). The wonderful people that cheer, support and spur on the runners really make the event.Hurrah for the London Marathon!James Hunter, 4:14 --Best moment: running the first two miles beside a member of the 100-Marathon Club, who had run all 25 London Marathons

to all who turned out to cheer, clap, and encourage each and every single runner. Not to forget the volunteers, which without, I know I wouldn't have finished.I feel immensely lucky to have been a part of the 25th anniversary of the London Marathon. It

-prepared, having trained for six weeks. I used the Runner’s World emergency schedules which were excellent. But work pressures and a nasty cold cut into this last-minute attempt at training. I feared for my life as I stood at the back of pen nine at Blackheath! I

, either as a runner or a spectator will know why: it is quite simply the greatest running event in the world!RFJ, 3:51The start area was great. I met up with Tea and Toast Man, AlanM and Dunnarunner as planned on the 3:30 forum. That was the best part

holding red and green balloons on a stick - I even had time to kiss my daughter, Freya, at six miles.The best thing was finding the Runner's World 10-minute mile pacer. I stuck with her for 20 miles, and this helped me enormously. But then I hit the wall

3:00 TO 4:00 (Page 4) Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 --MattyH, 3:16:14How to do your first marathon: Do the Flora London Marathon, on its 25th anniversary - the best race in the world. Ten days before the race, buy a new pair of running shoes

that Runner's World said that it's better to lose a few minutes than to feel uncomfortable, go and get it out of your mind - that is good advice I didn't follow.Philip Bosworth, 4:21 My first marathon, and I loved every minute. In training I ran as far as 20

did it too (Christine, Gareth, Gil, Glenda). That first pint (of OJ, of course) never tasted so good. Brandon K Lewis, 5:18I was a first-time runner. When I agreed to do the marathon nine months ago I was three stone overweight (I have now lost over

instead of sitting behind the fence sipping tea)But after I debriefed I found I was fascinated with the whole world of marathons, like how many people do it. How there were 35,000 runners with a single shared desire, how much of a spectacle the whole thing

surely have gone to bed on Saturday night pleading: 'Whatever you do, Dad, don't get overtaken by a rhino'."John Brown, 4:50Many thanks to the Runner's World pacer. Sticking with the 11-minute mile group made my first marathon (at 57) a lot easier