bit (or trying to) for the second half. It was brilliant being able to run with a pacer, though the sheer volume of bodies made it hard to stay in step with the group and I was generally either in front or trailing, just through lack of space. In fact

4:30.With three or four days to go I was so excited that I could barely sleep. However, the sheer volume of people on the journey there confirmed everything I had read: that this was one of the greatest events in the annual British sporting calendar

it was time to put up and shut up. But I did it, and missed my target of a sub-4 and came in at 4:07...and that was it. I'd done it - I'd run a marathon. Move on.And I did move on - and carried on running in other events - but crucially I got started doing

trillion thank yous to that far-sighted stranger.I went on to have a fab race, although I was definitely penned-in by the volume of runners. But considering all the roadside casualties, perhaps this too was a lucky stroke. The wait to get