London Marathon
by Iain Smailes
As I sit writing this article, feeling the after effects of another bout of over indulgence at Christmas, the experience of training for, and running in the 2002 London Marathon seems an improbable memory. The completion of the marathon is both a private challenge and a public celebration.
My training started in November 2001; the thrice-weekly 6-mile runs increased steadily to a maximum of one 15 mile and two 10 mile runs. Totteridge in many senses offers a perfect location: good quality pavements, a variety of 10 to 15 mile circuits, which included a number of hills, and regular runners who would offer an empathetic wave or word of encouragement.
On race day I joined thousands of others heading for Greenwich. I met my fellow runners at the start; we agreed that a time below 3 hours 45 minutes would be respectable, and that we would complete it together. The race was a pleasant event for the first 12 miles, though my Regimental Sergeant Major felt sufficiently energetic to leave two of us behind. The 18-mile marker was reached in relative comfort. At 21 miles I had to stop to loosen my laces; standing up and restarting proved to be the most difficult part of the whole run. Close to Westminster Bridge I ran past my two eldest daughters and some friends who had been patiently waiting for me; I quickened my pace and forced a smile and a wave; in truth my legs felt leaden. At the start of Birdcage Walk I spied a woman some 100 metres ahead of me; I was going to beat her to the finish line; it was an incentive to finish strongly. Well I did overtake her within the last 100 metres and my time of 3.42 was within the limits of respectability; my fellow runner completed in 3.43; the RSM seemed to have charged around the second half of the race, finishing in 3.06. Throughout the race huge crowds of energetic onlookers supported us; bands, barbecues and beer were in plentiful supply. Then there were the volunteers; thousands of them offering everything from water to a massage. I met numerous people from across the world; South Africans, Indians and Americans – many were experienced runners, many more were novices who were attempting to complete their one and only marathon. Most were raising money for charity; my team raised over £5,000 for a South African orphanage. Such was the experience that I entered the 2004 marathon; sadly a pulled thigh muscle 5 weeks before the race ruled out my participation.
For the participants, the London Marathon is a wonderful opportunity to experience the challenge of an endurance event. But it is not only about the runners, the spectators are a key element; their exuberance turns a physical challenge into a public celebration, where people are brought together to witness the world’s greatest race; I for one was truly uplifted and still wear my ‘Finishers’ T shirt with pride.
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