Virgin London Marathon

Well six months of training and preparation and I made it to the start line with 14 minutes to spare. My punctuality and lack of all ability to rush about has always driven Jim crazy, besides 14 mins is plenty right?!? My nerves had built to a crescendo, the fact that I'd told everyone i was going for sub 4 & encouraged friends & family to ' track Jenny ' didn't help. But I'd run PBs at 10km, Half Marathon & 20 miles in training so the signs were good.

Over 37,500 runners started and as I waited for the big off It suddenly dawned on me.... Wow, finally after 5 years of applying & being rejected here I was at the Virgin London Marathon. Thanks to my fab running club for the place. On my 40 th too.

As soon as the elite guys were introduced we were off. So many runners, dodging & weaving in & out trying to gain a few meters?

It's such a well known documented event that I won't bore you with 26.2 miles of waffle instead I'll skip to the landmarks.

Cutty Sark, fab! Six miles in & an amazingly impressive refurbished Clipper ship. Legs ok, no sign of Jim.

Tower Bridge, how cool is it to run on the centre line of one of the the most impressive bridges in the world! 13 miles legs ok, no sign of Jim?

Canary Wharf, It was at this point the spirit of the VLM really hit home. It was my 5th road marathon but nothing can ever prepare you for the crowds at Canary Wharf. I doubt they cheered the leaders any more. It's a little overwhelming. 18 miles legs not too happy but come on Jen , you're still on for sub 4. Finally I heard Jim shouting through the crowd. That really picked me up.

The Embankment, is this the longest road in the whole world? By this time the crowds were almost hysterical , I'd have given anything for a bit of p& q.
800 meters to go and all I had to do was keep it together & hope I didn't cramp I was at full speed, all engines at max & I desperately felt like I was going backwards. Where the hell is Buckingham Palace? 400 meters, what! .... I've run at least 5 miles since the 800m sign!

The finish must be one of the greatest spectacles of any city marathon but to be honest I didn't care. "Oh yes lovely that's where Her Majesty resides " so what, where's the flipping finish line. And finally, the finish 3hrs 56:39 yippeeee!

From the moment I left Blackheath under a glorious blue sky at 09:45 until I crossed the finish line in the Mall 26.2 miles later I was cheered almost every inch of the way by a simply magnificent crowd. At times they were 20 deep screaming encouragement & handing out jelly babies with Local brass bands striking up at intermittent points.

I ran my first VLM and raised £500 for Macmillans cancer support who's hospitality was truly amazing especially the hour massage!

Thank you all sooooo much for your sponsorship & thanks again to TAC for the place.

Thanks to my wonderful husband for carrying all the bags and handling the tube and generally looking after me all weekend x

Don't worry Jim, I won't tell anyone about the 'free' hug x