From 5Ks to the Frankfurt Marathon

Fourth-year economic students on marathon running and his love for the sport

As kids, many of us are dragged reluctantly to training sessions. Over time, however, many fall in love with the sport they initially dreaded. For Hector Revill, that sport was running. What began with regular Parkruns has now grown into an ambitious goal: completing the 2025 Frankfurt Marathon — his second — in under two and a half hours. 

Last year in Frankfurt, Hector finished third in the Under-23 category, completing the marathon in 02:35:00 and thereby qualifying for the 2025 London Marathon.

“When I watched Mo Farah win the 10,000m at the 2012 Olympics, it inspired me to start setting goals,” Hector told The Saint. “I run because I love a challenge, and my goal is to always beat my previous times.”

On the morning of one of London’s hottest marathons on record, Hector felt part of something bigger, running shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of others.

“The crowds in London were something else. The adrenaline you get from them is unreal. Three rows deep of people the whole way through.” 

That energy can be dangerous; it is, after all, a marathon and not a sprint. Success is about pacing, preserving energy for the last stretch of the race.

Less than 1% of people will complete a marathon in their lifetime; they are the ultimate test of physical endurance and mental focus. For student athletes like Hector, balancing a degree with training requires immense dedication and organisation. He recommends a twelve-to-sixteen-week training plan for those considering running a marathon.

Twice a week, he does interval sessions, combining high-intensity running with low-intensity recovery to boost his speed and endurance. Four days are “easy run days,” often starting with an early 14km run before hitting the library. The remainder of the week is for his “session days” that stretch even further.

“In marathon training, you always have one long run a week. You increase the distances gradually, so your body can get used to it. This distance can go up to around 35km,” he explains. 

Hector takes inspiration from the American marathon runner Clayton Young. 

“What I love about Clayton is that he’s so dedicated to everything he does. He’s a Christian, so he doesn’t run on Sundays, and he can still fit in 200km of running per week,” Hector says. “He’s also very scientific, like myself. I make all of my own training plans because I know myself best.” 

In the age of short attention spans, going for a run without music seems unimaginable to many. Hector is the opposite.

“I can focus entirely on my technique, training, and surroundings.” 

This reading week, the economics student will leave his textbooks behind for the week and lace up for the Frankfurt Marathon with one goal in mind.

Hector will be raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of his Uncle Steve and Grandma, who both passed away from cancer. 

“I want to honour their strength as well as their memory. I’ll be running the 26.22 miles and aiming to finish in under 2 hours 30 minutes. My fundraising target is £2,622 — £100 for every mile of the marathon — and reaching it will mean as much to me as crossing the finish line. Macmillan Cancer Support were there to help us, and I want to raise money so they can continue to be there for other families facing the same challenges. Thank you so much for your support — it really does make a difference.”

Image taken from Sportograf Digital Solutions GmbH