The London Marathon

26.2 miles in 4:10:16

Victory! I have joined the 1% of the population that has run the London Marathon! The experience is overwhelming and I think I need a couple of days to reflect before I can tell you exactly how it felt but, while it is still fresh in my head, let me tell you about the day.

The journey to the start
I was up at 5.45am and straight into the shower. Had some breakfast – big bowl of cereal, toast with jam and a banana – and headed down to the tube just before 7am. Was surprised – and slightly worried – to find Caledonian Road tube station closed. Unhelpful chap in the station told me that the first train didn’t go through until 7.15am and that I should get a bus to KingsX. Unbelievable.

What followed was a nightmare journey of the kind you really don’t need on the morning of an event like this, involving a bus, the Victoria Line and the Northern Line, plus a comedy moment in between where everyone was lost in the underground system and I had to lead us all to safety.

Finally, and extremely miffed with London Underground, I made it to Charring Cross. I missed both of the trains I was planning to get and had a nervous 15 minute wait for the next one. Chatted to a chap doing his 5th marathon which calmed me down a little. Did rather well in the scrum for the train when it arrived and bagged a seat. Noticed, not for the first time that it was hot, and getting hotter! The predicted scorcher was in full swing.

Made it to Greenwich around 8:15, hot, bothered and a lot later than I had thought. Realised there was little chance of meeting up with Mum and Dad, so I trapsed up the hill to the Red Start along with everyone else and went in to the start area. Felt good to be among the runners and could finally start to think about the race ahead.

I handed in my kit bag, went to the loo (twice), scored some Lucozade Sport (the first of many) and some water, and chatted to the Shelter crowd. Did a brief warm and some stretches. Before I knew it, it was 9:30 and I was heading to the starting pen. Got a good position at the front and chatted to another Shelter runner, who had come down from Swansea for the weekend. There was less jostling for position than I had imagined. We seemed to be quite close to the gates which exit onto the start line, which was good, and thankfully were shaded by the avenue of trees.

The atmosphere in the pen was electric! The guy on the PA was getting us all to clap and cheer each other. When 9:45 came around and the starter fired his gun we slowly swayed forward, out of the gates and into the sun. I saw the start line ahead of me and realised for the first time that this was the moment I had been training for these past 6 months. The race was on!

The first few miles
Almost as soon as I crossed the start line I heard someone shout my name and looked over to see Caroline and Jen waving a “Go JD!” banner. I was so surprised to see them all I managed to do was punch my fists in the air before I was swept along by the crowd. It was very hot out in the sun and I was determined not to go off too fast. I made myself run slowly and completed the first mile in about 10 minutes.

Not long after, I needed the loo again, so I dodged in a handy portaloo before things got too crowded. I lost a couple of minutes there, but I figured it would be better to get it over with and feel comfortable rather than put it off. By mile 2, I was 4 minutes behind schedule.

Kept things slow down through Woolwich. There was decent support, but the route was very crowded so you had to watch where you were going. People were shouting “Oggy Oggy Oggy – Oi Oi Oi” which seemed like fun, but probably not a great use of energy. I sought out the shade where I could and soaked up the atmosphere. Bizarrely, there were a couple of priests throwing holy water over people as they ran past and “high fiving” the runners nearest the side. I also saw a few people trying to high five some children, who took their hands away at the last minute. Suckers.

Just before mile 3, we merged with the Green and Blue starts and there was some healthy jeering and booing as we ran along side each other! Highly amusing!! I high fived a few kids just for good measure.

Greenwich to Tower Bridge
On into Charlton, towards Greenwich. There was plenty of support still and we went past our first water station, which was good. I made sure I drank at every one – even if I took just a few sips and then threw the bottle away. The temperature was soaring and I knew it would be important later. We also had our first Lucozade Sport station and I took on a fresh pouch of lovely orange gunk. A real treat!

It was very difficult to navigate through the crowd. After a deliberately slow first 3 miles, I wanted to pick up the pace a little, but it was almost impossible to get around people to do so. Incredibly, there were already people walking. I simply couldn’t believe it – we had only been going half an hour! It was actually very annoying. There was very little space, and when people walked it held everyone up. Resisted temptation to smack them around the back of the head with my Vittell bottle.
As we came into Greenwich the crowds got much thicker and we all waved to the BBC cameras just before the Cutty Sark (which, sadly, is boarded up this year for restoration work). On the other side of the Cutty Sark, I saw Mum and Dad – almost completely by chance – and gave them a massive cheer (see photo above)! Gave me a real boost and pushed me on through miles 7 and 8. Not long afterwards I saw Andrew and Chloe somewhere around Surrey Quays/Canada Water and high fived Andrew as well. He’s a big kid after all.

