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London Marathon yesterday went pretty much exactly to plan, official time of 3:29:14 which I'm pretty pleased with given my previous PB of just under 4 hours. Got a hand shake from Richard Branson at the finish line.
Someone posted in this thread several years ago (I think) about how London wasn't for them and they didn't enjoy running in the crowded streets and the noise from the supporters was too much. Well I'm inclined to agree. For the first 10 miles or so I found the crowd great but then I just tried to zone out a bit and relax into the section through the Isle of Dogs (for me not the most enjoyable or interesting section) but there's only so many times you can have a whistle blown what feels like right in your ear before it grates a little. I found from about mile 18 just wanted the space and peace to run my own race but got neither.
I think I've just gotten used to going out on my own and enjoying the scenery in some peace and quiet!That said the crowd are awesome. So many people turn out to cheer on random strangers, handing out sweets, high fives and general encouracement. The atmosphere is great. Particular highlights for me were all the live bands around the course but especially the drummers in the underpass, the MASSIVE run dem supporter section (very impressive to see so many from one club), and anyone with an original sign - "You're running better than the government"and "Naked cheerleaders next mile" are two that stick in the mind.
Arducius-
Having run London in 2018 and 6 other more rural marathons in addition , I am inclined to agree. London is pretty cool and I'm glad I did it but it all was a bit much towards the end and it's not the sort of course you can easily get a pb on imo.
In contrast my marathon in Stratford upon Avon yesterday couldn't have been more different. Pockets of support, water stations where needed, and Marshalls dotted about, but for long periods of time it's just you, a few other runners, and beautiful countryside.
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Quality effort, and a great PB! I can imagine that crowds of that scale could grate after a while - but you've ticked it off the list now - maybe onto quieter pastures?
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Congrats on a massive PB!
When I did London a few years ago I almost certainly posted to say how much I hated the crowds and the noise from the supporters - having since moved to China where people shout in my face all day long I've decided that I'm probably more acclimatised to it, so I entered the ballot for next year. And in the meantime I will stick to trail races, where ideally I will see no one for 3 hours. -
I never lost the weight I wanted to (I was 93kg yesterday, had wanted to be <80kg) so it was always going to be a long day. Got through half way inside 5h pace and feeling good but felt my right hip flexor start to go in Canary Wharf so I walked the last 13km to avoid shredding it to pieces.
That said the crowd are awesome.
If I get to do it again I definitely won't have my name on my vest, that would sort out some of the over-the-top enthusiasm from the crowd. Like the others above, it's amazing, but a bit too much for my liking.
I avoided most of the sweets being offered on the way round, if I hadn't I'd probably be running for Diabetes UK next year.
(Back to the weight loss thread to sort myself out properly.)
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Congratulations. Top pb running.
princeperch
Nef
hats
Greenbank
juanito
Of course not, very supportive and congratulatory - they're my mate after all! I'm just a daft twat for being self-conscious about the prospect of being beaten by a friend.