Below is my original report, posted on the Adventure Fundraising website.
The atmosphere at the runners start area was
very friendly, with people chatting to each other whilst getting ready and
loading their kit bags onto the trucks, to be transported to the finish area. I
have to say that the logistical organisation of the whole event was second to
none.
After
suffering from a bout of the 'Man Flu' and missing most of the last two weeks of
my training I thought that I would be running much slower than I had intended
and therefore decided to put myself further back in the start line, than my
allocated position according to my predicted time of 3hrs 30mins. This proved to
be a big mistake as once across the start line it took a long time and several
miles for the thousands of runners, who were running shoulder to shoulder, to
thin out enough for me to be able to pass people and work my way up through the
crowds. Eventually though gaps did appear and it was possible to start striding
out and make good progress.
Once I was
underway and running well I calculated that I should be able to do a 3:45 or
even a 3:40 if all went well. The atmosphere was fantastic with thousands of
people cheering the runners on and bands playing on virtualy every corner. Kids
were everywhere wanting to 'high five' with the runners as they went by. With
water stations placed every few miles I was able to take on board plenty of
water, which was essential in the heat. By about mile 6 I was already seeing
people lying at the sides of the road in difficulty and the numbers increased,
further into the route. Quite a few appeared to be in a bad way and were being
tended to by medics.
By
mile 7 I was feeling quite hungry, and passing various fast food outlets I was
tempted to peel off for a quick bite to eat! However, I had the Lucozade Sport
drinks stations to look forward to and my usual supply of sweets, in my bumbag,
to provide me with sustanance. Whoopee!!
I
felt I was running well now and enjoying the whole carnival atmosphere and the
miles just dissapeared without me realising it. At mile 15, around Canary Wharf,
the roads seemed to narrow causing the pace to drop again due to the congestion
of runners. By mile 18, and approaching the heart of the cities financial
district, my legs were staring to feel it a little. However, my spirits where
high and you couldn't help but be carried along by the crowd and the fantastic
atmosphere. At this stage I calculated that I was on for a 3hr:45min finish
which I would have been happy with considering having been unwell and the level
of training I'd done.
The
20 mile mark was a significant milestone as I was now counting down the miles
instead of up. After mile 23 I would now be running in completely new
terroritory as 21 miles was the furthest road miles I had done during training.
Entering Blackfriars Tunnel was a short welcome relief from the baking sun and
once out on the other side there would only be roughly a couple of miles to go
to the finish.
My
pace seemed to drop off considerably at around 24 miles and I had to have a word
with myself to keep moving at a running pace and not a jog. Just before the 25
mile marker I heard my son Lewis shouting out from the crowd. I spotted him at
Embankment with Pam and Lucy, all out to cheer both myself and the other runners
on.
With
a mile to go I realised that I wasn't even going to make the 3hr 50min mark. I
don't know what had happened in those last few miles but I must have slowed the
pace quite a bit. After passing through Parliment Square and running alongside
St James' Park, with only 800 metres to go, I passed a man who could barely
stand up. He had lost all control of his legs and fell to the ground in a heap.
I still feel guilty about running by and not helping him but there were plenty
of medics around who would be able to offer him assisstance. I hope he is ok and
hopefully he was still able to cross the finish line and receive his medal. It
must be heart renching for anyone not to be able to complete the marathon but to
make it that far and falter, so close to the finish, must be heart breaking,
after all those months of training.
With
only 400 metres to go it was time to put a bit of a spurt on. At the end of St
James's Park the route turns right passing Buckingham Palace and then turns into
the Mall for the final 200 metres to the finish line. I sprinted this final
200metres (well as best you can after 26.2 miles) to finish in some sort of
respectable fashion, crossing the finish line in 3hours 51 minutes and 41
seconds.
Although
very disapointed with my time I had fully enjoyed the event and was happy that
I'd ran in memory of my friend Ray Glazer and was able to raise money for two
very worthy charities - MacMillan Cancer Support and Alzheimer's Society.
Now that a few days have passed and I've had
time to reflect I suppose, as others have told me, that I shouldn't be too
dissapointed with my time. After all I never originally set out to run a certain
time. I ran the London Marathon because it was always something I'd wanted to
do. Being a fellrunner, I only intended to run it the once and therefore wanted
to enjoy the whole event whilst raising money for charity. Because I was running
for charity I'd deliberalty conducted my training carefully and with caution so
as not to get injured and ensure I made it to the start line. Coupled with not
being to well and missing alot of my training, over the last two weeks, and
starting too far back in the line-up, I suppose I can't complain.
However, I know I can run a much faster time,
and as I told myself, within the first couple of miles, I will be running
another to try to get a better time.
Two days after the marathon I was back out
running on the hills and already formulating plans for my next fundraising
adventure.
Thanks to all the people who sent messages of
support and to those who donated to MacMillan Cancer Support and the Alzheimer's
Society. Your donations will help to make a difference to peoples lives.
Chris M
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