"Please Come Along for the Ride" Andy Cannell's running journey!
For Andy Cannell, Estates Officer at Saint Francis Hospice, taking on the 2026 London Marathon in April is more than a physical challenge, it’s his way of giving something back to a charity he has quickly come to care about deeply.
Andy joined the Hospice in August 2024, and it didn’t take long for him to realise just how special it is.
“I quickly became aware of the fantastic work that is carried out by every staff member,” said Andy. “The Hospice provides unrivalled care to people who most need it, be it within the main building, in the physio rooms or in people’s homes. Every visitor I speak with compliments the staff for making their experience at the Hospice a relaxed and trouble-free one. It fills me with great pride to be part of a very caring team.
“I do a bit of running for fun, but now I’m in training for my very first marathon to help fund the care at Saint Francis Hospice.”
To share the reality of training at 60+, Andy set up an Instagram account: @runna60plus.
“To help document this journey I decided to post it on Instagram,” he said. “As a more senior runner, as I like to say, I’m over 60 and I’m embarking on this journey for the first time. I’m a novice; I’m learning as I go, and I’m happy to take tips.
“You can follow my journey, the highs and lows. The wet mornings when I have to get out the door. The days when my legs ache when I roll out of bed. And the joyous mornings when I say, ‘Yeah, I’m enjoying this, it’s fun.”
His posts are upbeat, honest, and full of humour and positivity. In one video, a pair of trainers appears to “walk” into the room on their own. Andy follows up with: “Those trainers were desperate to get out today!” before explaining his training plan as he heads out for his run.
Sometimes he calls on his followers for motivation, saying:
“Is it still raining? Tell me to get out the door, I need your encouragement!”
In another post, he jokes that his warm-up is simply doing “chores,” sharing a clip of himself mopping the kitchen floor. He regularly posts the routes he runs, from local streets to parkruns, and whatever the weather or mileage, Andy often finishes with the same bright sign-off: “Keep running, keep following, and keep smiling. Have a great day.”
