Dear Friends,

Pam and I got a surprise about 9am in Greenwich Park last Sunday - the weather forecast was wrong and we got drenched. However it wasn't too cold, so I didn't shiver although I was only wearing a light T-shirt and shorts!

I deliberately walked the first mile (in any case there were crowds of runners), and then started jogging. Unfortunately, nature called at about 1.5 miles and I spent 10 minutes in a queue for the loo!. I jogged on as far as the 3 mile point. By then the arch of my right foot was hurting (an old injury). I was determined to finish in Ben's memory, so I decided to go even slower and started to walk. This paid off, since the pain got no worse and in fact faded a bit later on. I saw Pam by the 6-mile banner and told her I was slow (she already knew that!). At about 2pm, 4 hours into the race, I felt more confident. Nearing 17 miles in the Isle of Dogs, I was delighted to see the cheery face of my friend Noel Scard. At that point I was about 40 minutes behind schedule! Noel was carrying a grand-daughter. She had told the neighbours about me, so I heard cries of "Come on, Frank" as I continued.

It was about then that I began to feel blisters. By the end I had three of them. Fortunately they have healed well since the event, and don't seem to be infected.

By the time I reached the 25 mile point (where Pam, Daniel and Kim were waiting), I was an hour behind schedule and Pam was worried. We had both seen and heard ambulances alongside the course, and she feared I might be one of the casualties. I saw one unfortunate man stretchered off at the finish. In fact last year one runner died (I believe) of an overdose of water!

During the walk, I had to use the conveniences 3 times, since I was drinking water and Lucozade Sport as if I was running. I must compliment the organisers on the availablility and conspicuousness of the loos! However the Lucozade Sport station at about 9 miles had run out by the time I reached it (curiously the stations farther along still had supplies).

Many times as I walked I saw Thomas the Tank Engine (carried by 4 of the 6 Fat Controllers, 2 of whom were female!). At about 25.5 miles I gathered from the shouts of the crowd that I was in danger of being overtaken by Thomas (who appeared on BBC2 that evening). That would have been too humiliating, so I started to run again, and covered the last 800 metres quite quickly, leaving Thomas behind. That was the first time that I really sweated!

I finished in an official computerised time of 7h11m07s. My watch read 7h11m10s, showing that I time myself accurately. My official half way time was 3h36m13s (my watch says 3h36m12s) indicating that I did a "negative split" and did not slow down. See www.virginlondonmarathon.com/for other results.

Afterwards, I think I was less stiff than after the Birmingham Half Marathon 2009, although of course I was faster in the Half. Although it was not hot, Pam and I both got slightly sunburnt. I have seen a report of 21deg.C in St James' Park, but that was probably the absolute maximum.

After the event, Pam, Daniel, Kim and I went to the CF reception at Champagne Charlie's, where the Cystic Fibrosis runners were treated to a free drink (I had a pint of Old Wallop) and nibbles. The CF Trust had about 100 runners in the event, including about 10 people suffering from the disease. I saw one of them on the BBC and she had had a lung transplant!

THANK YOU for reading so far (hope you're not bored!!!)...

At the time of writing (29th April), I think I have passed the £1800 mark in sponsorship, and I am hopeful that I can reach my target of £2500 (or nearly!). Generous people I hardly know keep thrusting £5 notes into my hand! Also at the time of writing, the stiffness has more or less worn off, and I am thinking about the New Forest Half Marathon in September...

Pam says that it was definitely my last Marathon, and I must stick to halves in future.

According to the Marathon website I was in 36243rd place, and quoting from the Marathon website on Sunday, "By 7pm this evening, 36,549 had crossed the finish line in The Mall".

THE PHOTO was taken by Pam at the 25 mile point on the Thames Embankment.

Lots of Love...

...Frank Doherty
Marathon Man (44 completed)
BA Cantab (1972)