to concentrate on the taper, I am peaking too early and then losing it in the taper. Maybe two weeks walking around Disney getting up early and going to bed late, and only doing two 5 mile runs in the middle, plus a spot of jet lag was not the ideal taper

on Birdcage Walk and the Mall. My time? A truly pedestrian 6.13 - almost 90 minutes outside my only other marathon time. The chest infection picked up during the taper had not cleared and I started coughing up lots of gunk at Horse Guards and haven't stopped

that set me right back. I didn't get any physio until June, and have only just got back to a fit state - I've missed all my long rides as a result and it is now too late to make up the time. At my test event - the Bala half ironman at the start of June – I

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

); there was disappointment at not going sub-5, although a course best was achieved. And I learnt yet again that even with the best preparation(I even managed appropriate long runs, ate well the week before and tapered) the marathon is an evil unpredictable beastie which

. But I felt a bit jaded on Easter Sunday, so took the day off and planned my last semi-long run for the Monday - but given that I was starting to taper, maybe I'd do just 10 miles. I pulled up after five miles and an hour with excruciating pain in both

, support and the camaraderie was excellent, even if it was a little bit too hot for my liking.I’ve got sore legs, sore feet............. but bring on next year!People ask: ‘why does everyone want to run the London Marathon?’ Anyone who witnessed the event

. Logistical problems - what problems! I would say this is the best event that I have been involved in, absolutely fantastic. year.Nobes, 4:08 Feeling rough at mile 21... My first marathon was a fantastic experience, surrounded by thousands of other like

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

day – not exactly following the rules for tapering!!As I started the London marathon on Sunday, I knew that if I could hang in there to the end I would complete the 232-mile Run Paris to London Challenge. I ran steadily and counted down the miles