I did manage to complete the London Marathon on 18th April. My time was 3:10:25. My position was 1,995 (out of around 31,000).
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who sponsored me for the marathon. The total is over £10,000. I'm sure the money will be put to good use. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for details.
The weather was
not ideal. There was rain for most of the race and it was quite windy.
In spite of this, there were still big crowds along the route
Like last year, I carried a camera round the course with me and took a few shots. Hopefully,
this will give you an idea of what it is like to take part in this sort
of event. If you click on the small images on this page, a larger image
will appear.
This is the start line, about 40 minutes before start time. People are just starting to line up. There are 3 start lines, blue, green and red. This is the green start which is the smallest of the three. By start time, this area will be packed. Note that most of the runners are wearing dustbin liners to keep warm and dry.
This is a minute or so before start time.
This is the 2 mile point. At every mile, there is a balloon arch over the road and a clock. By this time, the blue start and green start have merged together. The people from the red start are running along a different road.
This is between 3 and 4 miles in Woolwich. We have merged with the people from the red start, so everyone is running together. I took this photo because I had just passed Nell McAndrew. I now can't find her on the photo, but she in in there somewhere.
This is from the same place, looking forward.
Between 6 and 7 miles, we run round the Cutty Sark at Greenwich. There are always huge crowds at this part of the course.
There are quite a few bands around the course. Here are some Scottish pipers playing on in the rain.
This is the approach to Tower Bridge at about 12 miles.
This is the half-way point. The clock indicates 1:30:05, which is about what I was intending to do.
We are now at about the 15 mile point approaching the Canary Wharf tower. It was raining quite hard now.
This is the 18 mile point. The clock is showing 2:03:20. I was still going OK at this point.
As we wind round Docklands, there are places where you pass along different sides of the same road. The people on the left are about 2 miles ahead of the people on the right.
This is about the 21 mile point. The people on the left are arount 7 miles ahead of the people on the right.
We pass under Tower Bridge at about 22 miles. There are still runners and spectators on the bridge.
Just beyond Tower Bridge is the Tower of London. There is a carpet on the cobbles to make things a bit easier. I was really struggling from here to the finish. I was being overtaken by people who I had passed earlier on.
This is the start point for the children's race. It means that we are just 2.6 miles from the finish.
We run along the Embankment passing the Millennium Wheel on the other side of the River Thames.
The 25 mile point. Just 1.2 miles to go. Big Ben is in the distance.
Looking back at the Houses of Parliament from Parliament Square.
Buckingham Palace is just before the finish.
This is the finishing line in The Mall. The clock is showing 3:10:04. It is important not to look too exhausted at the finish because official photographers take your photo as you cross the line.
This is just beyond the finish line. Relief all round.
These are some of the official photos. The first one is at Tower Bridge (12 miles), the second one is on the Embankment (24 miles) and the other 3 are at the finish.
Other finishers :
Richard Dunwoody (ex champion NH jockey)
2,811th in 3:17:51
Nell McAndrew (Model)
3,352nd in 3:22:33
Gordon Ramsay (Chef)
4,677th in 3:30:40
Michel Roux (Chef)
5,249th in 3:34:12
Sir Ranulph Fiennes (Explorer)
6,839th in 3:43:12
Adrian Moorhouse (1988 Olympic Gold Medallist for Swimming)
9,933rd in 3:55:47
Richard Herring (Comedian)
15,401st in 4:17:56
Graham Gooch (ex England Cricket Captain)
16,813rd in 4:23:35
Iain Duncan Smith (ex Conservative Party Leader)
24,387th in 4:49:36
Floella Benjamin (TV Presenter)
23,414th in 4:52:57
Graham Taylor (ex England Football Manager)
25,547th in 5:05:30
Jeffrey Archer (author, politican and convicted criminal)
28,002nd in 5:26:28
Lorraine Kelly (Breakfast TV Presenter)
30,033rd in 5:57:33
Major Charles Ingram (famous for cheating on 'Who wants to be a Millionaire')
30,439th in 6:09:43
I was raising money for St Andrew's Hospice in Grimsby (registered charity no.1011117).
St Andrew's Hospice
exists to care for patients (both adults and children) living in Lincolnshire
who have a life threatening illness. It also provides support and friendship
to those who care for them. The Hospice is funded mainly by charitable
donations.
Some information
about St Andrew's Hospice
