So I really am a marathon man!

A note to my sponsors and supporters. It has really made a big difference to feel that people have been rooting for me, and that goes for the training as well as on the day itself. Glammy and I received a torrent of emails, texts and phone calls on Sunday all wishing me luck or checking on my progress. I would like to say a special thanks to the Gibbos for meeting up with the Glamstar and cheering me home. All my sponsors deserve a big thank you. I think that once I have collected the last few unofficial pledges the amount raised for Cancer Research UK will be worth close to £100 per mile. As you may know, I have dedicated my efforts to the support of my dear friend Mole and also to the memory of Bob (my Dad) and Terry (Glammy’s Dad). The efforts of Cancer Research UK have made a real contribution to the fight against cancer and therefore touch the lives of all of us. Race report I started from Zone 6 at the red start and stuck pretty much to my plan from the outset. My first couple of miles were quicker than I had planned but I soon settled into the right pace and felt pretty comfortable up to the 3 hour mark. As you can see from the splits below my pace over the first 30 Km is pretty even at 8:32, 8:29 and 8:26 min/mile. The next 10k was less impressive at 8:57 min/mile and the final 1.92k a very shaky 9:44 min/mile. I think that I was all done at the end, I even struggled to get up the ChampionChip ramp to return my chip! The atmosphere from the runner’s point of view was just fantastic. You pass bands, sound systems, pubs and parties all packed with people, every other kid wants to slap your hand as you run past. The sound is deafening at times and always includes complete strangers yelling your name and cheering you on. It’s just like running through a gigantic street party. There is a feeling of camaraderie with the other runners, with the odd joke or mutual encouragement. All this stuff going on around me coupled with the mundane tasks of getting fluid and checking my pace at the mile markers carried me through most of the way and with 3 miles to go I was still feeling pretty good. Unfortunately those final few miles are the tough ones and I ran out of steam towards the end. There has been a lot said about the weather and how hot it was. It was hot, but it made the day for the spectators and I think I would rather have a warm April day than a cold one if you know what I mean. I may have overdone the hydration a little though; I had to stop for 2 pretty long pees on route! High spots

• Finishing.
• The Japanese drummers in the underpass.
• Seeing Glammy and the Gibbos at 25 miles.
• The Docklands Hilton Hotel and water taxi.
• The support of strangers.

Gripes

• Who exactly planned the “planned maintenance work” on the tube for Marathon day?

Future plans I suspect I have caught the marathon bug, and I am considering entering another marathon in the Autumn, probably the Felixtowe marathon in September. In the shorter term I intend to have a couple of weeks rest and then resume running a gentle 20 miles a week to maintain my aerobic base until I start a formal training program again. I would like to think that starting from a firmer base I can find the missing 6 min from that last 12k and achieve a sub 3:40 marathon next time.

Sponsorship Update

Nick digs deep for a good cause. Thank you mate, keep on soaring! Lucy thanks for keeping the total rising.