My 2005 London Marathon...

How was it for you? - Your inspirational stories and action shots from the 2005 Flora London Marathon

Posted: 18 April 2005

"I'll overtake her when I've finished waving to my fans" (Whippit, 2:54)

If you want to relive the 2005 Flora London Marathon, or find out what you missed, this vast collection of reader stories is for you.

They make magnificent reading. They come from supporters and runners, and the front and the back of pack, and they condense a lifetime's emotions into 26.2 miles.

Don't forget: the accounts of achievement at the back of the pack are usually at least as awesome as the stories of speed at the front. Seriously: check them out.

This index page lists the stories by time, as well as picking out highlights at the top and the bottom of the page.

Happy reading... and tell us your story in 2006!

Only got three minutes? Start here...

BEST FIRST-TIMER STORIES

PBS

MOST AGONISING RACES

GENERAL

HEART WARMING

SUB-3:00
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Page 1

Starring...
Sodahead, 2:41, Mark Irvine, 2:51, Trouty, 2:52, Whippit, 2:54, Judge Jeffery, 2:55, Nibs, 2:56, Northern Monkey, 2:56, Ace_racer", 2:57, Venom, 2:58, Dominic Legg, 2:59

Latest batch (Friday)...
Sodahead, 2:41, Judge Jeffery, 2:55

3:00 TO 4:00
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Starring...
Batfink, 3:00, Austalopithecus, 3:05, John Diffey, 3:05, Blisters, 3:06, Graham Legs in Threads, 3:08, World Champion, 3:08, John Halliwell, 3:08, Ongey, 3:09, PuddleJumper, 3:10, Running Bhoy, 3:12, Baz, 3:13, Desertman, 3:13, The Treadmill Trainer, 3:13, Barry Metcalfe, 3:13, MattyH, 3:16, Martin Swan, 3:17, Pete2, 3:17, Unicorn, 3:18, Dynamokev, 3:19, Richard Riordan, 3:22, Straycelt, 3:23, The Flying Scotsman, 3:23, Bernard Higgins, 3:23, Stevie.B, 3:26, Carle Green, 3:26, David Williamson, 3:27, Stephen Trevallion, 3:27, Dirty Den, 3:27, Wixey, 3:28, Baking Runner, 3:28, Underwear, 3:28, The Hack, 3:29, Paula S, 3:29, Kevin Collins, 3:30, Hopper, 3:32, Mark Aitken, 3:35, Charles Howard, 3:35, Snuffles, 3:37, Jason Campbell, 3:38, Banksie, 3:38, Oscar, 3:38, Kiwi chica, 3:39, Matt Essex, 3:39, Burned Out Boy, 3:39, Minks, 3:40, Slimmo, 3:40, Prof, 3:41, Andy Summers, 3:42, Muzzer, 3:43, Swayer, 3:43, Tony P, 3:43, Flying Scotsman, 3:43, TonyP, 3:43, Bunions, 3:43, Acer, 3:44, Shachar's Dad, 3:44, Alan Miller, 3:45, Andy Brown, 3:46, Dunarunner, 3:47, Charly, 3:47, David Lombard, 3:47, Westwoody, 3:47, Chuff, 3:48, Scott Wheeldon, 3:48, Red Williams, 3:48, Brett Garratt, 3:50, CherieHipkins, 3:50, Puffy, 3:50, Brum Taffy, 3:50, Annie K, 3:50, RFJ, 3:51, Marius Maxwell, 3:51, Burner, 3:52, Pete Watts, 3:53, Daily Llama, 3:53, 3Legs, 3:53, Mr C, 3:53, Pearcehead, 3:54, NickK, 3:55, Why do I put myself through it?', 3:55, Cheeko, 3:55, Trunner, 3:56, Snowy389, 3:56, Eimear Curtin, 3:56, MisterW, 3:57, Hellybell, 3:57, Shepherdess, 3:57, Oxton48, 3:58, Fat Buddha, 3:59, Trinity, 4:00, Jon Hull, 4:00, Lee Cantrill, 4:00

