This week, Olly is joined by Leanne, a neonatal doctor, to explore the reality of life inside NICU. Leanne was introduced to us through Myles, our Nottinghamshire runner and paediatric nurse, ahead of Marathon 17 this weekend.

From extremely premature babies to unexpected complications at birth, this episode sheds light on the care, communication, and emotional complexity families experience — and the role of the teams who support them.

• What NICU actually is — and the different levels of neonatal care
• Why babies are admitted (from prematurity to illness at birth)
• The reality of outcomes — from thriving to loss
• How doctors support families through incredibly difficult decisions
• The emotional complexity parents experience — even when outcomes are positive
• The role of communication, trust, and family-led care
• How NICU teams create meaningful moments, even in end-of-life care
• Why looking after yourself as a parent is so important
• The lasting psychological impact of a neonatal journey

👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com

All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

Olly is joined by Bobby, whose daughter Phoebe was born at 23 weeks and 5 days after months of unexplained pregnancy complications, and tragically lived for just five hours.

Bobby shares the reality of navigating repeated hospital admissions with his wife Clemmie, extreme prematurity, and the unimaginable decisions faced in NICU — as well as life and fatherhood after such a heartbreaking loss.

Phoebe’s story is one of the early inspirations behind Marathons for Miracles, shaping the purpose of this challenge from the very beginning.

This week’s run: Sussex for the official Brighton Marathon on Sunday 12th April.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube

👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com

All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

In episode fourteen of Marathons for Miracles, Olly is joined by his close friend Faye, who will be leading the Shropshire leg — a particularly special one as it takes place close to home in Shrewsbury.

Faye shares her experience of miscarriage nearly a decade ago, a story she’s never spoken about publicly before, and reflects on the lasting emotional impact of loss — especially as she and her partner Freddie now navigate trying to conceive again.

They discuss the complexities of revisiting grief years later, the mental load of a fertility journey, and how running — even without the usual headspace — can still offer moments of clarity and connection.

The episode also looks ahead to the Shropshire route: starting in Bridgnorth, running across to Ironbridge, crossing the iconic bridge before joining sections of the Silkin Way, and looping back to finish on the bridge — with friends, family and a strong local support crew throughout.

👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com

All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

In episode thirteen of Marathons for Miracles, Olly is joined by Alice, who will be leading the Dorset leg of the challenge this Sunday, 29th March.

Alice shares her and her partner Nick’s eight-year journey through recurrent miscarriage and IVF, including five pregnancy losses and the emotional toll of prolonged uncertainty, treatment, and recovery.

She speaks openly about the reality of miscarriage, the impact of fertility treatment on daily life, and the importance of advocating for yourself throughout the process.

They discuss the discovery of a chromosomal condition later in their journey, the difficult decisions that followed, and how they’ve begun to navigate life moving towards being childless not by circumstance, but by choice — and what redefining family can look like.

The episode also looks ahead to the Dorset run, starting at Symondsbury Estate near Bridport, looping through West Dorset villages, before taking in the Jurassic Coast and returning back to the estate.

👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com

All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

In episode twelve of Marathons for Miracles, Olly is joined by Finn, who will be running the next leg of the challenge this Saturday 21st March.

Finn shares his and his partner’s experience of a termination for medical reasons (TFMR), following a devastating diagnosis during pregnancy. He speaks openly about the shock of that news and the emotional weight of the decision.

They discuss how grief is experienced as a couple, the importance of communication and support, and how loss can impact relationships in different ways. Finn reflects on the lasting emotional impact of TFMR, and the challenge of processing something that is often misunderstood or rarely spoken about.

The episode also looks ahead to the upcoming route starting at The Rosie Hospital, through Cherry Hinton, up to Fen Ditton, and down to Granchester.

👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com

All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

Olly is joined by Ciaran ahead of the Bedfordshire leg — marathon 12 of the challenge — this Saturday, 14th March.

