This month's Sacred Story is from Matilda, who shares her journey through marathon training - learning to nourish her body, chase new PBs, and find calm in a simple, grounding ritual that supports her recovery.

If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d run the London Marathon (and love it!), I’d have laughed. But watching my sister complete the race back in 2024 was beyond inspiring - it became a challenge I knew I had to take on for myself. 

It was a slow start, but running has become such a huge passion. Crossing that finish line in April changed everything for me.It wasn’t just the race itself - it was the process of showing up, pushing through the tough runs, and realising how strong my body actually is.

Somewhere along the way, running went from being something I had to do to something I get to do. It’s my way of switching off, clearing my head, and feeling proud of what my body can do. 

After London, I took a little break. I was still running for fitness, but I knew I needed a new challenge to scratch the itch. That’s when I set my sights on the Cheltenham Half Marathon - with one goal: to beat my PB. I dialled up my training and started prioritising strength work alongside my runs to really prime my body for race day.

Training in the evenings has become my therapy. I’ll head out once work’s done, headphones in (usually listening to Sabrina Carpenter on repeat), and just let the day go. Some days (especially when work is hectic) it genuinely keeps me sane.

Of course, training is only one side of the coin - the other is what I put into my body. I’ve loved exploring food to nourish, fuel, and help me recover. One thing I’ve learned along the way is just how important rest and recovery truly are (hello, injuries…). HOLY CACAO, especially the Calm Blend, has become a huge part of that for me.

My sister introduced me to it about three months ago (and if she tells me I have to try something, I’m obviously going to). I started with the Calm Blend, and it’s been part of my evenings ever since. I like to blend it with a little oat milk and a drizzle of honey.

It’s creamy, chocolatey, and genuinely the best way to wind down after a run. I’ll throw on my cosy PJs, do my skincare, and sip it slowly before bed. It’s my signal that the day’s done - and that indulgent, chocolatey flavour feels like a reward after a long run. It’s funny, I used to think recovery meant protein shakes and ice baths, but now it’s this small, grounding ritual that makes me feel looked after. My sleep’s deeper, my body feels calmer, and I wake up ready to go again (and again, and again).

Fast forward to now, it’s been a few weeks since Cheltenham and… I smashed it! Not only did I beat my half marathon PB, I also broke my 10k record, and enjoyed every single moment of it.

Running taught me discipline, but HOLY CACAO taught me how to slow down. And somewhere between the two, I’ve found balance.