Latest batch (Friday)...
John Halliwell, 3:08, Ongey, 3:09, Pete2, 3:17, Unicorn, 3:18, Carle Green, 3:26, Kevin Collins, 3:30, Charles Howard, 3:35, Banksie, 3:38, Oscar, 3:38, Prof, 3:41, Shachar's Dad, 3:44, Andy Brown, 3:46, Westwoody, 3:47, Annie K, 3:50, Cheeko, 3:55, Snowy389, 3:56, Eimear Curtin, 3:56, Oxton48, 3:58, Jon Hull, 4:00, Lee Cantrill, 4:00

4:01 TO 5:00
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Starring...
Paul Brown, 4:00, Nikki Ballinger, 4:00, Duracell, 4:01, Peter Freeman, 4:02, Nicksy, 4:02, Susan Brown, 4:02, Matt Hunt, 4:03, Andrew Newman, 4:05, Roy Bloxham, 4:06, Tefal Elvis, 4:06, Howard Hopkins, 4:06, Jo, 4:07, Harry, 4:07, Welsh Alex, 4:08, IanMiddlemas, 4:08, Hod Prod, 4:08, Andy Gillespie, 4:08, Nobes, 4:08, Dazza b, 4:09, PAD2802, 4:10, Shay, 4:10, Little (not so) Fat Welshman, 4:11, Ping Pong Boy, 4:12, Jackie Bowles, 4:12, Iain Williams, 4:13, Toby, 4:13, Sprite, 4:13, Geoff Wood, 4:14, Mad Moo, 4:14, Wads, 4:14, James Hunter, 4:14, Russ4568, 4:15, Higo, 4:15, Slotwin, 4:17, The Red-faced Ancient Marathon runner, 4:18, FrancesShattock, 4:18, Old but slow, 4:18, Heather, 4:19, Mark1, 4:20, BrendanMulgrew, 4:20, WildWill, 4:21, Philip Bosworth, 4:21, Stuart Green, 4:22, Swissbobby, 4:22, Sian Aggett, 4:22, Ripped Dap, 4:22, Novice Al, 4:22, Coventry Cat, 4:22, Bourne2run, 4:23, WesWisham, 4:24, Ronnie Wibbley, 4:24, Jonathan Joseph, 4:24, Matt Balcer, 4:25, Gareth Steed, 4:25, Holly-go-Lightly, 4:26, Matt52, 4:26, Jaycee, 4:26, Gillyhen, 4:26, Mark Coleman, 4:26, Alison Salmond, 4:28, Paul Craven, 4:28, Rich, 4:28, Jane Adlum, 4:28, Ronny Millet, 4:28, Katypie, 4:28, Big Bloke, 4:29, Lunny, 4:30, Mountainnut, 4:30, M50, 4:30, David Bennett, 4:30, Annick Hollins, 4:30, Supe, 4:31, Tara Emery, 4:31, Ashy, 4:32, Milk, 4:32, Gail Force, 4:32, Sarah Carroll, 4:32, SteveWells, 4:33, Riv, 4:33, Ross Gifford-Pike, 4:34, John Daley, 4:34, Jellybabe, 4:34, Dotty Allan, 4:35, Sunshine, 4:36, Judex, 4:37, CHARLESY.HO, 4:37, CaroleR, 4:37, Helen O'Rourke, 4:38, Chris Monk, 4:38, Mark Gotts, 4:40, Julie Moseley, 4:41, Mightyfish, 4:42, jci, 4:42, Jules, 4:42, Little Running Kitty, 4:43, Mark Smith, 4:43, Ian Bailey, 4:43, Powder Hedgehog, 4:43, Pam Lay, 4:44, Purplemed, 4:44, Sarah Boot, 4:44, Alan Nutt, 4:45, Matthew Deller, 4:46, Old Woman, 4:47, Richard Miles, 4:47, Jo, 4:48, Bobbylonglegs, 4:48, SMD, 4:48, G. Wickens, 4:49, Jimmykins, 4:49, Pete Way, 4:49, Dips, 4:50, Little Cat, 4:50, John Brown, 4:50, Richard Sanders, 4:50, Chippers, 4:50, Pompey Jon, 4:51, Claire Lalaguna, 4:51, Ali Baptiste, 4:51, Jelly Legs, 4:52, Angelina, 4:52, Simonlala, 4:52, Eric Saunderson, 4:52, Cinders, 4:53, Dave Carr, 4:55, Crash Hamster, 4:55, Vikki Ratcliffe, 4:55, KateBuckley, 4:55, Pep, 4:55, Andrew Neale, 4:55, Clive Nottage, 4:55, Secret Agent, 4:56, Beverly Tomkins, 4:57, Sally Reeve, 4:57, Sweetest Thing, 4:58, Wendi, 4:58, Caro, 4:58, Sub 5.00 Jaq, 4:58, Ham, 4:59, Dave The Spartan, 4:59, Rich the Gooner, 4:59