Ciaran shares his and his wife’s journey through male factor infertility and recurrent miscarriage, and the emotional reality of navigating pregnancy loss as a man — something that is still rarely talked about openly.

They discuss the silence that often surrounds male infertility, the impact miscarriage can have on fathers, and why Ciaran started the Male Fertility Podcast to help break that silence and support others going through similar experiences.

The episode also looks ahead to the Bedfordshire run, which will include a route with personal significance for Ciaran and his family.

👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com

All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

Olly is joined by Edwina, who will be leading the 11th marathon; the Lancashire leg of the challenge this Sunday 8th March, alongside a small & mighty team.

Edwina shares her experience of pregnancy loss — from an early miscarriage in 2021 to a later loss following weeks of uncertainty during a pregnancy of unknown location. She also reflects on the premature birth of her son at 31 weeks during the COVID pandemic, and the emotional complexity of navigating loss while raising a young child.

They discuss the difficult decision to stop trying to conceive after multiple medical emergencies, the pressure many couples feel to keep going, and why choosing to stop can sometimes be the hardest step of all. Edwina also talks about finding support through communities like The Worst Girl Gang Ever and how running became a crucial outlet for processing grief.

They look ahead to the Lancashire marathon route, running along the coast near Morecambe before finishing at Lancaster Castle.

👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com

All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

In episode nine of Marathons for Miracles, Olly is joined by Jenny, who will be leading the Derbyshire leg through the Peak District this Saturday, 28th February.

Jenny shares the heart-breaking story of losing her first baby last year after a 12-week scan led to a termination for medical reasons (TFMR). She speaks candidly about the shock of that diagnosis, the painful limbo that followed, and the complexity of being given a “choice” when none of the options truly feel like one.

They discuss the emotional aftermath, ongoing investigations without clear answers, the support of charities including Tommy’s, and how running and community have helped her navigate grief.

The episode also looks ahead to a scenic (and hilly) Derbyshire trail marathon with friends, running club support — and hopefully a Bakewell tart or two.

👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com

All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

In this episode of Marathons for Miracles, Olly is joined by Tom ahead of the upcoming marathon in Durham.

Tom shares his personal experience of miscarriage and the emotional complexity of navigating pregnancy after loss. Together, they discuss the physical and psychological challenges of parenthood, societal perceptions around miscarriage, and why more open conversations are essential. They also reflect on the role statistics play in understanding pregnancy risk — and how numbers rarely soften the emotional reality.

As the conversation turns to running, Olly and Tom revisit their shared history and look ahead to the Durham marathon, highlighting the importance of friendship, community and support — both in parenting and in fundraising for this cause.

👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com

All episodes contain sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss and grief. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.

After a podcast break last week, episode seven of Marathons for Miracles sees Olly joined by Robin and Annabel ahead of the 8th leg: Northamptonshire on Saturday 14th February.

They share a different but deeply relevant story — the unexpected arrival of their son, Jago, at 29 weeks following severe pre-eclampsia. Annabel reflects on how quickly a low-risk pregnancy turned critical, the warning signs that were missed, and the reality of being hospitalised weeks earlier than planned. Together, they talk candidly about life on NICU, the long weeks of uncertainty, and the quiet grief of missing out on the “normal” newborn experience.

The conversation explores the emotional toll of premature birth, parenting in intensive care, and how research funded by Tommy’s — including new early screening for pre-eclampsia — is already changing outcomes for families like theirs. Annabel also shares how her care looks different this time, as she prepares to run 5km with us while pregnant again herself.

The episode looks ahead to the Northamptonshire route, starting with parkrun in Daventry before heading out along the Grand Union Canal and finishing in Byfield — with mud & trails very much on the cards.

👉 Follow the journey and support the cause at marathonsformiracles.com

This episode contains sensitive discussions around pregnancy loss, premature birth and medical trauma. Experiences shared are personal and are not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek professional support if needed. Listener discretion advised.