London Marathon

Flora London Marathon
Date: 22nd April 2007
Race Type: Marathon
Disciplines: Running - lots of
Team: Steve
Location: London
www.london-marathon.co.uk

Typical - just typical. The year I enter the Flora London Marathon the weather forecast predicts the hottest 22nd April ever! 23 degrees. Fantastic!

There are three starts at the London Marathon because of the 36000 runners taking part. Blue Start, which included the Pro Men, Women and Wheelchairs was on Blackheath. Green Start, with the celebrities was at Maze Hill and Red Start - which included myself - was in Greenwich Park. After visiting my charity - the Samaritans - at the bandstand, I joined the obligatory queue for the toilets. This was my first chance to experience the excellent organisation as a Security guard frogmarched me to the next vacant cubicle! Bladder empty, my next concern was how far back from the start I would be. I was to be in starting pen 4 (out of 9) so I figured I was about halfway back. To make matters worse, my friend Jon had texted me the night before telling me he was in pen 2 (and he said he was aiming for a slower time the sneek!). To my relief, I found that if I got in early, I was only 20 yards from the gates.

Gradually, with the minutes ticking by the start pens gradually began to fill up. I discarded my £4 sweatshop from Primark (I had decided not to go for the bin liner look!) and polished off a flapjack. At 9.40am we were slowly herded out of the gates to the actual start line outside the Park.

9.45am came and we were off! My fears of walking for the first ten minutes evaporated as I passed the start line at a run. I had earlier spotted an eight minute mile pacemaker from Runners World in the pen in front and soon I had caught up and joined his group (I had grand ~~illusions~~ delusions of a 3:30 finish time which would mean eight minute miles). Running with the 8 min group was superb - no guessing what speed I was going. A nearby church set the mood perfectly by playing "Chariots of Fire"on their bells!

At allmost three miles in we did a sharp left towards Woolwich and joined the Blue starters to much booing from both sides. At the bottom of the hill, a Gospel Choir encouraged us to say "Hello to Jesus" - I thought I'd better say Hi as I might be needing all the help I could get later!

Next up was Greenwich itself and the iconic Cutty Sark. Unfortunately, there were major restoration works to it, so it was actually more like running through a building site. After this, came the first large crowds of the day - I was hoping to get a glimpse of my family at the spot we had arranged earlier. Unfortunately, I had told them the start was at 10am, so what with not being delayed and running eight minute miles with the pacer I was too early for them. Would they realise I was ahead of schedule?

I had been drinking from a bottle of water I had been holding at the start, but it was soon empty. From now on I started using the water stations (one every mile) with a few lucozades thrown in for variety. Onwards we surged forward, through Deptford and on to Surrey Keys. We turned right to navigate round the Rotherhithe Peninsula and came across the first of four showers on the route. The heat was by now making its presence known. Signs indicated that the shower was ahead, which gave us a chance to manoeuvre to the correct side of the road. The entrance was about ten feet wide, after which we were treated to ten metres of ice cold sprinklers - heaven!

I was hoping that along the next stretch - Jamaica Road - I might see a couple of workfriends. Unfortunately, I saw neither - this was becoming a habit! Before I had time to feel sorry for myself I was on one of the highlights of the course - Tower Bridge. I had a big grin on my face as I ran across (not my usual reaction when I go north of the river!). After this we were onto the Highway - the only part of the course where you could see the Pros passing on their final five miles. First, I saw some of the women Pros and wheelchairs, then some motorbikes carrying cameramen preceded the passing of the first Pro men. I was passing the half way mark while the pros were on the final few miles!

With the approach of the Isle of Dogs and mile 16, our pacemaker announced that he needed to make a quick pitstop! I was feeling the need to go myself, but failed to use the opportunity. Feeling lost without the pacemaker and dying for a wee, I was also trying to look out for my old flatmate - Mr Higgins. Despite him briefing me carefully with a google map location, I promptly missed him as well (even more distressing was the thought of the Jelly Babies I had asked him to have ready going to waste!).

By mile 17 the pacemaker had caught up with the eight minute posse, but I was now desperate for a pitstop Luckily, I found an empty cubicle at the toilet area. The next thirty seconds was one of the highlights of my life - I won't go in to details! Now empty and all alone (apart from the thousands of other runners and half a milion crowd) I was starting to wonder if it had been wise going at the pace I had been and started to give up hope of a 3:30 finish.

Mile 18 saw me scanning the crowds faces round Canary Wharf for my Family, only to be disappointed once again. By the time I reached mile 21 and the home stretch on the Highway I was having to walk at every mile drink station for twenty yards - very disappointing but the only way to force myself on to the next mile marker. The wall had hit me with a bang. This is the part of a marathon that is pure hell - the only thing keeping me running was that I didn't want to be out on the course for any longer than necessary - I just wanted it over!

Then, as I was in the darkest of moods - I heard wild screams - "STEEEEEEVEEEEE!!!". At a part of the course we hadn't arranged to meet, my fan club (Wife Claire, Sister Karen, Mother and Niece Maddie) miraculously appeared like Angels. Well - actually they sounded more like screaming wild women but they got my attention! I ran over, grabbed some kisses, muttered "I haven't been walking all the way!" and was on my way again with a smile on my face.

The final three miles passed me by ten minutes at a time - Drink, walk, run for another mile! Some of the Tunnels under the Thames bridges provided a silent contrast to the heaving crowds on the rest of the route. Finally, I reached Westminster Bridge and turned right into Bird cage walk - 600 Yards to go. I couldn't speed up, but just kept up my plodding. There would be no sprint finish for me. Some poor souls were being stretched off - so near yet so far. On the final corner I saw the welcome sight of a Samaritans banner and some Sams supporters - this gave a final surge and I was over the finish line - it was over. My time was 3 hours 48 minutes and 18 seconds.

I now joined a queue to be "processed". Timing chips removed, medal received, goodie bag, photo, kit bag collection. I decided not to stop until I reached the meet and greet area and walked on past the exhausted runners. Finally I collapsed under the "B" at Horse Guards parade and waited for my family. Five minutes later, my fanclub found me and it was emotional hugs all round.

Next up was a visit to the Samaritans "recovery" suite at the Royal Horse Guards Hotel. I received a cheer as we entered the room - I was the first Samaritans runner back! I had a quick shower and then a massage - fantastic. A sandwich and a well deserved cup of tea ended my London Marathon experience.

I'd like to say many thanks to everyone who sponsored me. I managed to raise over £2000 for a very deserving cause.

Samaritans is available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.
Charity Registration No 219432
http://www.samaritans.org.uk/

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