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Simon Carter

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My Activity Tracking

151
mi

My target 10 mi

Virtual London Marathon 2026 – A Lesson in Experience (and Survival)

Last year’s attempt at the London Marathon didn’t quite go to plan.

Running the virtual version in 2025, I tackled two laps of the Bracknell Half Marathon route and made it to 23.5 miles before my body staged what can only be described as a full and final protest. The heat, combined with hills that somehow turned into mountains on lap two, proved too much.

The end result?
Me, lying in a bush, feet in the air.
Not my finest moment — even if it did feel oddly therapeutic.
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A New Plan

Fast forward to 2026. Older, wiser (arguably), and with a revised strategy:
Don’t run it. Walk it. Sensibly.

Enter the Bracknell Ramblers Route — conveniently exactly 26.2 miles, starting and finishing at the ever-reliable The Peacock Farm.

An 8am start, sunshine forecast all day, and a clear objective:
Finish upright. Avoid bushes.
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Elite vs Reality

While the elite men in London were casually knocking out sub-2-hour marathons (part-timers, clearly), my navigator Simon A. and I had a slightly different approach.

We briefly entertained the idea of an 8-hour marathon…
…but then reality intervened in the form of:

☕ 10am – Tea break at Moss End Garden Village Café
🥪 1:30pm – Lunch at The Look Out Discovery Centre (15 miles done)
🍰 4pm – Afternoon tea at East Berkshire Golf Club (21 miles done)

At that point, an 8-hour finish was… optimistic.
---
The Route

The route itself was genuinely excellent — a mix of countryside, fields, and woodland, with very little in the way of serious hills (a welcome change).

The main challenge came in Swinley Forest — where even “gentle inclines” have a habit of reminding you who’s in charge.

Beyond that, it was a scenic tour of Berkshire at its best — including plenty of large houses with immaculate gardens to admire (and occasionally envy).
---
The Reality Sets In

For most of the route, we maintained a steady 20-minute mile pace, which felt comfortable… until it didn’t.

By lunchtime, the legs were starting to make their feelings known.
By mid-afternoon, the boots — now clearly past their best — were offering all the cushioning of a wooden plank.

Note to self: new boots required.
---
The Final Push

As the 26.2-mile mark approached, something resembling determination kicked in.

We picked up the pace and even managed a jog for the final half mile —
my face suggesting “full sprint finish,”
my legs replying, “you’ll get a jog and be grateful.”
---
The Finish Line (and a Near Miss)

At 6:01pm, we crossed the finish line back at The Peacock Farm.

Straight to the bar for a well-earned Guinness and a pint of Fursty Ferret…

…only to be told the bar had closed at 6pm.

At this point, things could have turned emotional.

Fortunately, the barman — also called Simon (clearly a good name) — took pity on us. Seeing the state we were in, he kindly served us anyway and even took a photo to mark the occasion.
---
Reflections

This year’s effort may not have been fast, but it was:
✔ Completed
✔ Enjoyable (mostly)
✔ Bush-free

A huge improvement on last year.

Sometimes experience doesn’t make things easier — it just helps you choose a better way to suffer.

And this time… I’ll take that.

Marching in March… and Apparently Training for a Marathon (Sort Of)

Just when I thought March in March for Combat Stress was done and dusted, I’ve decided to add one final “small” challenge…

This Sunday 26th April, I’ll be attempting my own Virtual London Marathon by “marching” the Bracknell Ramblers Route — all 26.2 miles of it.

Now, some of you may remember last year’s attempt… where I fell just 2.7 miles short and ended up in a bush, feet in the air, questioning both my life choices and my navigation skills. This year, I’m aiming to improve on that by… well… not ending up in a bush. Ambitious, I know.

Training Plan (If We Can Call It That)

Most people follow a structured marathon training plan. Careful mileage build-up, rest days, nutrition, hydration…

I, on the other hand, have taken a more holistic approach:

  • Attending a rock ’n’ roll weekender with the Rockabilly crowd in Great Yarmouth

  • Staying up until the early hours (purely for endurance training, obviously)

  • Getting 4 hours’ sleep, then tackling what I can confidently describe as the UK’s toughest parkrun… on the beach

  • Dancing three nights in a row, well past my sensible bedtime

  • And rounding it all off with hours of digging in the garden

In short: anything but actual marathon training.

The Plan

The goal is simple:

  • Complete 26.2 miles

  • Stay upright

  • Avoid shrub-based incidents

If all goes well, I’ll tick off the full distance this year and bring my March challenge to a slightly ridiculous, but satisfying conclusion.

If it doesn’t… well, at least I’ll aim to choose a more comfortable bush.

