Thames Meander Marathon

Thanks to you all, The comments are fair, Glad most of you enjoyed it. We are just pretty upset that not everything went to plan. All I can say is we will do it again next year and work even harder to ensure all is 100%.

ADG - just for reference I work at the school and they let me use it for the event with the understanding that half the profits are donated to their chossen charity and the other half to our choosen charity.  So even Edinburgh managed to run out off water unfortunatelyhappens at the best of races. Also unfortunaelt we did not have the assistance of the police to get water to you.

wasn't me with the husky unfortunately - loved the fact that she was given a medal at the end tho

Melcelt - would just like to say thanks for all your efforts i know you were short of helpers (as evidenced by the email sent asking for volunteers) - if we hadn't brought our dog with us i'd have got my hubby to help out. I'm sure next year will run even more smoothly and am already looking forward to coming down and giving it another bash!

Bill / Shark,

Thanks for that. It doesn't make me feel good to say anything negative and am glad you admit to being a wee bit OTT.

I am very sad and like to say 'Well done' to all the front runners and I'm sure we greeted each other as we passed....you slightly quicker than me !

I will reiterate just how much I enjoyed this event but just a quick comment on an earlier post about out and backs being easy to follow. Well yes they are....but when you come at a fork the other way after running for about 3 and a half houurs, it did take a stop and time to ponder which way to go.....I know I was not the only one to do that...but all was good in the end and yes, I will be back next year.

Oh and just to say, two friends of mine also ran. It was their 3rd marathon having both done London and Brighton previously. They were just so amazed at the more chilled out atmosphere of a smaller field of runners rather than the razzamatazz of the other big events. They also loved the extra touches and also how lots of runners knew each other. It was my 33rd marathon and I do now know if only by sight, quite a few of the loonies who regularly turn out to these much better low key events. You don't get that kind of stuff at the big city events and they were very impressed.

Firstly let me say what a lovely marathon this was. I don't usually post on runners world.....shhhh I'm a proud Fetchie but I felt after my having my attention bought to this thread I had to defend myself and my partner- this is especially for you JJrun
I was one half of the couple who were pushing that 'poor baby' you may be interested to know that the 'poor' baby has been buggy running since he was six months old and is used to buggy running, we did not just decide to throw him in a buggy and do a marathon. We had one 15 minute lunch break where he had a play and a spot of lunch, on top of that apart from his usual hour + naps (x2) we also stopped and walked him several times. I actually was more worried about my other children who were probably stuck at home in front of the tv with the babysitter than child #4 who was having a lovely time in the fresh air! At any stage had he become destressed ( which he was not!!!) then the run would have been abandoned immediately!

TBH Kate - i'm more impressed that you managed to run a marathon AND push a buggy. That's hardcore! I think most people that ive spoken to have the same reaction. None of us saw an unhappy baby

Thanks Em xx

I thought that someone should be nice to the Fetchie  I'm tempted to copy the dog for next year's though... i think it could help bring up that final hill!

Hi all

Emmy Bug It was very good of you to wait at the end and see me over the line.  A human kindness that means a lot to a complete stranger especially in that weather.  To all the runners on the return leg from Putney Bridge who encouraged me to keep going my heartfelt thanks.  It may be a just a word a smile or a wave but it gives a warm glow and an inner strength to the plodder eg  I can never be as fast as them because of my accident (9 ops) but they are acknowledging that I have trained for this beast and am giving it my all.

My grateful thanks to David Moss for accompanying me back on his bike.  At any time he could have pulled me out of the race as I had gone over the six hours but he didn't he let me finish in that dreadful weather encouraging me to keep moving.  I didn't experience running out of water as I don t plod fast enough.  What I did experience in my first marathon from what I consider to be proper runners and athletes is acceptance from the majority. I completed a marathon to the best of my ability by plodding,  I was encourage by marshalls and other runners to keep going when my feet and legs wanted to give up.  if there are any other beginners or plodders reading this I would highly recommend giving this marathon a go as your first as its a small field with beautiful scenery.  The mistakes that affected others can be remedied by the organisers next year.  Kate Coombes, partner and baby you were one of the runners that I can identify as encouraging me as you passed me on the way back from putney  Twinkle x

I saw the couple with the push chair and did not realise they were doing the full marathon. Fantastic stuff and hats / bonnets off to all 3 of you.

I usually run the bigger city marathons but am now a convert to these smaller ones which are much more friendly.  Loved the pre-race talk which brought a personal human touch to the event. I was totally oblivious to the lack of water even being one of the slower runners,  I tend to eat during a run and there was loads to tuck into. I loved this race from arriving at the impressive looking school to the generous hot meal at the end. Great value for money!! Thank you.