No Holding Back: Interview with Nicola Carragher

Nicola Carragher only started taking running seriously a year ago. After going from a 5K to a full marathon in just 14 weeks, she’s now on the verge of becoming the first person to complete all seven major world marathons consecutively within a 12-month period.

As she prepares for her final race in Sydney, the mum-of-two reflects on the highs and lows of the challenge, her motivation to support Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, and how the journey helped her rediscover strength, purpose, and a sense of self beyond motherhood.

Words | Lawrence Saunders

You’re aiming to run all seven Abbott World Marathon Majors in under 12 months – Berlin, Chicago, New York, Tokyo, Boston, London, and Sydney at the end of August – a feat no one has ever completed before. How did the idea for such an ambitious challenge first come about?

When our daughter Mia moved to New York to study acting, I found myself dealing with a bit of anxiety. I wouldn’t normally describe myself as an anxious person, but having her so far away was a big adjustment. At the time, I wasn’t really prioritising my own wellbeing, which made it harder to manage. I’ve never wanted anyone to think I couldn’t cope or that I was struggling. I remember a friend asked, ‘What’s up with you? You’re never like this’. Eventually, I opened up and admitted I wasn’t coping well – and it was such a relief. Letting go of that pressure to have it all together all the time, to not be this perfect version of myself, felt freeing.

Not long before Mia came home, I signed up for a 10-week weight loss challenge – mainly to help me refocus and get back into a fitness routine. What began as a short-term goal turned into a full year of really committing to change. I’ve always loved running – I was a runner in junior school – and I’d always dreamed of doing a marathon. As I grew fitter and stronger, I started to think, ‘It’s now or never’.

Jamie’s brother John is the chairman of Marsh Lane Harriers, so I asked him for some advice. He suggested I look into doing one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. I’d never heard of them before, but when I looked them up online, I saw the Berlin Marathon was only 14 weeks away. I realised that if I ran Berlin – and then the other races – I could finish in London with the sixth star (race completion), having done them all consecutively. At that point, it was just an idea though.

What was the moment that turned this from just an idea into a real commitment?

Not long after I spoke to John, Jamie and I attended a fundraising dinner for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where we’re both patrons. One of the speakers mentioned how much they rely on fundraising to provide pioneering equipment and services – and it really struck a chord with me. As I sat at the dinner, I made the decision – I was going to run all six World Marathon Majors (which later became seven when Sydney was added in November 2024) to raise money for the hospital. I didn’t tell Jamie right away, but when I told his brother, he immediately jumped into planning mode!

I finally told Jamie about my plan while we were on holiday. At that point, the furthest I’d run was about eight miles – and he nearly choked! He said, ‘You’re joking me? You haven’t even done one yet, love. Just see how you feel – don’t put all this pressure on yourself’. It’s not that he didn’t believe in me – I think anyone would be a bit sceptical if someone who’d only just built up to eight miles suddenly announced they were going to run six marathons!

What’s your personal connection to Alder Hey, and what does the hospital mean to you?

When my brother John was 11, he became seriously ill with meningitis. He was placed in an induced coma, and it was a really traumatic time for the family. A couple of years later, when he was 13 and back playing football, he headed a ball at school and suddenly went completely blind.

He was rushed to The Walton Centre, where they discovered he had a brain tumour pressing on his pituitary gland – which controls many important hormones. The tumour was removed, but it had a lasting impact on him. One child went into hospital, and a different one came out. But he’s still here, and we’re incredibly lucky. He’s amazing.

Throughout it all, I remember how well Alder Hey looked after John. That hospital became such a central part of our lives during those difficult years. Jamie also has his own strong connection to Alder Hey. He was born with a rare condition called gastroschisis, where his bowels were outside of his body. He spent the first six weeks of his life on the neonatal ward there, so the hospital is close to all of our hearts.

 

You suffered a painful injury just before your first marathon and then had to run another one only two weeks later. Can you take us through what that experience was like – both physically and mentally?

I did all my training in Ibiza, and everything had gone like a dream – almost too well. Then, just six days before the first race, I went to the gym with Mia and ended up pulling my glute. During my final prep run for Berlin, I felt this sharp pain running down the back of my leg and along the side of my knee. I finished the run, but I just burst into tears – I knew something was wrong.

The knee pain didn’t get significantly worse until I actually ran the marathon. But the difficult part was that I had another marathon – Chicago – just two weeks later. So I never had time to properly assess what the injury was or recover from it. After the first mile in Chicago, the pain was excruciating. By mile 17, I was stopped on the side of the road with my head in my hands. I’d told everyone I was going to run all six of these marathons, and here I was – only on the second one – and in the worst pain of my life.

Finishing that race wasn’t just about endurance – it was about pushing past the point where everything in me wanted to stop. I remember thinking, ‘If your kids needed you at that finish line, you’d find a way to run there’. So I did. It wasn’t pretty – I call it the ‘penguin run’ because that’s exactly what I must’ve looked like [laughs]!

As soon as I got home I went for a scan on my knee and got an injection. I rested and then three weeks’ after Chicago it was the New York Marathon. That was my favourite one. Mia came with me, and the whole reason I started on my fitness journey was because of the anxiety I felt when she moved to New York – so it was a full circle moment Her being there to support me was lovely. I didn’t beat myself up about the times I was getting, I was just thankful that I’d finished the first three races and was looking forward to the next ones.