Latest batch (Sunday)...
Susan Brown, 4:02, Tefal Elvis, 4:06, Howard Hopkins, 4:06, Nobes, 4:08, James Hunter, 4:14, Higo, 4:15, Slotwin, 4:17, Old but slow, 4:18, Heather, 4:19, Jonathan Joseph, 4:24, Mark Coleman, 4:26, Jane Adlum, 4:28, Ronny Millet, 4:28, Katypie, 4:28, Annick Hollins, 4:30, Tara Emery, 4:31, Sarah Carroll, 4:32, Riv, 4:33, Jellybabe, 4:34, Dotty Allan, 4:35, Sunshine, 4:36, CaroleR, 4:37, Chris Monk, 4:38, Julie Moseley, 4:41, Powder Hedgehog, 4:43, Purplemed, 4:44, Sarah Boot, 4:44, Bobbylonglegs, 4:48, SMD, 4:48, Chippers, 4:50, Ali Baptiste, 4:51, Simonlala, 4:52, Eric Saunderson, 4:52, Pep, 4:55, Andrew Neale, 4:55, Clive Nottage, 4:55, Caro, 4:58, Sub 5.00 Jaq, 4:58

5 HOURS+
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Starring...
Hutchy, 5:01, Stuart Grist, 5:02, Lesley Fitzgerald, 5:02, Sezz, 5:03, englandergirl, 5:03, Charlotte Maddison, 5:04, Lucrece, 5:05, Fancy, 5:05, Robert Littlejohn, 5:05, Nick Miller, 5:05, Minnie Moo, 5:06, KateMahony, 5:06, Penelope Pitstop, 5:06, Mrs M, 5:07, Kate Myott, 5:07, Jo Phillips, 5:09, Loupy Lou, 5:09, Kusum Sharma, 5:11, Laura W, 5:11, Fraggle, 5:12, Rachel, 5:13, Streaky Bacon, 5:13, Monica Browning, 5:13, Dolphinrunner, 5:14, K2, 5:14, Benito, 5:15, Ann Burgess, 5:16, Steve Thompson, 5:16, School Runner, 5:16, Caroline Murphy, 5:18, mdshec, 5:18, Lame j-lard, 5:18, Brandon K Lewis, 5:18, Rach, 5:20, Steve Jenkins, 5:22, RioFair, 5:25, Ruthjst, 5:25, tinygirl, 5:25, Little Nemo, 5:26, Crunchyknees, 5:27, Frankie Phillips, 5:27, Mr Finknottle, 5:28, Julia Williams, 5:28, Snoop Dogg, 5:30, David Cullen, 5:30, Kit-e Cat, 5:31, Stella Follows, 5:32, DianaD, 5:32, Sammy Snail, 5:34, Deb, 5:34, Plodding Hippo, 5:35, First time Grandpa, 5:35, Lennonesque, 5:36, Sarah Ficken, 5:36, Northern Snail, 5:36, Tim Scott, 5:38, Kattysparkle, 5:45, Dottie Lottie, 5:46, Gritech, 5:47, CdK, 5:47, Loopyloo, 5:49, Doctor Sam, 5:51, Debbs, 5:52, Stressed But Fabulous, 5:53, Scoops, 5:54, Fat But Getting Fit, 5:57, Nigel Lapthorne, 5:57, Mandy Smith, 5:58, AliD2, 5:58, Y Me, 5:58, Wabo, 6:00, Sonia Dooley, 6:02, Amanda Walton, 6:03, hkp, 6:05, An Coppens, 6:07, mssloan1962, 6:10, Sue Toseland, 6:20, Niki Baldwin, 6:20, Alan Cooper, 6:22, Little Vixen, 6:27, Beanz52, 6:32, S Wood-Brignall, 6:33, Jenny G, 6:38, Norm, 6:40, Evil Pixie, 6:46, Lyndylou, 6:49, Kans & Kandy, 6:52, Colin Gibbs, 6:53, Salsa, 7:04, Kerzo, 7:09, Built for comfort, 7:13, Lollykins, 7:24, Lisa Marsh, 7:45,

