Spencer Matthews completed The Big Half in London on Sunday, setting a new personal best in the half marathon. This achievement comes just five days after his wife, Vogue Williams, gave birth to their fourth child, a son, and on the heels of their eldest son Theodore's eighth birthday celebration on Saturday.
Matthews, 38, finished the race with an official chip time of 1 hour, 23 minutes, and 5 seconds, averaging a pace of 3:54 per kilometer. He noted this was his first time racing a half marathon and achieved personal bests in the 15km, 10-mile, and 20km distances as well. He described the run as tough but rewarding and part of his preparation for the upcoming Berlin and Valencia marathons, with a goal of achieving a 2:45:00 marathon time.
"Running completely changed my life," Matthews said in an interview following the race. "It gives me something outside of work and family to strive towards and chip away at. I think for me, who spent a lot of their adult life like a little bit lost and without purpose, it's really helpful to me to have this kind of structure in my life. And there's nothing more satisfying than feeling proud of yourself."
Williams had announced the birth of their baby boy on Instagram on Tuesday, stating the house was "bursting with excitement, love and happiness." The couple had initially planned to name their son Elvis, but Williams revealed on her podcast that they had changed their minds at the last minute due to concerns about the name's impact. The new baby's name has not yet been revealed. Williams did not appear to attend The Big Half, having been occupied with Theodore's birthday festivities.
Matthews shared his race achievement on Instagram, posting a photo with his medal and detailing his performance. He wrote, "Today was supposed to be a hard session (not an all-out race) and an assessment of where we are before the Berlin and Valencia marathons."
This marks the couple's fourth child and third son. They announced they were expecting their fourth child in April via social media. Williams also shared a tribute to Theodore on Instagram for his eighth birthday, calling him "sweet, kind, football mad Theodore… the best big brother."