Greenwich Park 8:30am and there were
already hundreds of runners preparing for the run. The park hosts the three separate start
points. The red and the green starts initially
take slightly different routes, then merge after 3-miles. The blue start merges with the green route
after 800 metres. I was allocated the red
start and then pen five, based on my expected finish time. I managed to get into the pen early (too
early perhaps?) and was third row from the front. I still had 45 minutes until the start. The
atmosphere was alive with nervous energy.
The 30 seconds silence in memory of those who died or were injured at
the Boston marathon was perfectly observed and pretty emotional. The tapes between the pens were removed and
the runners shuffled forward towards the line.
The race started at 10am and after a slight
delay we began to walk. I crossed the start
line after 5 minutes still walking. At 200
metres into the race there were many runners who appeared keen to ensure the gorse
on Greenwich Common was well doused (possibly to reduce the chance of heathland
fires?) and I happily joined them.
I didn’t really know what to expect, having
never run a marathon or been part of such a massive event. Given my training I was confident that I
could run 4:15-4:30. Maysty ran the race
a few years ago and finished a few seconds over 4 hours and I secretly wanted beat
that time and go sub 4-hours, so I went for it.
I set off well under sub-9 minute mile pace. My plan was to keep going at this pace for as
long as I could, get away from slower runners, to latch onto the 4 hour pace
makers when they caught me and to then stay with them to the finish.
The plan worked. For the first 18 miles. Then it fell apart. I should perhaps have slowed my pace when it
took quite a while for the 3:45 pace maker to pass me! Between 18 and 20 miles was very tough. My thighs were very painful. No gradual change, they just started to hurt. A lot.
My pace dropped considerably and I lost interest in my finish time and
was more concerned about completing the run. I carried my own sports drink from the start
of the race and had taken a sip at each mile marker, but I had had enough Lucozade
Sport by mile 20 and decided to stop for water.
There are water stations after each mile marker. I drank water while I walked and then tried
to get back into my stride. I did this at
every mile marker until mile 25. I also took
a gel at mile 20 and 22.
Spectators lined the whole course, but
coming out of Docklands the crowd was unbelievable. Running along Embankment and the crowd was
even larger and even louder. Incredible.
I didn’t stop from mile 25. I turned the final corner and the finish was
a blur. Over the line, walk over a ramp,
timing chip cut off, medal around my neck, goodie bag presented, my bag handed
to me as I arrived at the baggage re-claim (very impressive), then to the
meeting area. This was like an out of
body experience.
I’ll be honest. I wasn’t feeling 100% at this time. I was having difficulty walking, I was
light-headed and my stomach was churning.
I sat down at the pre-determined meeting point and waited for friends
and family to arrive. I shut my eyes and
concentrated on not being sick. I won’t
give you the detail, but that plan fell apart too. Maysty and Fiona and her family arrived,
followed by Melanie and my children and then Alok and Ian. 
I began to feel better and it was only then
that the post-race euphoria kicked in. I had finished the run in 4:16, having burned
almost 4,000 calories. Just 14,381
runners finished ahead of me and another 19,788 finished behind me.
This event is mind-blowing. The size and scale is unbelievable. The crowd amazing, the atmosphere electric. There are so many highlights, but the noise
from drum band as I ran into an underpass at 5-6 miles (the first big live
music event) was amazing and running over Tower Bridge was a truly unforgettable
experience.
If you get the chance, then do it. But it is very, very tough.
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