Latest batch (Wednesday)...
Sezz, 5:03, englandergirl, 5:03, Charlotte Maddison, 5:04, Fancy, 5:05, Robert Littlejohn, 5:05, Nick Miller, 5:05, Minnie Moo, 5:06, KateMahony, 5:06, Penelope Pitstop, 5:06, Mrs M, 5:07, Kate Myott, 5:07, Loupy Lou, 5:09, Laura W, 5:11, K2, 5:14, School Runner, 5:16, Lame j-lard, 5:18, Brandon K Lewis, 5:18, Rach, 5:20, tinygirl, 5:25, Little Nemo, 5:26, Frankie Phillips, 5:27, David Cullen, 5:30, Stella Follows, 5:32, DianaD, 5:32, Northern Snail, 5:36, Tim Scott, 5:38, CdK, 5:47, Loopyloo, 5:49, Doctor Sam, 5:51, Debbs, 5:52, Stressed But Fabulous, 5:53, Scoops, 5:54, AliD2, 5:58, Y Me, 5:58, Wabo, 6:00, hkp, 6:05, Alan Cooper, 6:22, S Wood-Brignall, 6:33, Jenny G, 6:38, Lyndylou, 6:49, Colin Gibbs, 6:53, Built for comfort, 7:13, Lisa Marsh, 7:45,

SUPPORTERS
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Page 1 2

Starring...
AJH, Ashley Smith, Berry, Emily Sparrow, H, Heebiejeebie, Helegant, Lady Lucan, meerkat, Mr Slug, Nicko, RichK, Stickless Stiffler's mother, Wolfy

Latest batch (Friday)...
Stickless

Older highlights...

