It's all over. Running with my good friend Phil Cutts we finished the 26.2 miles in 4 Hours and 6 minutes. I was placed 13078th. It is a strange sort of sporting event where you feel really chuffed to end up in the thousands, but with something like 37,000 runners I'm pretty happy with it.
We started next to the ballet dancer above, were soon overtaken early on by a banana, but caught him up later in the run. We also saw off a Shrek, Jade Goody,the Flowerpot men, a cricket team running in pads and carrying bats amongst others!
The runners who get into these costumes are incredible and make the event very special. As do the pubs you pass in the East End where you can see a whole balcony of customers dressed up as the Knights of the Round Table. The non-stop cheers and music and spotting your family and friends in the masses are fantastic moments as are the unexpected such as the dockland church playing the theme of Chariots of Fire on the church bells.
As you know I have been raising money for The Shooting Star Children's Hospice and I am so grateful to everyone who has donated so generously, you have all been brilliant. Also all the texts and calls wishing me luck were hugely appreciated.
When you stagger across the finishing line and stop you feel a bit like an old arthritic dog, not quite sure how to move again and then when they plonk a medal round your neck, it weighs a ton,but very worthwhile. In running you apparently lose about 2-3 kilos and 3 cms in height. I quickly remedied the former with chocolate and Fuller's London Pride...but my trousers are still dragging a bit!
By the way thanks to everyone who came to the 10th March Music Night at the Turks Head, it was great fun and raised £2000. We might try and make it an annual event.
Also huge thanks to Jane who has continued to live with her "marathon-bore" husband and has been a great support, as have Lauren and Matthew all the way through.
Finally, I should mention Phil Cutts who prompted us to do the Marathon in the first place and has been a great running pal....not forgetting Bailey whose furry black bum we have followed for miles over the last 6 months!
That's enough from me!
Toby
