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Making 26 special miles matter in 2026

Every step you take is a step away from where you used to be. – Brian Chargualaf

This morning, I laced up my trainers and ran a 5K. On the surface, it was just a short run, nothing compared to the 26.2 miles that await me at the London Marathon. But for me, today’s 5K symbolised so much more. It was a marker, a beginning, a promise to myself and to the cause I am running for — breast cancer awareness.

The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start. – John Bingham

When you prepare for something as daunting as a marathon, it’s easy to get caught up in the distance and the finish line. But today reminded me that even the smallest steps matter. Every stride, every breath, and every moment of discomfort are not just about me training my body; they are about creating awareness and honouring those who face far tougher battles every single day.

As runner Brian Chargualaf once said, “Every step you take is a step away from where you used to be.” For me, today’s 5K was exactly that — a step forward, a commitment to keep moving toward something bigger than myself.

Personal Journey to London Marathon

For me, this marathon is a deeply personal journey. It is about resilience, awareness, and honouring those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. But it’s also about living the lessons I teach — that growth comes through consistency, that resilience is built step by step, and that big achievements are made up of small, often invisible efforts.

John Bingham, affectionately known as “The Penguin” among runners, said, “” Today’s 5K was my start. The London Marathon will be my continuation. And the message behind it will be my finish line — that small steps truly do create big change.

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Why Breast Cancer Awareness Matters

I am running the London Marathon to raise awareness for breast cancer. Breast cancer doesn’t just affect the individual diagnosed; it ripples out to families, friends, and entire communities. It changes lives in an instant, and yet what helps most are often the smallest acts — a counselling session for someone newly diagnosed, a piece of equipment that makes treatment easier, or simply the presence of someone who listens without judgement.

Awareness is powerful because it leads to action. When people know more, they do more. They support research, they show up for each other, and they learn to catch symptoms earlier. Running this marathon isn’t just about raising funds; it’s about telling the world that breast cancer is not a solitary journey. It’s a collective one.

When people know more, they do more.

Small Steps Build Momentum

One of the lessons I’ve learnt in business, in teaching learners, and in personal training is that small steps matter. They build momentum in ways that giant leaps cannot. Too often, we overestimate what we can do in one big burst and underestimate what we can achieve through consistency.

The same is true for marathon training, and it’s the same for those fighting breast cancer. Recovery, resilience, and strength don’t come in one dramatic moment — they come from small victories: finishing a round of treatment, taking a walk again after surgery, or finding the courage to share your story.

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out,” said Robert Collier. Today’s 5K was one of those small efforts for me, and it reminded me that each stride adds up.

The Power of Training for Something Bigger

Training isn’t just about building physical strength — it’s about preparing yourself mentally for something larger. For me, the London Marathon is more than just a sporting event; it is a platform to raise my voice for breast cancer awareness and to show how training mirrors life itself.

In life, as in running, you can’t just jump from the start to the finish. You prepare. You endure. You grow. Each mile teaches you patience, resilience, and determination. It’s the same lesson that survivors and their families live every day.

Haile Gebrselassie, one of the greatest distance runners, said, “When you run the marathon, you run against the distance, not the other runners and not the time.” That’s true of this journey — I am not competing against others, but against my own limitations, while carrying the stories of those impacted by breast cancer with me.

You prepare. You endure. You grow.

[Please donate here. Free business workshops available for SMEs and solopreneurs and ALL the money goes to charity: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/jeev-sahoo]

More Than a Disease: A Way of Life

Breast cancer is more than a disease. For those who face it, it becomes part of life’s story, not the whole story, but a chapter that changes everything. Survivors often speak about how cancer shifts their perspective on what matters most — health, time, love, and the value of every single day.

Joe Wasser once said, “Cancer is only going to be a chapter in your life, not the whole story.” That message is one I hold close. Because awareness is not only about fighting a disease; it’s about affirming life, about helping people live fully through and beyond it.

I’ve met families who say that what helped them most wasn’t just the treatment, but the network around them — the neighbour who drove them to appointments, the friend who cooked dinner, the counsellor who listened. These small but powerful gestures remind us that awareness is as much about humanity as it is about medicine.

Community, Awareness, and Action

Running a marathon might look like a solitary pursuit, but in reality, it is a community effort. The cheers, the volunteers, the fellow runners — all of them carry you forward. The same is true with awareness. Breast cancer awareness doesn’t grow in isolation; it grows when communities come together.

Events like park runs, charity walks, and 5Ks create more than fitness goals; they spark conversations and build solidarity. They remind us that while one person’s journey might feel lonely, they are never truly alone.

In my own work with learners and small business owners, I see the same principle: transformation doesn’t come from one person working in isolation. It comes from shared learning, encouragement, and accountability. Awareness works the same way — it is a community lifting together.

Closing

You don’t have to run a marathon to make a difference.

If there is one message I want to share, it’s this: you don’t have to run a marathon to make a difference.

You can walk a mile with a friend, donate a little, share information, or simply listen to someone going through a tough time. Each act matters.

Breast cancer awareness is not just a medical cause; it’s a human one. Together, we can create a world where no one feels alone in their fight. And as I continue to train, step by step, toward the London Marathon, I carry with me the belief that our small steps, when joined together, lead to something powerful.

Because in running, in healing, and in life, it’s not just about reaching the finish line — it’s about who and what we carry with us along the way.

Wait for my next update!

[Please donate here. Free business workshops available for SMEs and solopreneurs and ALL the money goes to charity: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/jeev-sahoo]