Welcome to my 2009 London Marathon Fundraising Page

Thank you for logging on and sponsoring me. I completed the Flora London Marathon in a time of 3hours 31 minutes and 39 secs. It was a fantastic day. People had told me about the atmostphere beforehand, but you really need to be there to appreciate it. I'ts amazing just how many people are out there cheering you on. I got to see all the family at the first CLIC Sargent cheer point at around 13 miles, this was a very welcome boost. I probably ran the first half a bit too fast to be honest. My half way split was 1hr43.01. I really struggled at about 17/18 miles, but then listened to the crowd, gritted my teeth and then picked things up again. I was running slightly slower but mainataining my pace for the next few miles. By mile 23 the 8 minute mile pacers went past me. I tried to keep up with them, but there was not enough left in my legs. Cardio wise I was fine, talking away to people, but there was nothing in the legs. The last 2 or 3 were really tough. I had to use the encouragement from everybody in the crowd to try and sustain my pace. By mile 24 I realised that sub 3.30 was not going to happen. Coming past the 385 yards to go point at Buckingham Palace was amazing. I dug deep for the last few hundred yards and that was that. I had done it. A year's training, from being a slightly overweight, unfit man and I had completed the London Marathon in a great time. I came 4387th overall, 3830th in men and 829th in the 40-44yrs male category. Given there was around 40,000 entrants, I was well chuffed.  

A big thank you again to Jackson Williams for helping me with my training. 

Finally, thank you to Jo, Evie, Betsie and Gracie who have had to put up with me going on about running, eating funny foods, waiting in on a Sunday morning while I'm out on my long run but most importantly for supporting me.

You can check my time and other stats at www.london-marathon.co.uk . Just go into 2009 Race results and then enter my first name, surname and running number (37214).

If you want to see how I am gettting on in my training please click this link (the marathon itself will be ont there from Monday night. Interestingly according to my Garmin, I actually ran about 26.5 miles, the difference of .3 miles coming from not following the exact course line on the way round):

Training Progress

CLIC Sargent are a children’s cancer charity, I chose them because not only do I have 3 children, as a child I lost a family friend (Mandy French) who was the same age as me to leukaemia when we both just 10. For more about CLIC Sargent please click their link on the left.

Thanks again for supporting me and Mandy.

Kind Regards

Ian