And even more

Big Jay running passed Big Ben
It's almost over.

More Photos...

No mum you can't have it for your jewelry collection.

 Marathon support: Thanks to Joy and Erin.

Thanks also goes to 'Team J' who spurred me on during the last few painful miles.

London Marathon photos

Before: Leaving at 6:30am

After: Around 4pm

With David - who limped through training but got a heroic time, and Snowy, Daly Thompson's trainer.  

Through the square window:  With fellow Barnardo's runners Floella Benjamin (TV presenter) and mate from work, David Bassom. 

I did it.

The Flora London Marathon - April 13th 2008

Marathon day starts at 4:30am. I put my alarm clock on for 5:45 but my body just wants to be up.  I put the coffee and computer on and try to get into the mood.  Unfortunately my body wanted me to be up but my wife didn't.  She coaxed me back for an hour or so and I drifted into a dream land.

After breakfast and putting my running togs on I was ready to leave.  I'd packed everything I needed in my bag the night before - runner's number, pins, sun cream, Ipod and vaseline. Me being me, had to have a 'Flippin' eck where's my... moment'.  Where is my Oyster Card?  A few minutes later, after waking Erin up twice, it's found.  And I leave with my marathon kit bag and number on it.

At the tube station it's like a monday morning. But instead of black suits and leather bags it's tracksuits and kitsbags.  The nearer to London Bridge we go the more tracksuits fill the train.  At London Bridge the escalators are lined with fit looking people in a trance.

I leave the train at Greenwich and proceed to the Red Area to meet with my mate David.  We were supposed to meet at Maize Hill but after several texts and phone calls we find each other in the Red Zone. 

Off to the loo to get rid of all the water we took in the day before.

After the pit stop we walk around looking for other Barnardo's runners and take in some more water. 

We are quickly back queuing for the toilets.

After that - the last before we start to run - we take in the sights, seeing several Wonderwomen, a rather large Minnie Mouse, an impressive Bananaman, A samaritans phone and a few thousand runners of all shapes and sizes in various state of stretch. 

We then strip off down to our running gear, put our kitbags on the bag trucks. Ready for the start?  Well, one more loo stop won't hurt.

3rd time lucky and we are off to the start - pen 8 - the one next to all the Scooby Doos.

The starting pistol goes.  Apparently, anyway. But we are too far back to hear.

Mile 1: The walking pace picks up after leaving Greenwich Park.  100 meters to the start and we are  jogging.  9 mins after the official start we pass the start with stop watch and Ipod now counting the seconds until the finish.  A stormtrooper, bunny girl and far too many kinky afro wigs pass us.

Mile 2: Keeping an eye on my pace with my Ipod and see I'm going a bit too fast.  See a few boys standing by a field, as only boys can, and join them leaving David to go ahead. 

Mile 3: Meet up with two Welsh boys and get passed by a cornish pasty.  Slow down a bit only to get stuck behind a man running in a Mara-thong. Not pretty and it's time to get quicker

Mile 4: Meet up with David again.  He looks like he's done 26 miles already.

Mile 5: Enjoying the drums under a motorway tunnel. But where's David gone?

Mile 6:  Pass a pub banging out YMCA. This was banned at our wedding but seeing all the runners doing the actions is a sight to behold and ultimately very contagious. Passed David and the stormtrooper.

Mile 7:  Toilet break - the other end this time - you don't need to know details but need to eradicate any possibilities of all systems go around mile 23. Meet up with David but he ran on as I queued for 8 minutes. 

Mile 8:  Wondering if I am in Bermondsey where Erin and my mum and dad are waiting for me.  Walk at the mile marker for the first time, which I do until mile 20.

Mile 9:  Take an orange Jelly Baby off a small child. She was offering, honest.  It's the best thing I've eaten in 3 years.  I savour every mouth watering chew.

Mile 10:  Where's Bermondsey?  I'm feeling a few niggles now.

Mile 11: Bermondsey.  See Erin and Samina - Erin's colleague who surprised me by coming out and the image of her smile stayed with me for a while.  Give her a kiss  - Erin not Samina - then look for mum and dad to no avail. Have another Jelly baby.

Mile 12: Running over Tower Bridge to the soundtrack of Live Forever is a feeling I will never forget.  Shout Oggi, Oggi, Oggi to an amazing response but can only muster the first line. I'm beginning to realise that it's a long way until the finish.  See Kate from work. Feel perked up for the half way point.

