From Lucy Lowe…
Having done the London Marathon with a charity place and a chest infection in 2024 I was desperate to do it again
I assumed with the Harriers draw that if I entered every year (unlike the main ballot) I would eventually get drawn out maybe in several years time so was shocked when I got the email from Hilda saying I’d been picked out at the 2nd attempt.
Training had gone well however as the week went on the forecast went from cool and cloudy to blazing sun and quite hot.
I don’t run well in the heat! I am amazed at the people who pb or can go their normal pace. Getting off the tube at Greenwich I realised I needed to put on a hat as the sun was so strong and after the first 5k which I had decided to try and pace myself for, I decided to slow down and enjoy the moment and get round.
I overtook Daddy Pig and Joe Wicks around 8 miles, all round the course there were noticeably more children all with signs for Daddy Pig, I think there should be some children’s character every year.
Saw the O Looneys at 9 miles which gave me a boost, they were very enthusiastic even more than at parkrun!
Then from Tower Bridge, which was glorious (the sun really brought out a lot of extra supporters) people started keeling over all around me, I definitely made the right choice instead of joining them, I high-fived kids, took oranges, and pushed signs for power up – there was little shade which would have actually given me a power up!
Then with 12k to go I started jostling for position with a rhino which I realise now was captured on tv! Slowing down meant I spotted the Tower of London, Big Ben and most importantly Buckingham Palace which I didn’t clock last time. So whilst it was nowhere near a pb I had a good time not a fast time.