Speirsy's Running blah: Virgin London Marathon

Setting three alarms was a good plan. iPhone battery drained overnight and my alarm's ipod did not go off. Woke up to the 3rd one so in a rush for the rest of the morning before leaving for the train from Harpenden at 6:45am. I managed to cram some porridge down my neck, but failed with everything else that I had intended. I ran to the station. Good job I had force fed myself the day before.

Lee, Darren, Viddy, Jamie, Ian, Nikki, Camilla and Sarah were there from AROs - but many more that we should have recruited into the club were also going, along with all their support. The chat and banter was good with all the runners getting on the train - only just managing to get a seat. Overall, once there the organisation was excellent and in the Good for Age pen, we did not have the struggles to get to the loo or past the start when it did start. I had crammed in a few additional energy bars, a gel and salt tab (they had passed health and safety tests as Viddy was still alive).

From the Red start, the 1st few miles were more congested than I expected but it thinned out - then we converged with the other Blue and Green start runners. The crowds were cheerful and already drinking. One kindly chap offered me a cigarette. But then the calf started to niggle, then hurt. It was hurting consistently and not getting worse (well at mile 15 it did pang a bit more.)

I took my mind off it all by counting the number of mentions and shouts of "Speirsy". The 1st one was after a few miles - and was a very loud "C'mon Spicy" - there were many other combinations after that (I got up to 30 by mile halfway just after Tower Bridge), including a loud "SSSSPPPppp" - but I didn't mind. I only minded when I ran next to Dave and everyone took the easy option.

At mile 16 I managed to overtake a man in a tutu with dyed red hair and felt guilty going past one of the disabled runners who did not have legs under the knees and had running blades. I forgot about the calf.

The next few miles are a complete blur. I recall thinking that I was going along embankment and seeing Westminster - but can't remember going past it. I remember seeing the 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m boards - but not where they were placed. Apparently close to Buck House... What I do know I was elated when I crossed the line. I had been using the trusted Garmin to gauge my pace - however it let me down this time around. I thought I had run 10 seconds faster a mile over the whole course and broken my best case target.

I waited for the other ARO runners who had struggled in the heat - as had so many others during the day. S-tabs seemed to have worked - although I didn't get to use all of them as they melted in my back pocket from the water I poured on my head and neck.

I now had the 2nd marathon of the day - to join Kate and the kids up in Norfolk for a few days rest. Replacement bus service from Cambridge to Ely. A cold day on the beach, then the sick bug that had picked off each of the rest of the family got me. Must have been run down for some reason.

So in terms of the time - a new PB at 2:51:24 coming in 521st, 100th in my class (40+ year old farts) and 10th Simon. Not as good as my Garmin time of 2:49:09 but I will be back next year as it was truly a lot of fun and an amazing event.

Thank you to everyone who sponsored me to do this - currently at £1,135 plus the tax! Still not too late if you have not at www.bmycharity.com/speirsy.