see the consistency and confidence building with every race. All eyes now on Salzburg.
Bruno Papadacci – Paris Half Marathon – 1:24:14 | March 2026
A really solid run from Bruno at the Paris Half Marathon as part of the bigger build towards the main goal next month. This was deliberately treated as a strong training effort with no taper, and Bruno ran a controlled, intelligent race throughout before picking things up nicely towards the end – finishing in 1:24:14.
A great marker of where the fitness is right now, and everything is tracking very well heading into the final few weeks of the build.
Nick Grobler – Bath Half Marathon – 1:19:07 | March 2026
A fantastic run from Nick at the Bath Half Marathon, clocking 1:19:07 – and made all the more impressive by the fact that he was dealing with some significant life stresses in the days leading up to the race.
While this wasn’t the main goal, it’s a clear sign that all the hard work is paying off. Proud of the consistency, resilience, and focus on display – and plenty to look forward to as we build towards the main event in April.
Emily Martyn & Elizabeth Aryeetey – Chingford League Division 2 Team Victory | March 2026
Huge congratulations to Emily and Elizabeth, who were part of the Mornington Chasers ladies team victory in Division 2 of the Chingford League – a result that is a true testament to the hard work and dedication put in by every member of the team throughout the season.
The training sessions are clearly paying off, and it was brilliant to see it all come together at the right moment. So proud of everyone involved.
Izzy Gelder – LUCA Cross Country League | March 2026
An incredible end to the cross country season for Izzy, who showed remarkable consistency throughout the LUCA XC League – finishing with two 2nd places and a 3rd, securing 2nd overall in the league. A fantastic achievement in its own right, made even more impressive by balancing it all alongside her studies at Kingston University.
Elisabeth Scheder-Bieschin – Berlin Half Marathon | 29 March 2026
A lovely way to round off the month for Elisabeth, who ran the Berlin Half Marathon alongside family – crossing the line in a comfortable 2:21:33. What’s particularly exciting is just how well she recovered – straight back into full training almost immediately, with plenty left in the tank.
A smart, enjoyable race, and a strong signal that there’s plenty more to come from Elisabeth.
Train With a London Running Coach in 2026
March has been a brilliant reminder of what’s possible when structure, consistency, and resilience come together – whether that’s running a marathon off reduced mileage, nailing a race-day negative split, or balancing sporting ambition with the demands of everyday life.
Whatever your goal in 2026, I’m here to help you reach it. Whether you’re chasing a PB, getting back into running, or training for your first ultra – as a London-based running coach with an MSc in Performance Coaching, I combine sports science, structured training, and personalised support to help runners at every level fulfil their potential.
Get in touch via the contact page – let’s talk about what we can build together.