The Virgin London Marathon April 25th 2010
I have loaded up on carbs and drastically changed my diet and lifestyle,, dropped alcohol to near non existent levels and obviously stopped smoking 11 months ago, all in preparation for this day!
After 11 months in the planning, I cannot believe the day had actually arrived!
I have been relatively fit, a couple of niggles, one of which I will come on to later, but training has gone really well! It was a 10 mile entrance into which a steady progression of weekly runs up to 20 miles and then a 3 week taper. I have been running in all sorts of weather, and loved every minute of it!
I set off at 6.45 for the station and felt fantastic....40 and butterflies in my tummy!
As I approached the station I could see more and more of the marathon kit bags and knowing nods and nervous smiles from other runners, funny I thought I would recognise a few people but I didn’t, off at London bridge and then the train to Greenwich.
Very very busy, it’s a slick operation they run, marshals all over the place directing you to your designated area.
I was on the red start and in pen 5 which was a 4hr marathon area..i just had a walk around to begin with, before I started to get myself ready, had a coffee, grabbed a sport drink, went to the loo etc. Big screens all over the park showing the wheelchair race going off, police and tv choppers buzzing around above...i was starting to feel like I was in something big!
Went through my pre race routine, anti chaff cream, plasters, running belt, last few calls to relatives.
I was running with a run bag, as I needed a phone to phone ahead to my relatives so they could pace me. I would have been devastated to not see them as I ran, seeing them was going to be a big highlight! I also had some carbo gels, pain killers and spare plasters...I'd not run with a bag before, but it felt fine..hardly knew I had it!
Kit bag got dropped off in the designated area, again very slick operation; I bumped into a few more sparks runners, which was good to have a few minutes to kill a bit of time! Rain started to fall which was cold but was a lot better than the 23oC they had forecast!
I knew my cousin Carl was running in the pen behind me, so I took a slow walk past the entrance and lo and behold a group of people moved off and like an oasis Carl was standing there behind them, he was running on his own as well. We both chatted nervously then decided to get in place. The atmosphere was buzzing, absolutely electric, even with the rain!
The 1st runners were away, we surged forward and stopped, I was expecting this, then we were jogging slowly then we didn’t stop again, I was over the start line in 3 minutes I couldn’t bloody believe it I ‘m running t London marathon!
Now they said the crowds at the London marathon were the best in the world. Better than New York, Paris, Berlin etc but they were fantastic, I had my name put on my shirt as you can see from the photos and was suggested to me, and to have people acknowledge you and your achievements
Brings a huge smile to your face....
The first few miles went by I was trying to take it all in, getting use to running in a big group, looking for various signs for drinks and loos on route, I needed neither, but wanted to know what I was looking for further on.
There were spectators all over the place, balconies, walls, churches, community centres, pubs restaurants had all laid on special events for the day...this was not a race but a carnival..Brilliant.
I don’t know what the pub was called but there must of been 100 people outside dressed as pirates great effort and really funny!
Its really good to see all the kids holding their hands out to be hi fived as we run past, makes their day!
After 6/7 miles I noticed my foot hurting a bit, so I took some pain killers to nip it in the bud...Im not stopping, no way hose!
Its funny when you’re running looking around at other runners, everyone doing this for their own reasons and charities, pictures of lost love ones on their backs with messages..Very moving, very moving indeed. Then you get the fancy dress runners, there was 1 guy who I ran with for a while called Deano, dresses as a penguin, and raising money for penguin ward at Gt Ormond Street Hospital. Fantastic guy, I ran with him for 4 miles and actually used him as a marker.
It was hard to see people in the crowd, I had family at mile 9 (I was too quick and was there before them), mile 11, 14,18,22,25...that’s a lot of looking to do, people are shouting and cheering mums dads etc so that’s why I had my phone, so I could get an area to look for them at points the crowds are 6/7 deep!
I phoned ahead to my brother in law who I knew was going to be at mile 11 with his girl friend Helen, Imogen and Elliot and said look for the penguin, when you see the penguin I'm with him...and lo and behold I heard them shouting me as I went past...brilliant absolutely brilliant! I wasn’t feeling to shabby.
My time was good, I’m about on target to hit 4hrs, over Tower bridge and I wasn’t looking forward to this next leg, don’t know why, but thought I would struggle, and I did to an extent, I didn’t see dad at mile 14, that was a bit deflating, but the course doubles back at this point on the other side of the road which is mile 22..so dad could have been on that side...who knows? The elite athletes were coming back on that side, and they looked good and fast!
So now I'm running down on the isle of dogs round and back up to canary wharf, fantastic support all the way, really brilliant, the sun is coming out now and it is warning up, the noise is incredible in canary wharf between all the office blocks and then again I hear Daddy Daddy! And there shouting Imogen Elliot, Si and Helen are cheering me on, they had a plum spot, I could see them clearly...fanbloodytastic! I blew them kisses and keep on running this is mile 19, I am now entering unknown territory, my biggest run before this is 21 miles.
I felt ok, just, my right thigh was feeling tight and my left shin sore, but I necked a few more pills and onward we go! Poplar, lime house, I kind of am in a trance like state now, just running I have had enough sport drinks an gels there not working anymore only making me feel queasy and I am aware I'm dropping time, I cannot keep this pace up.
As I run along commercial road I'm aware that Dad and Jean are going to be around here, 14 and 22 on the same stretch just opposites sides of the road, so I’m looking and looking, I cannot get my phone to work as it has jammed, and quite frankly I just can’t, I go through mile 21, the just as I hot 22 on the 14 mile side of the road I hear....JONATHAN!! Shouting at me ..Just like the good old days! I turned round raised my arms for a photo gave them the thumbs up and guess what.....on I go!
Now I am at mile 23 now and I'm struggling I decide that as I go in to the tunnel at Upper Thames Street I am going to reboot the phone, the phone won’t let me and I haven’t got time to muck about! my time has slowed I feel that I won’t break 4 hrs this year, but more importantly I knew that my wife Feralyn, Maureen, Felix and Ottilie are going to be along the embankment, I hope I'm lucky enough to see them, all I can do is run.
I have this romantic image of me running along towards the Houses of Parliament, sunshine, thousands lining the route, me grinning waving bouncing along the embankment, I can’t remember any of it! I must of looked like I was having a tough time, as the spectators are really calling my name, shouting me on, willing me to finish, I am scanning the route looking and looking, I know they are going to be on my right, I hear something that makes me turn round, and I see them.....this is exactly what I need, timing shot I stop make my way over, give them all a very sweaty kiss tell them I won’t be long and away I go!
I am well chuffed I have seen everyone who has come to see me run...as I hit Parliament Square, my right leg is really stiff and I have to stop at birdcage walk for a few stretches to get rid of a cramp, I start off again with a few strides, and I could of carried on walking, however the crowd has none of it and tell me to get going, as I do a great cheer goes up! They are well proud of themselves.
As I round the corner Buckingham Palace in front of me, I read the sign 400rds to go what a site! No sprinting, just over the line in a respectable 4.14.
I am well chuffed, feeling lightheaded, a bit sick, hot, I grab my medal, a goody bag with water which I desperately need, pick up my kit bag and make my way over to the meet and greet area.
A truly memorable day for so many reasons!
Thank you for reading and giving me encouragement as I progressed, the sponsorship has gone really well, over £3000 raised...just brilliant!
I have more photos which I will post up at a later date!
I'm off to put my foot up!
Hopefully see you soon.
Jonny marathon!
