Still buzzing

The reason I haven't posted on the blog since the race is that I've been struggling with what to say.
I don't know why, it's simple really -

The whole day was brilliant. I loved it, and I still feel lifted by it now, days afterwards.

A combination of things made it very special. These included

• The excitement building on the Tube and the train taking the runners to the race start at Greenwich. People were chatting animatedly! On the Tube! Unheard-of.
• The crowds of spectators along the route. Their support gave me a huge lift. The best two banners I saw read. "I'm proud of you, Random Stranger", and "Running faster = wine sooner!"
• Running through the heart of London, the best city in the world
• The cheers from friends and family around the route
• Gritting my teeth through the last 5 miles, and maintaining my pace
• Coming in under 4 hours

Crossing the finishing line, I felt 2 things. First, a distinct physical wobble as my body adjusted to not-running after non-stop-running for nearly 4 hours. I nearly fell over! Second, I felt a huge wave of emotion from all the support I'd had, from the crowd of course, but more importantly from everyone who sponsored me so generously and offered me such encouragement over the last few weeks.

So, thank you everyone for your support. I'm truly grateful.

(And Lucy T, special thanks to you for the support and huge encouragement you've provided. You have been just brilliant!)

Job done

3 hrs 52 minutes. I'm happy with that. More later, now for a beer.

Ready to go!

Good luck, mate!

No rhinos yet, but...

And it's not raining.

Toward the start

On ma way

This tube train is full of marathon runners with their red kit bags. People are talking to each other on the Tube (unheard of), in fact the carriage is buzzing.

Excitement is building now.

Final training run

My nieces Iz and Harriet are in Chiang Mai at the moment, but took the time to post up this photo of support. Thanks guys!

I get quite emotional thinking about all the support I've had. I'm not sure how I'll be able to thank everyone. It's helped hugely toward keeping me going.

This morning I did a gentle jog for a mile around Highbury Fields, just to keep the blood moving and limber up the limbs.

No more training runs. WOO HOO!

The Final Countdown

Just 5 days to go. How do I feel about the race now?

I'm actually really looking forward to it.  The excitement is starting to build. I know that the last 6-7 miles are going to be HARD ... but the buzz from this huge event - from moving in a river of runners through the heart of this great city - should help carry me for much of the way round.  And when the grind sets in, I'm hoping encouragement from the crowd will help keep me going through the last few miles to the finish line.

Lucy T from Boost has been brilliantly supportive all the way through this. One thing she's done, which will really help on the day, was to send me a Boost running shirt with my name in big letters on the front, so that spectators can shout out encouragement to me personally. It's the first time I've run with my name on my shirt - and it should really help.

The weather forecast is for a low pressure front to come across the country at the weekend, ending the spell of sunny weather we've been having. Fine by me. Call me selfish but the last thing you want to run 26 miles in is heat. I remember spectating the London Marathon one year during a spring heatwave: at the 20 mile mark, none of the runners was enjoying the race and plenty looked to be overheating and in trouble.

So, sorry guys, the cool weather will do just fine. Throw some drizzle in too if you like.
(No wind though please!)

15 miles to Broxbourne

This morning Nick, Lee and I ran north along the Lee Navigation to Broxbourne.

Nick and Lee started their run at Limehouse Basin, but with just a fortnight until the Marathon I'm starting to taper my long running,  so I ran from home and joined them further north by Springfield Park.

It was a fine sunny spring day. With a breeze at our backs we just took it easy and enjoyed the sun and the run.

I've run 399 training miles to date.

Support from Swaziland!

That's a beautiful banner

Thanks for the support, guys!

Yesterday, out of the blue, Lucy from Boost emailed me this photo. The orphaned children who made this very fine banner are supported by All Out Africa, a not for profit organisation in Swaziland. My charity Boost gives funding to All Out which they then distribute to a few well run projects, where the sports include football, swimming, riding and ‘days of sport’.

Running a marathon can sometimes seem a bit of a pointless exercise - but not this time.

Lea valley 20 miler

Today I ran my last longer run before the Marathon.

The route took me via Stamford Hill and the Lea Valley Navigation towpath, up to the North Circular Road then south again along the Lea down to Limehouse Cut.

It was a proper spring day.

This was the tamest heron I've ever seen. Someone must have been feeding it goldfish.

Spring flowers - but still plenty of wood put by for the woodburner

I could live in a lock-keeper's house. Maybe not in London though