The heat was intense again and I remember finding the next section tough after the buzz of Greenwich. I needed the loo again, but didn’t want to lose any more time, so pressed on through Rotherhithe and into Bermondsey. The support here was incredible – people everywhere calling your name and urging you on. Pubs where playing music, people were singing and waving banners. There wasn’t time to think about the heat – the crowd took your attention. I began to feel a little emotional – seeing such good will on such a large scale is rare, and when I looked around at the other runners, many people wore vests with the pictures of loved ones who had died from diseases they were now raising money for. It was truly inspirational.

Before I knew it, we were rounding a corner and facing onto Tower Bridge. The support here was amazing! The noise of the crowd and the bands picked me up and carried me across the bridge. I was running down the left hand side, trying to keep a smile fixed on my face as I had no idea where the race camera was, when I looked up and saw Colin Jackson in front of me. He shouted out “I’m going to talk to the Shelter runner” and the next thing I new I was being interviewed for the BBC. It went something like this.

Colin Jackson: So, how are you feeling?

JD: Yeah, I’m feeling great, just great, totally amazing, it’s going really well, great in fact.

Colin Jackson: And how do you feel about the next half of the race?

JD: Well, there’s a really big Shelter crowd up ahead and I’m looking forward to seeing them and, yeah, it’s all just been great.

Colin Jackson: Ok, have a good run!

JD: Cheers mate!

Basically, I sounded like a total idiot and they’ll never have used it, but it was great fun to be interviewed and will remain one of the highlights of my day!

Half way and the Isle of Dogs
Felt exhilarated after Tower Bridge and the run down past mile 13 was good. It was steadily downhill and took me past one of the big Shelter cheering points, which went absolutely nuts when I ran past, cheering and shouting back at them with my arms in the air! At this point, we could also see some of the elite runners coming back from the Isle of Dogs on the other side of the road – passing mile 22. It would be another hour and a half before I would be there! I shouted “Go Serpie!” at someone in a Serpentine Club vest, but he was too tired to wave.

Past mile 14 and into the Isle of Dogs. Things got very tough here. It was around noon and the sun was very, very hot. There was barely any shade and the streets were very narrow. I would say that a good 40-50% of the field was walking at this stage (I was still running, of course) and I found it very hard to weave between them all. Felt pretty sick in the heat and it was hard not to walk when everyone else was. The highs of Tower Bridge and the Shelter crowd were long behind and there was a lot of hard running still to do.

I was running around 9 minute miles by this point, but I kept missing the mile markers. The trademark balloon arches were not always hung across the road, so it was very easy to miss them in amongst all the other balloons and banners. If my watch went over 10 minutes for any mile, I assumed I missed it and hit the split button. I wasn’t so worried about keeping perfect splits as I was about keeping track of which mile I was on!

Randomly, I ran past Jane Carr from DfES who gave me a cheer! I hadn't expected to see her at all, so I got a bit excited and yelled "Jane Carr, now then!" or something equally daft.

The water stations were becoming harder and harder to navigate. Stupidly, inconsiderately and despite being told not too on many, many occasions, people ran to the front of the station to get water (cutting across the whole field) and then, more often than not, stopped for a gentle walk while they drank it – getting in the way of those people that were still running. People were also throwing water over themselves so I got wet a few times.

Thankfully, as we turned the corner at the bottom of the Isle of Dogs and headed back to Canary Wharf, there was a lot more shade and I had a chance to recuperate a little. As we reached Canary Wharf itself, the support went absolutely nuts again. There were people everywhere and the noise was amazing. I remember feeling pretty tired, but it really lifted my spirits to see everyone around us and I couldn’t even think about slowing down. Just as I went past Heron Quays, near Canary Wharf station, I saw Jenny McWalter and Jenny O’Reilly from DfES, who gave me a massive cheer! It gave me another big boost and I coasted on towards mile 19.

Turning the corner onto the South Colonnade, I saw Caroline and Jen again at the spot Caroline and I had waited for Jen during her marathon in 2002. I also saw Andrew and Chloe a few hundred yards further down the road, which meant that I left Canary Wharf on a massive high!

Poplar to Tower of London
Beyond the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, we were thrown back into the sun and the heat started to sap my strength again. I forced down more disgusting, sickly, warm Lucozade Sport and dug in for a few miles. Apart form the heat on the way down the Isle of Dogs, this was the hardest part of the course for me. I passed the 20 mile marker knowing that I had reached the limit of my training runs and was, once again, in new territory. I took some jelly babies of a kind charity supporter and stuffed them into my mouth. The sickly sweetness was disgusting, but it was tough going and I needed something to get me home.

There were a few run-through showers dotted around the course, spraying cold water - a bit like a carwash. I took advantage of them and the cold water took your breath away. It really helped cool you down and freshed up your senses.

On past mile 21 and I rejoined the road where I had seen runners coming the other way at mile 13. Looking across the road, I could see lots of runners still there, many of them walking – at only mile 13! I tried not to look too much as I didn't want to let any thoughts of walking come into my head. A lot of them were people in fancy dress – which must have been extremely difficult in those conditions. I ran past Darth Vader, Paddington Bear, a Womble or two, an old guy pushing a wheel chair, a man with a 10ft cross over his shoulder and a 6ft Yoda. A chap on the PA we were passing called out in a passable Yoda voice “13 more miles to go have you!” I didn’t look back, but I suspect he received the finger.

