Lucky Number 13: Cambridgeshire

Week 13 took us to Cambridgeshire. Unlucky for some, but not for me. Thirteen has always been my lucky number, and this one felt like it carried a little more weight than usual.

We were heading back to Cambridge, and more specifically to the Rosie Hospital; a place that holds both heartbreak and joy for Amy and me. It’s where we experienced our miscarriage in 2022, and where our daughter was born the following year. So, starting this week there was always going to bring a mix of emotions. Bittersweet, but special.

Our protagonist for the week was Finn who, like us, has his own deep connection to The Rosie. Alongside his wife, also named Rosie, they’ve experienced both loss and birth there too. It felt fitting that this run would start in a place that means so much to both of us, for so many reasons.

There were familiar sights, but also plenty of familiar faces. Finn had assembled a strong core group, with two of his best men—Tom and his brother Fergus—taking on the full distance. Alongside them, a wider crew of great friends joined at different stages, which always brings something extra to these days. There’s nothing quite like seeing people you know popping up along the route, sharing miles and moments.

There had been some early debate about the route. Finn, protecting what he calls his “glass knees,” was keen on sticking to park laps to stay on grass. I stepped in, purely in the interest of everyone’s sanity, and we compromised. A lap of every park we passed through kept Finn happy, while still allowing us to explore more of Cambridge and its surroundings.

We set off from The Rosie with a group of around eight, heading through the southeast of the city. Cherry Hinton Park and Coldham’s Common gave us our first taste of green space, with the sun already making its presence known. A lively support crew greeted us in Cherry Hinton, friends, family, and what felt like half of Cambridge City turning out, which set the tone for the day ahead.

As we pushed out towards Fen Ditton, we found ourselves on a quieter stretch of road when a slightly dishevelled, sweaty figure appeared behind us at pace. It turned out to be one of Finn’s mates, Dougie, who had planned to meet us in Fen Ditton but had got slightly sidetracked enjoying a pint in the sunshine. Fair play to him, he chased us down and then carried on for the rest of the run, pint very much still onboard.

Not long after, my best mate Charlie joined us as we looped back through Fen Ditton. He’s gearing up to run the London Marathon with me in a few weeks, so this was a perfect opportunity for him to get some longer miles in, and great to have him alongside for a stretch.

Heading back into the city around the 17–18 mile mark, the combination of distance and rising temperatures started to bite. The pace naturally eased as we made our way out towards Grantchester for the final stretch. Fergus, determined from the outset to complete the full route, dug in brilliantly and showed real grit to get himself to the finish—whatever it took.

And what a finish it was.

We were met at the Green Man in Grantchester by a huge crowd of friends, family, and kids, all gathered in the sunshine. There’s something pretty special about finishing a long run like that and immediately being surrounded by your people. Food, drinks, tired legs, and a lot of smiles.

A massive shoutout to Finn and Rosie, not just for putting together such a brilliant day, but for their incredible fundraising efforts too, raising over £2,500 for Tommy’s. 

A special place. A special group of people. And a week that meant a lot. 

Number 13. Tick.