Getting a sub 3 marathon series: My marathon running journey – Part 1

A story from our co-founder, Stu Taylor now in his 40’s, and his ambitious journey to break the elusive 3-hour marathon barrier…

My journey into marathon running began as a natural progression from half marathons and triathlons in my 20s. In 2012, at the age of 29, I ran my first full marathon in Paris – a milestone that sparked a passion for long-distance running.

Over the past 12 years, I’ve completed nine marathons, each one a unique challenge and an opportunity to grow as a runner. Here’s the list of marathons I’ve tackled so far:

• Paris Marathon
• Brighton Marathon
• Pilgrims Marathon (twice)
• London Marathon
• Abingdon Marathon (twice)
• Manchester Marathon
• Goodwood Marathon

In this blog series, ‘Getting a sub 3 marathon’, I’ll share my journey from finishing the Paris Marathon in 3 hours and 33 minutes to achieving a sub-3-hour goal. Most recently, in 2024, at the Goodwood Marathon, I reached a time of 2 hours and 59 minutes under the expert guidance of our Head Coach – Mike Gratton.

Join me as I break down the training, strategies, and lessons learned along the way and where I go next on my marathon journey!

How I got into running and marathons

Here’s a bit of background on how I got into running and, eventually, marathons.

From a young age, my family always joked that I was born to run. My parents and grandparents would often recall how, at just three or four years old, I’d suddenly take off, sprinting across the park during family picnics. My grandparents in Edinburgh would end up chasing me for hundreds of metres, often abandoning the picnic in the process. It seems running was instinctive for me, something wired into my genetics.

In primary school, I occasionally ran cross-country for the school team and enjoyed it, though I never committed enough to really improve. My dad mentioned he used to do some track running when he was younger, but beyond that, running wasn’t a big interest in my family. Football, on the other hand, was the family passion, and I naturally gravitated toward it.

During secondary school, my love for football grew, and I played regularly for both my school and local club. However, I had a surprising moment in Year 11 during the school track day when I came second in the 1500 metres. I hadn’t expected to be one of the fittest runners in the entire school, and narrowly missing out on first place was a pleasant shock. Despite this, I didn’t pursue running further. I also tried orienteering, which I enjoyed, but football always took precedence. Like many young boys, I dreamed of playing for a professional football team, but realistically, that was never on the cards.

My first half-marathon

It wasn’t until after university, at the age of 23, that I decided to revisit running. My partner Sarah, now my wife, completed a 5K charity run at the time, and her achievement inspired me to try long-distance running myself.

Thanks to my football background, I had a decent level of fitness, but I remember feeling daunted by the idea of running more than six miles. I downloaded an eight-week training plan from Runner’s World and started preparing for my first half-marathon. My longest training run was ten miles, which I completed by doing endless loops of my local forest—a process that felt like an eternity at the time.

When race day arrived, I finished the half marathon in 1 hour and 28 minutes. It was my first attempt, and I was both proud and pleasantly surprised by the result. That experience marked the beginning of my journey into long-distance running.

My running was put on pause

After university, my running took a backseat as I worked in London and later embarked on starting a business with some university friends. During this time, my passion for football also began to fade, largely due to a series of serious injuries. These included a severe quadricep tear in September and, a few years later, a broken ankle that sidelined me from sports for over a year. It was an incredibly challenging period.

My journey from triathlons back to long-distance running

Around the time of the London Olympics, I developed an interest in cycling, which eventually led me to the duathlon scene and later to triathlons. I started with sprint distances and progressed to Olympic distances, thoroughly enjoying the technical challenges of the sport. However, swimming was always a struggle for me. I had never learned proper front crawl technique, and taking lessons as an adult proved to be a tough journey.

When my family grew to include two young boys, finding the time to train—whether on the bike or at the swimming pool—became nearly impossible. Staying triathlon-fit was no longer realistic, so I found myself naturally gravitating back to long-distance running. Between plenty of trail runs spanning 9 to 10 miles, I managed to squeeze in another half marathon, finishing in 1 hour and 36 minutes. While slower than my first half marathon, I could chalk that up to a combination of limited training, less sleep, and, back in those days, perhaps enjoying a beer or two more than I should!

Like many running enthusiasts, I entered the London Marathon ballot year after year, only to be met with disappointment. The idea of running a full marathon still felt daunting and far off.

Amid the demands of running my own business and raising a young family, running became my go-to outlet for stress relief. It was inexpensive, efficient, and easy to squeeze in during a baby’s nap. A quick run with my shoes on the pavement allowed me to reset and tackle the chaos of everyday life.

Joining a running club

When I decided to improve my half marathon time, I joined my local running club. It didn’t take long to realise just how high the standard was among the members. Everyone seemed even more obsessed with running times than I was, which was both intimidating and inspiring.

What really stood out to me, though, was how many people in the club were training for marathons. Running 26.2 miles felt like an impossible feat—completely out of reach given my fitness level at the time. Back then, I couldn’t see myself as someone capable of completing a marathon. I just assumed marathons were reserved for the ultra-fit, a category I certainly didn’t feel I belonged to.

No one in my family had ever run a marathon—not my parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, or cousins. It was entirely uncharted territory for us. Even on my wife’s side, I don’t remember anyone ever mentioning marathons. It was a distant concept, something other people did, but not me.

At the club, I started attending weekly sessions that helped me improve my running technique and form. Over time, I got the chance to experiment with different distances—cross-country runs, 10-milers, 5Ks, and 10Ks. Through these experiences, I began to realise that longer distances seemed to suit me better. Slowly but surely, the idea of taking on a marathon started to feel less like an impossibility and more like a challenge I could one day conquer.

Running for charity – The Stoke Association

In 2010, my grandad suffered a stroke, and the impact on our family was heartbreaking. Shortly after, my nan passed away, and about a year later, my grandad also lost his battle. Reflecting on that time, I believe it became the catalyst for me to take on a marathon as both a personal challenge and a way to raise funds for the Stroke Association – a UK charity dedicated to supporting stroke survivors and their families for life. They provide personalised one-to-one and group support, invest in essential research on stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery, and advocate for top-quality care for all those impacted by stroke.

At the end of 2011, I committed to training for my first marathon and registered for the Paris Marathon, set for April 20, 2012. To prepare, I followed the Runner’s World sub-3:30 plan, which felt like a realistic goal based on my half marathon times and my ability to balance training with my family and work life.

In my next blog, I’ll share the story of my first marathon experience in Paris—a race that sparked a new passion for marathon running.

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Good luck to everyone running a marathon this spring!