Running for Records and a Cause: MPs Prepare for the London Marathon

Get ready for an inspiring showdown! This Sunday, Conservative MP Harriet Cross will lace up her sneakers for the London Marathon, aiming to clock a finish time that might secure her the title of the fastest female MP in history. Currently, that record is held by Jo Swinson, who completed the marathon in 2019. Cross, known for her resilience as a runner, hopes to finish under three hours and 57 minutes, although she acknowledges the daunting challenge ahead of her on the 26.2-mile course.

Despite her experience as a competitor — having won a 50km ultra-marathon in 2023 — she admits the famed London course brings its own unique challenges. Unlike her typical mountain marathons, this will be her first running experience on a completely flat surface, and the thought of encountering enormous crowds makes her a bit jittery. While races in Scotland feature fewer spectators, the 50,000 cheering supporters at London will seem overwhelming.

Meanwhile, Labour MP Cat Smith prepares for her third marathon and also grapples with pre-race anxiety, humorously dubbing it ’maranoia’. Reflecting on her training, Smith feels the pressure to have completed enough runs, although she’s not concerned about beating any personal records. Last time, she finished in six hours and six minutes, branding herself as the tortoise that represents perseverance over speed.

With 16 MPs taking part in the marathon, Cross draws parallels between the mental fortitude required in both marathon running and political life — emphasizing the importance of determination and focus. She is running for Kayleigh’s Wee Stars, a charity supporting families with terminally ill children, while Smith is fundraising for the Bay Hospital charity, which provides additional amenities and medical equipment that the NHS may not cover.

Catch their stories as they gear up for the race by tuning into the interviews on BBC Radio 4’s Today in Parliament, available for listening after Friday evening.