WTW's Caroline Barber completes the London Marathon

WTW Global Program Manager for Inclusive Recruitment, Caroline Barber, enjoys a healthy work/life balance and enjoys pursuing her passions outside work.

One such passion is running, which encouraged Caroline to train for and complete the London Marathon. Here, Caroline tells us more about the event, and how running powers her work at WTW.

Why is it important to maintain a healthy work/life balance?

"I believe that maintaining a healthy work/life balance can sometimes be easier said than done, but one thing that I find very helpful is having a good routine and sticking to it. I also try to be strict with not working at the weekends or too late in the evening, although when you really enjoy what you do, there is always the temptation to open the laptop!" says Caroline.

How would you explain your job to someone not from your field?

"I work with our regional recruitment leads to help them implement and embed the WTW Inclusion & Diversity recruitment strategy," explains Caroline.

How did you get involved with running?

"I started running about 12 years ago in order to improve my physical and mental health. When I first started I would have never imagined that I would run the London Marathon. It seemed completely impossible to me!" shares Caroline.

Tell us about the London Marathon and your preparation

"I was fortunate enough to get a charity place running for MS-UK just before Christmas last year. Having already run several half-marathons and being a regular runner, I wasn’t starting from scratch, however, I wanted to ensure that I trained in the best way possible. 16 weeks of 4 runs a week, plus regular gym sessions, Pilates and Barre classes, all stood me in good stead! Training during the hottest UK summer in many years meant lots of very early mornings to beat the heat!" says Caroline.

Were there key highs or lows in the Marathon?

"The atmosphere on the day was incredible," recalls Caroline. "And the support from the crowd throughout the entirety of the course was truly overwhelming. Running over Tower Bridge will stay with me for the rest of my life. There weren’t really any lows, I just made the most of being fortunate enough to take part in something very special indeed."

Tell us about finishing the Marathon

"Coming down the Mall and reaching the finish line was incredibly emotional and felt very surreal. After years of watching other people achieve something extraordinary, I was actually doing it. There were a lot of tears, a huge sense of achievement, and also a bit of relief that I had made it to the end!" explains Caroline.

How does your running power your work for WTW?

"For me, running gives me headspace and clarity that I don’t get from anything else. I love to run first thing in the morning, rain or shine, and that gives me a real boost for the day. I always feel really energized after a run and ready to tackle whatever the day brings," says Caroline.

"When I took a break from work prior to joining WTW, running and exercise in general was really important to me. I did have concerns that when I started back at work I wouldn’t have the time (or energy!) to continue with my regime, however the flexibility offered by WTW in terms of hybrid working has enabled me to have the best of both worlds."

Caroline shares some advice: "If you are ever given the opportunity to run the London Marathon you should definitely go for it! Just be prepared to dedicate a large part of your life to it - it was all worth it in the end! I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. However, I won’t miss the early runs on a Sunday morning, and my husband is very pleased to have his wife back!"