The Virgin London Marathon

This year’s marathon was different for me. In previous years it was something I watched on TV in bed with a cup of tea to ease into a lazy Sunday morning. Last year I broke from tradition and went along with my girlfriend to offer some much needed moral support for a friend who was running. As we watched the thousands of runners streaming by with a beer in one hand and a burger in the other I had a crazy thought – why not enter for the Virgin 2010 London Marathon? Just over 1 year later I can proudly say I was one of the 36,000 slightly sadistic runners who lined up to cover the 26.2 mile course around London. 4hrs and 20mins later I had achieved what was once a distant dream and joined that elite club of people who have successfully completed a marathon.

What an amazing experience. The first 13 miles flew by. The crowd seemed to be constantly shouting out my name (printed on my vest!) and I must have given hundreds of young kids standing on the roadside with their hands out high fives…

I was buzzing. I was going well up until mile 22 and on course to go sub 4hrs (my target) Unfortunately at this point the wheels fell off and I had to get some treatment from St Johns Ambulance for my legs which at that stage felt more like blocks of lead…

After a few miles of intermittently running and walking I saw some friends along the embankment who gave me a hug and a pep talk at which point I found a new lease of life and was able to run the last 2 and ½ miles in. A final shout of encouragement from my brother at Westminster Bridge and the right hand turn onto Birdcage Walk and I had the sudden realisation that I was going to make it (something that I had doubts about 5 miles previously)

It was a strange mix of euphoria and pain running the last 800 metres. The crowds were electric not only here but all around the course and I can safely say that without the constant shouts of encouragement I would never have made it. Like many of the other 36,000 runners I was running for a charity (for the Elimination of Leukaemia Fund, in memory of my grandpa who died of leukaemia) and it is this central cause that generates a sense of amazing camaraderie that unites all the runners.

Will I be entering London 2011? No
Will this be my one and only marathon? I doubt it…

In fact only yesterday I entered the Bristol half marathon in September. It is official…I have caught the running bug!