Running the London Marathon: One month on

Ben Brocklesby, Sales and Marketing Director at Origin Global, talk about his feelings one month on from running the London Marathon.

It’s been nearly a month since I ran the London Marathon.

The aches have faded (mostly), the toenails are… well, let’s not talk about those, and the medal has quietly found its place next to a few other reminders of life’s bigger challenges…in my loo.

But what hasn’t faded is what that race changed in me.

When I signed up, it was about honouring my dad and raising money for Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care. And while both those things still mean the world to me, something else has been simmering quietly in the background ever since: a shift in how I show up. In work. In life. In how I lead.

Here’s what I’ve learned, a month later, that I couldn’t have told you at the finish line:

1. Your capacity is bigger than you think—but you have to stretch it.

The marathon didn’t teach me resilience in the middle of the race. It taught me resilience weeks later, when I found myself defaulting to old habits—busyness, reactivity, always “on.” Now, I’m trying to run my days the way I trained: deliberately, consistently, with recovery built in.

2. Leadership isn’t about sprinting—it’s about pace and presence.

There’s a difference between moving fast and moving well. I used to confuse activity with impact. These days, I’m asking better questions:
What matters most? What can only I do? And how can I make space for others to lead too?

3. Purpose isn’t a side project.

Running in memory of my dad reminded me that meaning doesn’t compete with performance—it fuels it. At Origin, we’ve always believed in building something bigger than bifolds. But now, I’m more focused than ever on aligning what we do with why we do it. For our customers. For our people. For the long game.

4. Slowing down can actually speed you up.

There’s irony here: pushing my body to its limit ended up being the thing that made me slow down and take stock. I’m clearer now. More present. And, weirdly, probably more productive—because I’m not chasing every shiny thing in sight.

So no, I’m not still running. I’ve swapped long runs for a Saturday morning run with Honey and early gym sessions that feel more sustainable than sadistic.
But the discipline, the headspace, the perspective—that’s stayed with me.
If you’re leading a business, a team, or even just trying to lead your own life with a little more intent, here’s what I’ll leave you with:

Make space for purpose. Make time for recovery. And don’t wait for a marathon to remind you what you’re capable of.

Thank you again to everyone who supported me—and helped raise over £14,000 for Rennie Grove. If you’re still inclined to give (or just curious to see the sweaty proof), here’s the link:
Origin Global is fundraising for Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care

Now, back to work. With better legs…well it is sunny some of the time.