is a totally overwhelming and humbling experience. The crowd numbers and support are absolutely AWESOME and the whole event gets under your skin. I never tire of playing the video; I smile, I choke back tears, my skin tingles. In fact my very unwelcome

whether we were fast and loose, or a bit slower with muscles tightening by the second.This was my ninth London, but my first for six years. I'd forgotten the impact the event has on your senses and had thought that I would make this my last London

in November last year that I would do for the Alzheimers Society. My Mum is a sufferer.Lessons Learnt Forget your time: whatever you do as a first-timer will be a Personal Best! Drink loads, and walk whilst drinking. (Couldn't stop peeing for three hours

3:00 TO 4:00 (Page 9) Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 --Jon Hull, 4:00What an amazing eventThe best part: every single mile, where spectators are cheering and routing for you. A truly democratic sport - what a feeling.The worst moment: about 22

salute you.Sunshine, 4:36 --What a wonderful event! My preparation was not ideal, having picked up shin splints three weeks before and having to rest (something I found very difficult to do!) Thanks to Shan, my sports therapist, and ultrasound I got

in the way after a few years of some serious racing and time-trialling and when I should have really been capitalising on available time, I wasted much of this in the SU drinking cheap beer and smoking not-so-cheap fags. In fact, I think these are only things

? Drink more en route, arrange for a Mars Bar to be available at around mile 18 and try and stick to one pace the whole way through. M50, 4:30:19My first marathon and my last (or was it?) Fantastic day, what a crowd. It went well early on ,though

the marathon with disabilities or under stressful conditions and made me realise that this is what the London Marathon is all about – it makes a winner out of every runner.This race was a great event for me personally and one that I shall remember forever. Kiwi

due to the old ones rubbing against an ankle injury. During the week leading up to the event, get woken up at 4 in the morning by your 3-year-old daughter who has been sleeping perfectly through the night for several months. On Wednesday, get a phone

had logged just 50 miles through my preparation.The first 10 miles were ok(ish). I ran/walked slowing at every mile marker to sip drinks. All manner of life, flora and fauna, accelerated past me. Camels, wookies, caterpillars - I saw them all zoom by