The London marathon is such a prestige event that everyone should consider taking part at least once during their life. It is definitely a "to do before I die" challenge.

Well where do I start, I would like to start by using words like, excellent, amazing, outstanding and emotional. When I started my Charity organisation "Charity Support" it was the kick start to eventually sign up for the London marathon and I am so glad that I did.

When the day comes the aches, pains and for some of us overcoming injuries is all forgotten with the thrill of it all. Arriving at your start point is amazing, you don’t know where to go first or where to look, there is so many sights to take in it gives you a brain overload.
The time then arrives when you have to line up in your zone and the excitement is unexplainable, you don’t have fear or nerves it is all pure excitement.

AND YOU’RE OFF 9 45 comes and the race starts the cheer is deafening, you start to shuffle closer to the start line its time to break into a run and through the streets of London you go. People try and explain to you about the crowd and the support but until you have experienced it for yourself their stories seem like an exaggeration but believe me they are not. You also get told not to train the full distance as the crowd will get you through the final stages, it is all true.

For 99% of the route the crowd must have been 5 deep all clapping and shouting words of encouragement, the only word I can use to describe it is awesome and it will be a part of the day I will never forget.

I finished the marathon in 4 hours 27 minutes and 9 seconds; I was training for a time of 4 hours 30 so I was very pleased to achieve my time, I have to give a massive thank you to Boris Stone for achieving my time as he worked on my injured knee for a week prior to the marathon. Unfortunately my running partner Clive Towell hit the BRICK WALL at 20 miles but still came in at an excellent time of 4 hours 41 minutes 38 seconds.

Would I do it again? The answer is 100% yes and I have registered for the 2009 FLM an hour after finishing on Sunday, further to that both Clive and I have registered and running the Amsterdam marathon on the 19th October. We raised over £3000 for our charities which are Help for Heroes, St Christopher’s Hospice and Age Concern in Weymouth.

I would like to finish by saying if you are having thoughts of doing the Marathon then just do it and sign up, the sense of achievement will be well worth it. If you receive a place please get in contact and let’s make a Team Weymouth for 2009.

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