Flora London Marathon 2009

I really really enjoyed this my 11th marathon. On Sunday 26th April 2009 i ran my 3rd London Marathon .
So many highs.
And a few Lows.
As a spectacle , as an event , as a running community - this is one of the best, & in London.
This time , in my 3rd time in the race , i did manage to have a quick look at Buckingham Palace as i ran by. In my 2 previous runs ( sorry Ma am ) i just didnt notice it.

Some Highs
-the cameraderie of the running community, the virtual community , on Runners World and Fetcheveryone- and meeting W. a Clwydian runner who spotted me out training .
-the event, following my training, which i felt went well, the race itself seemed to fly by in an instant, looking back, even looking back from a few minutes at the end.
-running cammeraderie- Barry & Nicola who i had never met before but we shared many miles of fellowship, until Nic slowed, sorry we left you. The heat was intensive .
-finishing anoher marathon
-the glass of Guiness my brother in law bought and chilled for me for later around 7pm i think.
-that as my Garmin measured 26.7miles - maybe i should deduct 0.5mile from my time.
-official time 4hrs 29minutes, my fastest of three London Marathons.
-the crowd support, 'come on Rob'
-my daughter surprising me - by geting to 24 miles to wave a daffodil at me.
Proud Dad. Proud daughter ?

Some lows
-missing a pb by 9minutes, maybe another time another place ? different weather.
-my finisher bag not having a finisher shirt in it. Ok i have seen many complaints that theyare all XL, but it would have been nice not to have the hassle of having to contact FLM.
-a little too hot, and not quite guaging water intake, maybe a little too little early on.

But overall London marathon is a great event to be enjoyed , maybe not the best for a pb.
Overall most of my plans were ok, at the start early, bananas as pre race fuel, gels in a bumbag, and picked up more at Runners World support point (thanks guys), appropriate use of the facilities before the start (and thus no need during the race), meeting Fetch running pals at the start, and fortuitously meeting equal paced runners during the race- having 'aiming for 4:hr 20' on my back may have helped.

Dedicated to my friends who run, and those who cannot .