This year the numbers all added up for Masuma Ahmed. The self-confessed ‘numbers geek’ from Ealing knew now was the right time to run her first marathon.
“I was keen to be in the class of ’24 and take part in the London Marathon this year. I will be 42 and looking forward to run the 42km course in the hope of finding the answer to the ultimate question to life, the universe and everything!”
As you may have guessed Masuma is a fan of Douglas Adams’ book ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’, and as she says: “If you know, you know.” She will certainly see some familiar sights whilst running through the capital on April 21, as she works as a civil servant in the heart of Westminster.
As well as regular solo training runs she has also completed several half-marathons. “The Kew half-marathon is my personal favourite as it means the family can have a day out.”
Masuma is getting plenty of support from her husband Mostaque as well as daughter Shuborna, 15 and son Firoze, 9. “I also have a dear friend who has had MS for more than 20 years and have promised her that Iif I were ever to run a full marathon it would be in aid of the Herts MS Therapy Centre.”
As well as running, Masuma loves tennis. “I don’t play but when Wimbledon comes around I’m hooked. I particularly like the Tunisian player Ons Jabuer who I was fortunate enough to watch in the ladies’ singles final in 2022, when she lost to Elena Rybakina.”
A lot of Masuma’s free time is spent travelling, socialising and reading. “At the moment I’m reading mostly non-fiction and highly recommend Minouche Shafik’s ‘What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract for a Better Society.’