James Bussey
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The 29th London Marathon - Sunday 26th April 2009I started my training to run the marathon using one of the club's places last Autumn. My programme was to train as normal (5hrs a week and a hill walk and/or race at weekends) but one run in the week was to be a long run. I started with an 8 mile road loop around the back of the Knock via Monzie and Highlandman Loan, adding extentions around Broich, Trowan and Torlum to increase the distances to 9,12,16 and 18 miles. The 18M loop had 1000ft total climb, and I reckoned 500ft = 1 mile extra on the flat. At first the long runs were a grind, but a breakthrough came on one of the 16 milers. I substituted the last few long runs in April with- a last place (300% of winner's time) on the Black course at the Auchingarrich Orienteering Championships, knocking 4 minutes off last year's time at the SHR race at Clachnaben the following weekend, and the next weekend climbing 5 of the Paps of Jura with Aileen. A few days later I caught the Sleeper train from Glasgow southwards.
I visited my sister Louisa at her cafe 'the Electric Elephant' in the artist's quarter in the Elephant and Castle the next morning, and later on went to stay with some friends in Gravesend, where I grew up. My friend Jason, who has run London twice, came with me back up to town on Saturday so we could register in the Excel Centre in the Docklands. I had been on a couple of acclimatisation runs, but it was before the Monsoon, so the heat was dry, and easy to adapt to. I was using a hand disinfectant spray, taking no chances of infection, even though I was inbetween the Winter and Summer Plague seasons when the Galloping Lurgy cuts down the population.
I had been to the Centre only once before in 2001 for the first London Triathlon, which took place in an August monsoon, and the big empty concrete shed that it was now has dozens of hip and trendy eating places. However, after we were efficiently processed through registration and wandered through the Expo market place (there's only so much running kit one needs), we went to the cheap and cheerful Pasta Party. We listened to most of a race brief, and left halfway through the Adidas Apparel (that's clothing) fashion show, which I don't think will catch on at the Maddy Moss race, for instance.
The race morning dawned warm and sunny, and getting to the start line was as easy for us as a club race, being half an hour down the railway line from Blackheath. So we turned up an hour before, stashed our bags on the trucks, chatted to others in the toilet queue and got to our start positions. Sir Chris Hoy started the race at 9:45am, apparently, and we were off, my timing chip bleeping over the start 4 minutes into it. I was aiming for a sub-4hr time, and I had a wrist band produced by the Lucozade people with 9:09 minute miling on it. Naturally I did'nt plan to run every mile at that speed, so I went with the flow of runners and made up the time a bit. And it was a flow; the buzz of the event and the support of the thousands lining the route carried us along, and I did'nt feel that I was running until the halfway point on the North bank after Tower Bridge. There were many bands and lots of drink stations, and the Mile markers were giant balloon infested arches, so the whole run was one long carnival, with the runners, bands and spectators sharing the billing.
At 13.1 miles we ran on one side of a dual carrigeway, and the last of the elite international and the first of the top club runners passed the other way, as well as the later wheelchair competitors, who were all passing 22 miles. I thought then that there was a fair sized loop to get around before the home straight, but I continued to run at a good pace, still making up the time. I did'nt want to walk any of the run, but if I had to, I thought I could continue at an Ultra-type mix of pace. The fantastic crowd support continued all the way around Canary Wharf, and from 16 miles the first club runner types started getting cramp or slowing down, but there were still plenty of others steadily flowing onwards. Even though the 20 mile point is halfway on a marathon, for me it did'nt feel bad, because I had held back on those miles, and presently we rejoined the dual carriageway before Tower Bridge at 21 miles. I kept a lookout for Jace there, and we exchanged greetings on passing each other. He was after a sub 6hr finish, the demands of night shifts and looking after a wee bairn precluding training for anything faster, but he was running along steadily.
By then I was confident that I would finish within my time, but I started thinking about grabbing a toilet break, partly so I could finish in good style and not have to wait for one in the crowded finish area, and also because I fancied getting off my feet for a bit. Luckily, after the 23 mile Lucozade station there wre some portaloos in the tunnel of an underpass, so I gratefully took advantage to give my legs a break. It's always good to stop before you really need to, and I was'nt hit by cramp as I left, so I could carry on running quite happily. On leaving the tunnel there was the welcome sight of the 24 mile arch, and the London Eye a mile away along the Embankment. This was much more pleasant running than I had expected, not only from the untiring support from the spectators, but because the Spring leaves shaded the road and kept it cool. We passed the 25 mile arch and turned towards the back of St James' Park. Before Buckingham Palace there was a 600m inflatable marker, which to me meant one Track Interval to go, then 400m, the 385yds arch, past the Palace and there was the 200m marker and the finish in the Mall. I ran to the left to a clear finish point and crossed the mat, stopping my watch at 3:48:25.
After the finish I had resolved to come down gradually, so I kept walking through, got my finisher's photograph taken, went to the baggage truck and followed everyone through to the Horse Guards' parade square. We had been given some food so I ate it while getting changed to start recovering. I sent a text to J who was on the Canary Wharf loop, and met Louisa, who had enormous still hot Cornish Pasties for both of us. I felt a bit stiff, but not beaten up at all, and we found a tree to sit under in the park to absorb the post-race ambience.
Later we got J's 25 mile message, so we left to meet at Charing Cross station, before going home.
I found the London Marathon one of the best races I have done, for all the reasons I have mentioned, and also because it was good to run around the old town, see the familiar sights from a different perspective, and find that the race lives up to its reputation. I probably won't run it again, because the whole trip and preparation came off so well, that I don't think that I could improve upon it. 
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Tanconsult
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Great stuff, James, and excellent time. Sounds like all that training worked a treat and you got the pacing just right. Maybe if doing another doesn't appeal, you could try a little amble up the WHW with Ian next year.... (only kidding - I think).
 Colin
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Gordon
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Congratulations James - sounds like you ran well and wisely!
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digby
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good run well rit well did
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McStecko
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hear hear!
On Sunday Jim McC and I were discussing your prospects - I predicted 3.45. You can ask Jim what he thought 
It certainly sounds like you ran the race well and, importantly, enjoyed the whole London experience.
Well done!
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Hill Fairy
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Well done James. Its great when a plan comes off.
Good write up as well.
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kaznicholl
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well done!Great Job, James.
I was thinking about you as I watched the Marathon on the TV. It must have been quite an experience seeing all the sights along the way.
I hope you are taking it easy now!
Kaz
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