How did you cope with the physical and mental demands of running multiple marathons so close together?

After New York it was Tokyo next in the new year, and again, my knee was flaring up. Coming into January, I just couldn’t get past running more than six miles. I decided to focus more on strength training and my rehab, and not getting past six miles. I took my tracker watch off and got back to running for the love of it. It helped me forget about the challenge and concentrate just on running again. I got up to 18 miles before Tokyo, ran the race, and it went really well.

After Tokyo, it was straight on to Boston and then London – just six days apart. I always knew this would be the toughest stretch of the challenge, but I was feeling good going into it. When I landed in Boston, I was absolutely sick as a dog. I’ve had COVID enough times to recognise the symptoms, and deep down, I knew that’s what it was. Still, I managed to push through the race.

Once I got home, it was confirmed I did have COVID, and I didn’t get out of bed for three days. I just lay there crying, thinking, ‘It wasn’t meant to go like this’. Then, by some miracle, I woke up the day before the London Marathon and the symptoms had completely vanished – I couldn’t believe it. The hip and knee pain were just as intense as they’d been in Chicago, but knowing how many people had come out to support me in London gave me the strength to keep going. Jamie said he saw me at mile seven and genuinely thought I wouldn’t make it – but I did!

You’ve spoken honestly about how easy it is to lose yourself in motherhood. What helped you recognise the importance of holding onto your own identity, and how do you try to strike that balance today?

Like a lot of mums, I threw myself into putting the kids first – probably too much – because I thought that’s what you were supposed to do. I didn’t even question it at the time. I felt like if I wasn’t dropping everything for them, I wasn’t being a good enough mum. But looking back, I realise I could’ve been a bit kinder to myself, and that it’s okay to want a life outside of being a parent.

I’m not saying I’m a martyr, but it’s easy to forget that before I became a mum, I was a person with dreams and goals of my own. And that version of me still matters. Jamie has always been supportive of whatever I’ve wanted to do – it was me who held myself back. I had this belief that I couldn’t do both – be a great mum and go after my own ambitions. If I could go back, I’d definitely try to strike more of a balance. Even just carving out a little time for myself – some ‘me time’ without the guilt – would’ve made a difference.

 

Your son James made his debut for the Malta national football team earlier this year, Mia has just been announced as the lead in the first-ever live stage adaptation of The Hunger Games. How proud are you of both your children, and how do you support them as they forge their own paths?

I’m incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved – but even more proud of who they are as people. From a young age, I’ve told them: ‘Yes, we have a lovely life, but do you want to be known just as Jamie Carragher’s son or daughter, or do you want to write your own story?’ And they both really got that.

You can’t help the cards you’re dealt in life. My kids were born into a privileged position – that’s just their starting point – but what really matters is what they chose to do with it. We’ve always tried to instil ambition in them. We’ve seen talent in both, and done our best to nurture it.

They’ve each had their own dreams, and they’ve worked so hard for everything – far more than people might assume. It’s easy for others to think they’ve had everything handed to them, but I’ve watched them put in the effort, deal with setbacks, and keep pushing forward. Honestly, they’ve inspired me.

James had a really serious injury and had to spend four hours a day on a machine just bending his knee to prevent scar tissue. Watching his determination helped me put my own injury problems into perspective. And with Mia, there were so many close calls – she’d get down to the final two for acting roles and not get the part. I’d be heartbroken for her, but she’d stay positive and keep going. That resilience is incredible to see. This role in The Hunger Games is perfect for her – it feels like it was meant to be. I couldn’t be prouder of both of them.

What’s it like being married to someone The Guardian recently called ‘the world’s most famous scouser after Paul McCartney’?

I didn’t know it said that! I’ll be throwing that line at him later [laughs]. He’s definitely become more well-known since retiring from football, that’s for sure. I don’t really watch him on telly – and I never really watched him when he played either. It’s not because I’m not proud of him, but to me, he’s just my husband. I’m not that into football, if I’m honest. I take an interest now because of James and I want him to do well, but I’m not going to pretend I sit and watch 90 minutes every weekend. It’s on constantly in our house – can you imagine? Jamie watches everything.

But I really am proud of what he’s gone on to do after his playing career. A lot of footballers retire and don’t always know what comes next, but Jamie had a plan. He’s ambitious, driven, and incredibly disciplined – and I can definitely see that in our kids too.

Finally, what are your plans once you’ve completed the marathon challenge? Is there anything else you’ve always wanted to try?

Definitely not TV! But I have been thinking about starting a podcast – something centred around being a mum and still finding space to pursue your own goals. I’d love to bring on guests who are doing just that: running their lives, building businesses, trying to establish themselves, and navigating the everyday struggles. I’ve started putting some wheels in motion, but it’s all new to me, so I want to make sure I feel confident and comfortable with it.

But I’ll definitely carry on running – I’ve signed up to run the London Marathon next year for Alder Hey as part of their official team, which I’m really proud to be doing.

You can support Nicola’s Seven Star World Marathon challenge in aid of Alder Hey Children’s Charity by clicking here