The Final Word and Tavs go to Edinburgh

I've been an avid listener to The Final Word podcast for sometime now. The podcast has brought me joy and happiness, companionship during times of loneliness and support when I've needed it from its wonderful community. The same community, which this year again, assembled in Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. It's goal, to raise as much money as possible for the Lord's Taverners. 

Please allow me to take a moment to introduce myself - my name is Simon Clarke, a first time attendee of said event, cricket nerd and a purveyor of fine podcasts. This is the third consecutive year TFW and the Lord's Taverners have come together in Edinburgh. I've listened to reports on the partnership's humble beginnings from host Adam and Geoff, where in the first year £5,000 was targeted, followed by a significant jump to £30,000 in the second year, both of which were achieved. A high bar had been set and the latter figure was what we, as the 2025 team and community, were targeting again.

Moving forward, as team steadfast in the knowledge that the funds raised would go onto enrich the lives of the young people attending Taverners programmes across the UK - enabling the charity to continue it's support to future generations. It was this knowledge that had us travelling internationally and nationally to Edinburgh by any means possible. Planes, trains and cars were all called upon, whilst collecting misplaced kit forgotten by others on the journey, and overcoming travel bookings with the wrong date in the case of the author.

It's this altruistic approach and overcome adversity that I have found most inspiring from the team during the build up to Edinburgh. From the willingness to be open and vulnerable on WhatsApp chats, sharing stories of injury woes, self doubt and apprehension, all of which as a community we were able to overcome. After attending a Wicketz session on the Edinburgh trip I now know first hand that this communal support is something at the forefront of the charities programmes.

To Edinburgh we now move; after arriving from all corners of the UK and further afield, our first item on the agenda was a drinks reception on Friday evening hosted by the Taverners and it's Scottish Chair Colin Crichton. It was an opportunity to meet, for some of us, our teammates in person for the very first time. Something I was both excited and apprehensive to do, but it turns out that the Lord's Taverners really do bring some of the best people together - including our team's shining star Haylee Fuller (listen to her story here).

We had runners in events on both days of the festival. Saturday in the 5K and 10K plus junior races, whilst Sunday was reserved for the longer distances of half and full marathon. Unless you were the aforementioned Haylee Fuller who was running in ALL of the events! The 5K, 10K, half and full marathon known as "The Haggis" was on Haylee's agenda! It's this unwavering attitude and desire to raising money for the Tavs, that is one of the many reasons you should join us next year.

You'll join a team who have made me feel so welcome, included and valued. A team where acquaintances become lifelong friends and memories to last a lifetime are made. Whether it be out on the course in one of the world's greatest cities or in the bar around the piano on Sunday night, as we come together as a team to celebrate our successes of the weekend, safe in the knowledge that we have been able to raise money for this WONDERFUL charity. Etched on the back of my Edinburgh finishers medal are the words "GREAT THINGS NEVER COME FROM COMFORT ZONES" - I'm incredibly grateful that I stepped out of mine for the Lord's Taverners and was able to be part of something great. Something that I encourage all of you to experience in 2026.

Simon