Final Thought

All jokes aside, this is still about supporting the incredible work of Combat Stress, and I’m hugely grateful for all the support along the way.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to do some final preparations…
(I’m thinking a nice sit down and an early night — for once!) 😄👟

🚶‍♂️🎉 Marching in March – Mission Accomplished! 🎉

Well… that escalated. 100 miles in March — DONE! 👟
Today’s objective was simple: finish the last few miles that I confidently planned to do on Saturday… before a delightful cold came along and had other ideas 🤧
Fast forward to today — not feeling at my finest, but determined to get it done and honour the commitment to everyone who kindly sponsored me for Combat Stress.
The run itself?
Let’s just say it was less “graceful stride” and more “cough… step… cough… step…” every quarter mile 😄
After 1 hour and 15 minutes, the distance was done.
Not the longest walk or run of the challenge…
…but definitely the hardest.
Huge thanks to everyone who has supported, donated, and encouraged me along the way — it genuinely made a difference and kept me going (even when my lungs had other plans!). 🙏
If anyone still wants to chip in and round things off, the link is still open 
Right… I’m off for a celebratory cup of tea, cherry bakewell and possibly to stop coughing 😅☕

🚶‍♂️ Marching in March – Final Day! 🚶‍♂️


The end is finally in sight…

👟 Still 95 miles done
👟 Still 5 miles to go
💷 £3 short of my £300 target

After a slightly frustrating weekend (a nasty cough had other ideas!), I’m now feeling much better and ready to finish the challenge — with a little help from Lemsip 😄

I’ll be completing the final miles tomorrow and bringing up the full 100 miles for Combat Stress — supporting veterans’ mental health.

March miles now behind
Your generosity shines
Deep thanks to you all

It really has kept me going 🙏

If you were thinking of sponsoring, there’s still time to help me get over the line 👟💙

Marching in March – Into the Final Stretch

🚶‍♂️ This challenge is nearly there…
👟 95 miles done
👟 5 miles to go
⏳ 5 days left
I’m planning to bring it home with an extended Bracknell parkrun — seemed like a fitting way to complete the 100 miles for Combat Stress.
Today’s effort was a 14-mile round trip to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for a Civilian Military Partnership meeting — and once again it felt right to march there and back. True to form, I also managed to miss a path (a different one this time!) while trying a “shorter” route… 😄
Sunday was another great day — 10 miles with the Royal British Legion, joined for part of the walk by Peter Swallow, heading down to Bagshot for a well-earned pub lunch and back.
Fundraising is going really well — I’m now just £3 off my £300 target (that’s nearly £3 per mile!) and I’m incredibly grateful for all the support so far 🙏
If you’d like to help me over the line — both in miles and fundraising — I’d really appreciate it 👇
https://events.combatstress.org.uk/fundraisers/simoncarter⁠�
Thank you for helping make every step count 👟💙

Marching in March – Into the Final Stretch

The challenge has now taken on a life of its own. What started as a simple commitment has grown into a 100-mile target for March in support of Combat Stress.
So far, I’ve completed 57 miles, leaving 43 miles to go with 11 days remaining. It’s shaping up to be a demanding end to the month, but the support and encouragement I’ve received has made all the difference.
This week alone has seen 25.2 miles covered in around five and a half hours. That includes a half marathon distance earlier in the week and another 9 miles today, much of it through Swinley Forest. The forest is looking at its best in the sunshine, although the hills remain as unforgiving as ever.
A particularly enjoyable highlight came on Thursday with a guided walk around Soho, kindly led by Sue. Starting at Tottenham Court Road tube station, we made our way to Soho Square via the historic The Pillars of Hercules. The area is rich in history, with connections to Charles Dickens and A Tale of Two Cities, and was once home to French Huguenots — a fascinating contrast to the longer, more physical walks of the week.
Looking ahead, there’s no slowing down. Plans include Parkrun at Great Hollands Recreation Ground and a 10-mile walk with the Royal British Legion to Bagshot and back — with a well-earned pub lunch along the way.
Fundraising continues to go well, and I’m genuinely grateful for every message of support and every donation received so far. Knowing this effort is helping support veterans through Combat Stress keeps me moving forward — even when the miles (and hills) start to bite.
With 43 miles still to go, the final stretch won’t be easy — but it will be worth it.
If you’d like to support the challenge and help make a difference, donations can be made here:
https://events.combatstress.org.uk/fundraisers/simoncarter⁠�
Thank you for your continued support.

🚶‍♂️ Marching in March Update – The Plot Thickens! 🚶‍♂️

What started as a simple challenge has now escalated slightly… I’m now aiming for 100 miles in March for Combat Stress.

Progress so far:
👟 45 miles done
👟 55 miles to go

On Thursday I had a special destination in mind — the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. As Armed Forces Champion for Bracknell Town Council it felt entirely appropriate to march there and back.

A 7am start got me there with half an hour to spare — despite missing a small path in Swinley Forest, which added an extra quarter-mile up a very steep hill (my legs noticed).