Mile 13.  Halfway at 2:20.  The 4:30 target is definitely out of reach. Catch up with David and ask him to stick with me.  He says 'You go on without me'.  I head on.

Mile 14:  Seeing the elite runners come back at the other side on their mile 21 looking tired but very fast is not encouraging.

Mile 15:  See St Johns Ambulance people telling runners to step aside 'Move over, Broken leg'.  What do I do? Take a big old stare and the image of a man's leg ripped 60  degrees off it's joint with a gaping crevasse where his knee should be doesn't leave me until my next Jelly Baby.

Mile 16. See Erin and my parents.  Get a good feeling after being down for about a mile. See Catherine from Barnardo's on the charity stand and whoop a massive 'come on'.  Shouldn't have. Have to walk for a while a minute later. Getting sick of Jelly Babies.

Mile 17: Forgot I'd seen my mum and dad.  And start looking for them.  

If I never see another Jelly Baby in my life again it will be too soon.

Mile 18:  It's now hurting.  No wall, but feel that the pavement has turned into mud; Thick, concrete-like mud. The type of stuff you could build walls with. 

Mile 19:  Don't remember a thing except looking for my mum and dad.

Mile 20 - 23: See Jude who's a Barnardo's fundraiser and run with her for what could be the worst 3 miles of the run. She looks fresh and has an good gait, chatting with spectators as they wish her luck.  Her enthusiasm keeps me going. Thanks Jude. 

Mile 24:  I know some of my best mates are nearby to cheer me on and take a minute or so to walk and feel fresh for seeing them.  Jude keeps on going.  

See my mates, Simon, Sarah and then Tim, and go a bit hysterical giving high fives as I pass them.  See the Barnardo's cheering station and instinctively throw my bottle of water over them.  Instantly regret it, and worry about them all the way to Buckingham Palace. 

Mile 25: Pass Jude.  Morally, feel that I should stick with her but can't stop the speed - although not that speedy - I'm currently doing.  

I hear a supporter shout 'come on Scooby'.  Turn round to the fella next to me and tell him we're going to get beaten by Scooby Doo.  He swears at me and we up our pace.  

On bird cage Walk and I don't know where the finish is.  I want to get faster but know there are only fumes left in the tank.  Turn the corner, see the finish, pass a few runners and breath a sigh of relief as I stop my watch on 4:45.  

Finish: Cross the line and seize up.  I see Scooby. Get the heaviest medal in the world placed over me.  Pick up kit bag.  And realise I have no idea where I am and set off to go to the Barnardo's party.

30 mins later: Find Barnardo's marathon party which is 2 minutes away from the finish.  Apologise to my parents for not seeing them.  They tell me I waved to them.  The memory starts to come back.  

It only sinks in that I finished a marathon while walking up steps to Trafalgar Square. Wow it hurts.

The London Marathon

I finished in 4:45.  More later...

The day before

Erin's currently fixing everything in the house that is broken while singing to motivate me for tomorrow and making up the best words ever to the tune of Karma Kameleon.

Me, on the other hand. Sorry, I, on the other hand, have been sitting in silence filling up my belly with pasta and Ipod with uplifting tunes.  I thought it was going to be fun but I just keep thinking if Cake's The Distance track is the one to get me through the Isle of Dogs, if Eels can get me to the Embankment or if by listening to From Paris To Berlin (purely for medicinal purposes) I'll miss the people who be turning out to cheer for me.

It has been a dilemma 'to Ipod or not to Ipod' and I hope not to switch it on at all to listen to really, and just used it to gauge my pace.  But I know I'll need it at some stage. 

They say don't do anything different to your earlier runs on the day.  This is mainly about diet and pace.  And if you haven't eaten three bananas before you go on your long Sunday run then don't do it for the marathon.  But I've been listening to my mate's music on long runs which consists of Manu Chao, Jens Lekman and Kate Nash.  All of which I like but haven't added to the big day's running track list.

Actually, having just put tunes on, I'm now going away from the computer, not going to think about what is on my Ipod until tomorrow and enjoy the shuffle surprise as my body surprises me by what it can tolerate when running for possibly 5 hours.  I hope.

Can anyone guess what I'm having for dinner tonight?

Weather update number 3

Check the BBC marathon weather update if you're going to watch it.  If not enjoy the warm, dry, comfort of your home knowing there are going to be showers welcomed by runners and dreaded by the spectators.