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How the Edinburgh Marathon Changed My Life


By - Richard - 28th May 2020

With no prior running experience, I embarked on the challenge of running the Edinburgh Marathon. It changed my life. 

Was it unrealistic to aim for the time of 3 hours 30 minutes for my first marathon? Possibly, but the world of long distance running was new to me and I wanted to set myself a challenging target. 

The film documents my five month journey from devising a marathon training plan, embarking on marathon training to arriving at the start line in the best shape of my life. It also follows every step of the eventful race itself.

Having just turned 40 years old, I had this strange desire to see how far I could push myself both physically and mentally. The experience certainly delivered on that front. 

For years I have looked on in awe of my friends who have taken on their own marathons. For me, it had always seemed a step too far. I had always wondered why would you want to put yourself through the pain of running a marathon. What can you gain by pushing yourself to the limit and inflicting that level of misery on yourself voluntarily? My experience taught me the answer.

I hope that my story can provide some marathon motivation. It was undoubtedly one of the best experiences of my life.

A wise person once said, “Everything you ever wanted to know about yourself you can learn in 26.2 miles”. I can testify to that. 

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About the Author

Richard Nicholls - Managing Director

Before launching Swift Films, Richard worked as a broadcast TV director and editor, working on programmes for the BBC, ITV and Sky.

A multi-skilled and technically-minded filmmaker, Richard is equally at home coming up with creative concepts as he is on location filming or pulling footage together in the edit suite.

Richard is a member of Independent Producers Scotland and has a love of cats, football, chocolate and Film Noir (in that order).