I was warmly welcomed by the Sandhurst Trust and enjoyed a fascinating guided tour of the Academy. Two hours later I set off home again.

Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas… 🌧️💨
The wind had picked up and I was soon marching straight into a blustery headwind. After a couple of miles I found shelter beside a World War II Pillbox where I enjoyed a much-needed lunch stop. Out of the wind, it felt like luxury.

My Garmin told me I’d already done 10 miles at that point (not including the two hours wandering around Sandhurst!).

Rain soon curtailed the break, so back on the road I went. I had Swinley Forest almost entirely to myself, and it really is a lovely place to March in March. Luckily the outward journey had taught me to look out for that sneaky little path… and this time I found it — avoiding that brutal hill.

Before long I was crossing Nine Mile Ride and heading back into the suburbs of Bracknell.

After a total of 15 miles I was home… and greeted by possibly the best cup of tea ever brewed. ☕

If you’d like to support veterans’ mental health, I’d really appreciate a donation to Combat Stress. Every pound helps support those who have served.

Thank you for helping keep me marching! 👟🇬🇧

Marching in March… with a Rock ’n’ Roll Hangover

Some of you will know that I’m the Armed Forces Champion for Bracknell Town Council. As part of that role, I signed up for March in March in support of Combat Stress — a fantastic charity that provides specialist treatment and support for veterans dealing with mental health challenges.
Now, in what can only be described as a moment of questionable judgement, I decided that while attending Hemsby 72, a rock ’n’ roll weekender on the Norfolk coast, it would be the perfect time to complete my 10-mile walk.
To be fair, I’m still not entirely sure whether Hemsby 72 is a rock ’n’ roll weekend with drinking thrown in… or a drinking weekend with dancing thrown in. Either way, there was certainly plenty of both.
Fast forward to this morning.
The alarm went off after about four hours’ sleep, and I briefly considered declaring a strategic withdrawal. Cramp had already started setting in just thinking about the ten miles waiting for me along the Norfolk Coast Path.
However, after a bit of internal negotiation (and possibly a stern talking-to from my conscience), I got my walking shoes on and headed out.
The good news?
Two hours and eighteen minutes later… it was done.
The even better news?
Minimal cramp.
Admittedly, I’m now a very tired Simon, but it was absolutely worth it to support the brilliant work that Combat Stress does for veterans across the UK.
If you’re like me and believe that those who’ve served our country deserve proper support when they need it, I’d really appreciate you considering a donation.
Every contribution helps make a real difference.
Thank you — from a slightly stiff, slightly sleep-deprived, but very grateful Simon.

Support my March in March

This year I will be taking on March in March to raise vital funds for life-changing mental health treatment for veterans.

Combat Stress is the UK's leading charity for veterans' mental health. For over a century, they've helped former servicemen and women deal with issues like trauma, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Today, they provide support to veterans from every service and every conflict.

I’m taking on March in March to help take vital steps towards ensuring veterans can get the support they need.

Thank you so much for your support and together we march!

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

£565 + £121.75 GiftAid

My Goal

£500

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My Achievements

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Self donated

Raised £250

Raised £500

Raised £750

Reached fundraising goal

Created a team

Completed my challenge

Thank you to my Sponsors

£53.32

Janet Cochrane

You are indeed a champion. Well done

£50

Sarah And Matthew

Well done, Simon!!

£45.94

Graham Firth

Go (again!) Simon

£43

Susan Springall

Well done, Simon!

£35.38

Jennifer Penfold

£35.38

Jennifer Penfold

£34

Karen Merrin

Now I appreciate how hard that would have been after a night of rock and roll. Well done. Love Karen x

£27.05

Simon Carter

£27.05

Paul Springall

£25

Peter Swallow

£20.79

Dave & Lorraine

Well done Simon love from Dave & Lorraine

£20.79

Guy G

You inspire a lot of us, Simon!

£20.79

Megan Wright

Well done Simon! Spring isn't spring unless you have a crazy venture lined up....😁

£20.79

Mary Baker

£20.79

Lauren Bennett

£20

Simon Carter

Walk off the winter cobwebs, dodge the sofa, and do something brilliant for a brilliant cause. Every step you take helps Combat Stress support veterans with their mental health – and you get fresh air, smug step-count glory and an excuse for cake afterwards. Come on… it’s literally named after the month. You’ve got no excuse not to march in March! 🚶‍♂️💙

£11.33

Jackie

£11.33

Ellen Mac Hale

Hope the sun shines on you.

£11.33

Jane And Lindsay Rbl Bracknell

You can do it Simon! Such a good cause.

£11.33

Sarah Naxton

Well done on this achievement!

£10

Simon Carter

Miles slowly ticking Legs complain but heart is glad Worth every step taken

£10

Phil Carter

Well done!

Our Team