Do you know best laid plans? The videos I allegedly took whilst running? No sign of them on my camera now I’ve come to download them, I’m gutted. So, I’ll have to do my best to put it into words (won’t be a patch I’m afraid).

After the worry of the week of weather forecasts predicting full sun and 21 degrees Sunday morning was cloudy and quite cool, it was forecast to get hot later on. Up at 6, downstairs for 3 slices of white toast then out the door at 7:10 with Liz, Mum and Carol and Dave (Liz’s Mum & Dad). The tube and DLR were heaving, I couldn’t believe it at that time on a Sunday morning, talk about breathe in and push on. Anyway we did and we got there.

Then it was into the assembly area and start pen. Even this was brilliantly organised, I honestly can’t fault it. At about 9:40 we all started shuffling forwards, round the corner then there’s the start line! We’re off. I crossed the line around 9:47, not delayed much at all.

This is where it all gets a bit woolly. I just have snapshots in my head (many more early on that later on I may add).

A pub with at least 40 people stood outside dressed as pirates.

The Blues Brothers singing to us as we ran past another pub (I had a great video of that too).

The red and blue starts merging and everyone booing each other.

Then Greenwich and Cutty Sark, this was the point where the first huge crowds kicked in. The roar was incredible, even now I get shivers down my spine thinking about it. I was feeling good, a good pace was being kept, it was a pleasure to be there. I even waved at the cameras.

Then we were off out of Greenwich towards Tower Bridge. There was a point where the crowds were so deep they were spilling onto the road narrowing the runner’s paths. Incredible. So many people were shouting my name (on my vest) I couldn’t wave to them all sadly.

The drinks stations marshals were superb, they’d gee you up as you took the bottle ‘Come on Jay’, ‘You’re doing great’, ‘Keep it up’, great people.

We were running down a road with high buildings, there was sharp right at the end. I suddenly realised this was Tower Bridge. Half way. I got a great video crossing Tower Bridge too. Across the bridge then there’s a section where the runners ahead are coming back on the opposite side, thankfully this was only the elites at this point. On we went.

I was expecting Canary Wharf at 18 miles but it seemed to start much sooner – apartment blocks, etc. it’s probably just my poor geography. Still we charged on. It was starting to hurt a bit by now but with easily 90 mins left we were only just past halfway. At one point in Canary Wharf I heard someone holler ‘JAY’, I was already passed but it turned out that it was Ian (my Brother), everyone was there watching and managed to spot me.

Leaving Canary Wharf at about mile 19-20 I was really feeling it. This is where things start to get a bit patchy. I remember quite a few walkers but thinking ‘No, this is meant to be hard, a marathon’s as much in your head as in your legs’. On I pushed.

I remember the Tower with massive crowds. Running through The City the crowds continued, I was struggling now but knew it was only 3 miles to the finish.

The best part of the race must be the last 3 miles – Victoria Embankment, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace. I remember very little. I was focused on doing the next 500m, the next 500m, the next 500m. Everything was screaming at me ‘take a little walk, it’ll be OK’ but no, I knew I had to push on, I could not have looked myself in the mirror ever again if I’d walked even for a minute.

Onto Birdcage Walk, I never knew it was so long. The highlight surely would be turning at Buckingham Palace to run down the Mall? All I remember thinking was ‘I hope we’re going the short way round that roundabout.’

I don’t even remember crossing the line. I remember slowing down then literally staggering sideways. I have now idea why, I’ve never done that before. At some point my medal was placed round my neck (great touch), my timing chip was cut off then I had my photo taken. I managed a pose! I don’t know how, I was desperate for a drink and was struggling to walk in a straight line. Then goody bag and drink. At last! I sat on the edge of the Mall completely empty drinking my drink contemplating what I’d just achieved.

I sat for ten minutes or so then made the walk (shuffle) down to the reunion area where everyone was waiting. I was completely empty, emotional and needed a sit down. A hug from Ian, a hug for Liz and my Mum then a sit on the kerb. That was the best seat I’ve ever had.

Liz and my Mum were there, Ian, Jess, Al and Kath were there (Brother and Sister and partners) and Liz’s Mum and Dad. It was great. My Uncle Peter and Aunt Rosemary had come in from the suburbs to see us too as had Helen my Cousin and her Fiance Ricky. It was a lovely ending to the race, we all sat in St James’ park and chatted. I got the worst cramp of my life first in my right calf then my left which made me look a bit of a wimp as I winced and yelped.

Here’s a photo that my Aunt Rosemary took, I think this sums up a marathon perfectly.

That was my London Marathon 2010. We all had a great weekend. We’ve raised a lot of money for Myeloma UK which is what we set out to do and I beat my target time – I was aiming for 3:45, I finished in 3:42:42.

Here’s my run, ignore the height thing at 31-32km, that’s my watch going crackers as we were underground.

I have to say the London Marathon is a fantastically well organised race, I can’t fault a single thing.

It started well, I did a damn good pace up to half way then it dipped slightly but I am very, very happy with 3:42:42. I managed to video things until Tower Bridge but then it started to hurt and that was the videoing over with! I’ll upload that in the week.

It’s the only race I’ve ran where they place your medal on you, nice touch, it’s also the only race I’ve ran where I’ve staggered like a drunk after finishing!

Just a quick post tonight, I’ll do a bigger one in the week.

