Finished

Wow, that was an incredible day.  I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day up until mile 21. Then I can vouch there is a wall.  The last miles were incredibly hard but I am proud to have completed the race.  I certainly got a lot of shout outs while running which does keep you going. The atmosphere in the first half is amazing and the noise from the supporters is huge. The costumes are amazing,  I was very impressed by the giraffe with a 20ft neck.  How some of them manage to complete the course in their costumes, I will never understand.

Here are some photographs that Diane took.

Beforehand, I seem to have something from Star Trek on my chest.

Before the start, inside the runners' assembly area (no idea who the two guys are!).

At the start, men being men.

Skiers and Rhinos in Kilts.

Discarded clothing at the start, used to keep warm while waiting for the start.

One of the many bands playing on the route, I passed jazz, morris, rock, disco, drummers, brass and many others on the way.  There were even guys standing at the door playing trumpets.

Crowds on the way.

The very important job of handing out the water.

Tower Bridge (of course)

and Diane trying to be artistic.

The supporters were there all the way around. Wonderful support.

This guy (with the baby) got into our tube on the way there,

so Diane was keeping an eye out for him.

Me at mile 23.  I saw Diane earlier but because the crowds and runners were so big she did not see me in time to get the camera out. She said I was looking good then but we only had time for "high-fives" as I passed. At this point, I was thinking only of getting to the finish and I had no idea that Diane ran alongside to get the photographs.

There are showers for the runners to pass through but I do not think this one helped me.

Very hard now.

 

Exhausted at the end, I wanted Diane to take me home in the trolley.

Get Kids Going - reasons why

Some pictures of the beneficiaries of the fund raising, a reminder of why it is a good thing to do.

Those racing wheel chairs do look something high-tech.

david_weir_athens_paralympics.pdf

jordanne_-_whiley_tennis.pdf

Lord_Coe_with_Steven_holt.pdf

LOUISE_HUNT_JUNIOR_LONDON_MARATHON_WHEELCHAIR_RACE_WINNER.pdf

SHELLY_WOODS_WHEELCHAIR_RACER.pdf

Keep up the support.


David

Last week

Only one week to go,  this week is all about rest and at the end of the week - loading up on carbs.  All the training is behind me now, so it is too late to wish that you had done more, just got to trust what I have done.

I am going down to London on Friday to collect my number(39291). You have to do it in person and take your passport so they really stop fraudalent entries.  Last year there were 46000 entries accepted and 36,500 number passed out.  But only 36,000 started and in the race only 400 dropped out. So they say, if you make it to the start line then the odds are you well get round.  It makes you wonder what happened to the 500 who collected a number but did not start.

I am asked about my expected time. When I submitted my application, I put down 4:30 but from my training, I am hopeful of a better time.  I have been training to run at a steady pace of 9 minute miles and bearing in mind congestion at the start and exhaustion at the end, that should get me around in about 4 hours.  However, my primary goal is "finish with a smile on my face" so if the pace does not work out, then stop looking at the clocks and concentrate on enjoying the day.

It also advisable to factor in the weather. Last year the average time was 4:41 and the year before, it was 4:26.  That is a considerable difference and it was down to the hotter weather so I will revise the target depending on the weather.

Thanks for all the support

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