Susan Brown, 4:02, “...humbling... so many other people overcoming life's hurdles...”
Simonlala, 4:52, “...so very, very hard, and this is coming from someone who regards himself as being reasonably fit...”
Oxton48, 3:58, “...I was nearly in tears: someone I've never met and never will meet REALLY wanted ME to do well...”
Ongey, 3:09, “...Running 26.2 is like living a mini-lifetime...”
Charles Howard, 3:35, “...the realisation of what running is really about...”
Judge Jeffery, 2:55, “...the magical sub-three time: a lifetime ambition...”
Matt52, 4:26, “...a letter to say I'd won a place in the London Marathon. Panic. I don't run...”
Helen O'Rourke, 4:38, “...Being an inexperienced, older female runner this did not fill my heart with glee...”
Ping Pong Boy, 4:12, “...greatest thing in my training has been the support of the RW forums...”
Rich the Gooner, 4:59, “...I beat Floella Benjamin by 1:13... okay, it wasn't a lifelong ambition, but you take what you can get...”
Harry, 4:07, “...my four-year-old niece burst into tears when Paula went over the finish line on TV - she had thought I was going to win...”
Jaycee, 4:26, “...significant leap in respect from teenage offspring...”
Little Cat, 4:50, “...the finish of seven consecutive days of running from Paris to London...”
Toby, 4:13, “...wow, it was fun, like running down Oxford Street during Christmas shopping...”
John Diffey, 3:05, “...both dived into my goody bag. "Dad, Dad, can we have the Jelly Babies?"...”
Brum Taffy, 3:50, “...followed the schedule and didn't skimp on the hard sessions...”
Desertman, 3:13, “...Having faith in the training was the key...”
Dynamokev, 3:19, “...stunned to cross the blue start from pen 3 in 20 seconds...”
K2, 5:14, “...(Me) - I bet you're not trying very hard to overtake! (Man) - I am: I've been trying to get past her for 16 miles but I just can't quite make it...”
Lyndylou, 6:49, “...After four FLMs and 10 grandchildren, it's time to hang up the marathon running shoes...”
Built for comfort, 7:13, “...after weeks of excitement and worry, I almost can't believe it's over...”
S Wood-Brignall, 6:33, “...mum cried every time she saw me...”
CdK, 5:47, “...o special, you only ever do a first marathon once...”
Lame j-lard, 5:18, “...worth every gut-churning, leg-mashing, Lucozade-chucking step...”
Mountainnut, 4:30, “...Imagine the crashing disappointment of finding I was only at 24 miles...”
Rich, 4:28, “...pretending I was their butler and had to keep up...”
Angelina, 4:52, “...Well it really was the race from hell...”
Bernard Higgins, 3:23, “...Sometimes we look inside ourself and see something we've never seen before. That's what running has done for me...”
David Williamson, 3:27, “...daughter's boyfriend insisting that the start was at Blackfriars not Blackheath caused some difficulties...”
Ruthjst, 5:25, “...a banner that read “pain is temporary, but quitting stays with you for life”...”
Monica Browning, 5:13, “...a spectacular experience...”
Benito, 5:15, “...I had done the unthinkable and collapsed...”
jci, 4:42, “...I have no negative thoughts at all. Must be something wrong with me....”
MattyH, 3:16, “...spend afternoon separating burned clothes from melted laundry basket....”
Whippit, 2:54, “...The kids took my medal and foil blanket in to "show and tell" at school...”
3Legs, 3:53, “...one of the most memorable experiences of my entire life… lost 4.5 stone in training...”
Deb, 5:34, “...The crowds of supporters and fellow runners restores your faith in humanity...”
Acer, 3:44, “...after two unsuccessful attempts at sub-4 hour, a winter of hills and speed sessions paid off for me...”
G. Wickens, 4:49, “...I'll be 50 this year and I wanted to do something that I'd never forget...”
Berry,“...I'm no athletics journalist, but I can report on the trend in marathoning wildlife....”
Snuffles, 3:37, “...Green Start area... like the first-class departures lounge...”
Heebiejeebie,“...I would have wondered why they didn't drop out. Now I know...”
Lesley Fitzgerald, 5:02, “...Lesley, A womble has just passed you, now get your ass in gear and catch it up...”
Venom, 2:58, “...topped off the day by proposing to my girlfriend...”
Paula S, 3:29, “...never really liked my name, but I was so thankful to my parents on Sunday...”
First time Grandpa, 5:35, “...news came through that my beautiful granddaughter Keira was born weighing 7lbs 9ozs...”
Martin Swan, 3:17, “...only two 20-mile runs in training... half a dozen next time...”
Holly-go-Lightly, 4:26, “...the sight of my father, aged 60, dressed in yellow, standing on a council bin at mile nine with flags and video camera will stay with me for life...”
Sweetest Thing, 4:58, “...blubbed as they took my chip off, blubbed as I got my medal (welling up now just writing this!)...”
Julia Williams, 5:28, “...so I promptly burst into tears in an emotional start to a very emotional day all round....”

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