Six runners with a combined age of 465 are set to take part in the 46th London Marathon on Sunday, representing the last of the 'Ever Presents' – a group that originally included 42 members who have completed every race since the event's launch in March 1981.
Enduring Legacy
The Ever Presents club was formed in 1996 after the members completed their 15th consecutive marathon. Over the decades, illness and injury have reduced the group to just six: retired GP Mac Speake (84), teacher Bill O'Connor (80), retired training adviser David Walker (80), retired IT consultant Jeff Aston (78), retired headteacher Mike Peace (76), and retired school bursar Chris Finill (67). Their combined age totals 465 years.
In recognition of their dedication, the London Marathon has guaranteed them a place every year. However, the club has steadily shrunk, and now only this hardcore remains.
Personal Battles
David Walker is nursing a suspected fractured rib and will complete the race virtually, running the 26.2 miles around his home town of Chesham, Bucks, with support from his sons. He will use the London Marathon app to receive an official finish time and medal.
Mac Speake pulled a muscle during a training run just a week before the event. He said, “Every year people ask me ‘do you think you’ll do another?’ And my answer is always ‘there’s only one way to find out – you continue until you can’t!’”
Chris Finill broke his right arm in four places during the 2018 race after being clipped by another runner. He finished with a makeshift sling, despite excruciating pain. Jeff Aston walked the entire 2025 race due to illness, and Bill O'Connor wears a permanent protective arm covering after a dog attack during a training run ten years ago.
Support Networks
The Ever Presents have relied on their families for decades. Chris Finill's wife, Julia, has attended all 45 marathons as a supporter, medal hanger, or runner. Mac Speake’s wife, Ros (83), who has completed 13 marathons herself, accompanies him on training runs by car, providing water and snacks.
Mike Peace noted, “I don’t call it racing anymore. It’s just about doing your best and feeling comfortable by the end.”
Memories and Mementos
The runners treasure their medals and other keepsakes. Bill O'Connor has a pair of £2.50 trainers from his fastest race and an Olympic torch he carried in 2012. Mike Peace owns a t-shirt from every event, including one that reads “Since 1981 I’ve done them all,” which he wears with pride.
Mike added, “It’s an enormous privilege to be in an exclusive club no one can join. If you haven't been there in the early days, you can’t claim to be a member.”
Race Evolution
The London Marathon has grown from a niche event with 7,000 runners in 1981 to a global spectacle. This year, over a million applied, and there is speculation it could become a two-day event in 2027 to accommodate more than 100,000 runners.
Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, said: “The Ever Presents hold a remarkable place in London Marathon history. Completing one marathon is a monumental achievement; for these six individuals to have done it 45 times is truly extraordinary.”