On on on, towards the Tower of London. I made sure I ran along the side of the road near the crowd to get their support. I was tired and it helped so much. People were shouting “go JD!”, “Come on mate, you’re doing really well!” “Well done sir, well done!” and “dig in JD, not long to go now!” I can’t tell you how much it means to hear it. I tried to wave or nod at everyone that shouted for me. It really kept me going on the hardest parts.

At the tower of London, we reached the top of a long, steady incline. There was a brass band playing something loud and funky and it lifted everyone’s spirits! The support was, once again, amazing and I started to feel comfortable – far more so than I had imagined I would feel at this point! There were a lot of people walking and people on the side of the road collapsed with exhaustion, being given oxygen and, in one case, in the recovery position. Lot’s of people stretching out sore limbs too. I kept my eyes on the crowd and enjoyed the atmosphere. Along with Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf, this was the most buzzing section of the course.

I saw my parents again somewhere around here. I was feeling very tired, but I gave them a good shout and I think they got a decent photo of me! Will post it when I have it.

As we reached the Blackwall Tunnel and descended into the mirk, I knew that I had just a couple of miles to go.

Embankment, Westminster and the Finish line
As we emerged into the light of day on the other side of the (scary) Blackwall Tunnel, I saw two things. The 24 mile marker and Big Ben for the first time. I have to admit, I lost it a little here. I could feel myself choking up. It was a very emotional experience for everywhere to see that corner just a mile or so away. As I fought back the tears, I almost started to hyperventilate. I had to calm myself down – I didn’t want to faint now!

Embankment was fun – there were crowds everywhere, albeit a little more subdued than the carnival on the course behind me. I looked out for the second Shelter cheering point as we passed Embankment station and received a final cheer to take me into Westminster.
As I turned the corner, I saw swathes of people in Parliament Square and was almost intimidated by it all. I was feeling very tired again now and desperately wanted to finish.

On the other side of Parliament Square, I saw the “Go JD!” banner again, and Caz and Jen – supporters extraordinaire – cheered me into my final half mile. Moments later I saw Beeton and Ben, and gave them a massive cheer. I was exhausted, but the markers were showing metres now, rather than miles and despite the annoying crossing points we had to move aside for, nothing could stop me.

Nearly blubbed again as I came around the corner past Buck House and saw the finish line ahead. Pulled it together enough to cheer and clap the crowd, then throw my arms in the air for the last 100m and turn on a bit of a sprint to make it look good for the cameras.
Exhausted, ecstatic and extremely emotional, I crossed the line in a little over 4 hours 10 minutes – surprising myself with the time as I though I would be quite a bit slower in the end. A guy shook my hand and I thanked him, profusely, and I walked forward to have my timing chip removed and to receive my medal. Just about managed to hold it together while the lady put my medal over my neck – “Thank you so much” I think I said, and wandered on, dazed, into the finish area.
Beyond the finish line
I had a photo taken of me with my medal and collected my kit back. I did some very quick stretches, but was keen to get out and meet up with everyone. Found carrying my kit bag and recently received goody bag very difficult as had very little energy left, but managed to find my way down to meet Caz, Jen, Mum, Dad and the others at the pre-arranged meeting point. Drank some water, posed for photos and generally felt pretty good.

Not long after, we walked to the Shelter reception on Victoria Embankment. I chatted to Jen about my race and how it compared with hers, which was really good. At the reception, I was able to get some food and a massage from a very strange lady who seemed to think I was on the verge of collapsing (I really wasn’t) and kept saying how tight my ITB was. “It’s always like that” I said, to her horror, the irony being that it’s the strongest my ITB has been in months. Zero knee problems to report – in fact, I did the whole thing without a single twinge.

Finally, my parents left to go home and Caz and Jen took me for a cheeky beer in Covent Garden. It has never tasted so good. I felt absolutely exhilarated. We agreed that after Jen ran the marathon in 2002 and I completed it in 2007, Caroline has until 2012 to sign up. Watch this space. We went our separate ways not long afterwards and I headed home, for an evening of re-hydration and rest.

It has been an amazing day! It was, officially, the hottest London Marathon ever (it got up to 23C) and the runners have never worked harder. It was everything I expected it to be and more.

This isn’t quite the end – I want to wait a few days and post at least one more entry, concluding my marathon diary, and some more photos from the day.

Thanks to everyone that has supported me over the last six months. It has really helped! Special thanks to Jen, Caroline, Stuart, Andrew, Chloe, Jenny McWalter, Jenny O’Reilly, Helen Noakes, Sally Thatcher, Jim and Brenda and, of course, Mum and Dad for turning out to support me on the day.

I wouldn’t have made it around without you guys!

2002, 2007 and 2012? Jen and Caz share a beer with me after the race