I’d like to thank everyone for their support both personally and financially for Myeloma Uk, we’re almost certainly going to exceed £2500 and it’s down to all of you.

Thank you

James

If you want to track my progress it’s possible by registering on this website (it’s Adidas so it’s all legit) and putting my number in. No slacking halfway round for me now!

http://www.adidas.com/campaigns/londonmarathon/content/ss09/

Or text ‘run’ 83040, my race number is 53914

It’s pretty warm at the moment, dun, dun, durrrrn.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/london-marathon/7614807/London-Marathon-2010-follow-route-on-Google-Street-View.html

Less than 3 days to go, a fair chance of very sunny (23 degrees according to Radio 5 this morning). I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – c’est la vie.

On a bright note my target has now been reached, the donation to break the £2000 barrier was a massive £530 raised by my Mum’s office, an amazing effort. Thank you so much to everybody who’s donated, every single penny counts and I’m very grateful to all of you.

If you still want to donate please do so, just because £2000 has been reached doesn’t mean we should stop now. The following article made interesting reading:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1267609/Charity-makes-stronger-popular-studies-find.html

Here’s my attire for the day, just got to affix a number (to anyone who’s surname isn’t Woodruff my family call me Jay ).

Early nights from here on in. Plenty of carbs from tomorrow onwards (get my liver all nice and fat with glycogen).

The forecast looks a bit warm for Sunday but c’est la vie I may get a nice tan out of it.

I’m planning to up my blog count considerably over the weekend so please keep checking in.

Thank you for all your support over the months and your financial support for Myeloma UK.

To date in 2010 I have covered 530 miles. An average of 5 miles a day or the equivalent on Lands End to Glasgow by road. Phew!

In training for the marathon in 2010 I have burned 54000 calories. That’s the equivalent of 192 Mars Bars or 2 a day! Mmmmmmm.

I’ve climbed over 10km whilst running in 2010. That’s the equivalent of Mount Everest (and a bit more) or Ben Nevis over 7 times. I know Blackburn’s hilly but that’s ridiculous. I don’t like heights either!

The race is two weeks today. I have 8 training runs left, a little under 50 miles now the taper’s really kicking in. For the first time in months I’m going to have to watch what I eat as my mileage drops, that’ll be novel.

It’s been a good week yet again. My 18 miles today was warm compared to what we’ve had recently, that’ll do me good incase race day’s a hot one (let’s hope not). Everything seems to be coming together nicely, I really don’t want to tempt fate but I don’t think I could ask for the training to have gone any better recently.

Tonight I ran 6 miles at an easy pace. Nothing unusual or particularly exciting there except the sun was out and I managed a sunny after work run for the first time this year.

Oh, and I clocked up my 500th mile of 2010.

Yay.

It’s a nice milestone to hit, by the time I hit 600 I’ll have a marathon under my belt. I know for marathon runners it’s not a huge average weekly mileage but I’m pleased and I’m not a marathon runner yet.

It was a nice feeling yesterday knowing that everyone was having the same experience. Anyone running the London Marathon will almost certainly have been running their longest run of their training on Easter Sunday. All in it together.

With only 20 days to go the fundraising has now got to take centre stage. Blackburn Rovers have kindly donated a signed football for me to raffle off at work. Hopefully I can persuade some other local clubs to do the same – my Sister works in Manchester, my Brother & Mum in Liverpool so that’s the Northwest’s major cities covered off nicely.

While chatting in work the other day I think I’ve come up with a good idea – Wii olympics in the office. Pay a fee and take part in the 100m, fastest 3 win a prize. I think it’s a good fun idea but any feedback would be well received. Let me know what you think.

After the recent generous donations I need to raise nearly £60 a day for the next 20 days, luckily the whole family’s helping so hopefully we’ll make the target but I think a final push is coming on shortly.

So, 20 days to go. 82 days of the marathon training programme down. 830 days since I started running.

It’s getting exciting now.

This week’s all gone according to plan really, the three midweek runs were good although I needed a bit of a mental shove to get me through the door, Saturday’s leg-stretch was good and then onto Sunday.

I thought I’d best practice with my camera if I want to record some footage during the race itself, as you’ll have seen from yesterday’s post it seemed to work quite well. The run was good, I’d read an article about upping your pace towards the end of long runs so with 7k to go I did, I averaged above marathon pace and it was OK. I’m slightly unnerved by the fact that I seem to be building in confidence, I just don’t want to tempt fate. It was without doubt my best 20 miler yet, good pace, realtively easy, I think my fuelling and hydration strategies are now spot on, I’m getting a bit excited for the race now. If I’d have completed a marathon at that pace I’d have been close to 3:50 which isn’t too far from my original target.

Please take a look at my video blog and see what you think, feedback will be much appreciated.

I’m now past 440 miles since the start of the year, I’m quite chuffed with that, I’ve worn out a pair of shoes in three months.

I’ve got a nice new arm band for my Iphone, I tested it out on Sunday, it’s very comfortable. The Extrememac Sportswrap – I can highly recommend it.

My running playlist has expanded over the past few weeks, I’m sure I’ll get some stick for some of it though:

The Killers – all tracks
Florence and the Machine – Lungs
REM – Best of
She & Him – Volume 1 & 2
Kings of Leon – Only by the night
Lily Allen – all tracks

She & Him are the best feel good music around, I can’t recommend them enough.

So, here’s to my last big week of marathon training.