Author: Claire Purnell
Race date: 27th April 2025
Warning… very long post. You might want to grab a cuppa.
So, London Marathon Day finally arrived, this is what the last 20 weeks of training had led up to.
One more long run, well that was what I was telling myself. Just one more long run to get through.
The week leading up to the race was filled with, I think, equal amounts of excitement, nerves and anticipation. Final taper week wasn’t quite the idyllic week I had in mind. Instead, I came down with a stinking cold which still plagued me on race day. So, I basically did nothing but feel sorry for myself for the whole week – but hey a bit of self-indulgence never hurt anyone!! – lol
A ray of sunshine appeared on my doorstep on the Friday morning, in the form of @TracyRatcliffe. With such a lovely gift and good luck card.
Tracy, that was so very kind and thoughtful of you. Thank you so very much, it really did brighten my day.
Saturday saw me and my amazing marathon running buddy @TeresaBrown, heading to the Marathon XPO to collect our race bibs. How glad was I that Teresa knew the ropes, as I would have been a rabbit in headlights for sure!!! Even walking round the XPO, finding our names on the wall and collecting our T-shirts. It all still felt a little surreal.
We then headed to our hotel in Stratford to relax, do a bit of carb loading and have a well-earned glass of wine (which was obviously just medicinal to settle our nerves). An early night was on the cards, so we settled down in front of the TV. Fun fact of the weekend… Teresa Brown is an absolute mastermind at the 1% club!!
Race day soon arrived, and we were up bright and early to head to our starting area red at Greenwich for 9.30am. It had been one of our fears that Teresa and I wouldn’t get the same starting point but thankfully luck was on our side, and we were both able to head out together.
Once at Greenwich, after we bagged dropped, spotted Coxy for a quick picture and had 15 nervous wees. It definitely started to feel very real. The earlier waves were being called, and it was only a waiting game from now on. Our start time was 10.45am and it was already starting to feel very warm. Good old English weather with a freak heat wave day, just when you don’t want it.
The organisation was like clockwork, the waves steadily and surely went off until it was our turn in wave 11. Before we knew it and pretty much dead on 10.45am we were crossing that start line. For about the first 30 minutes I think the only thought I had in my head was “I’m doing the London marathon… I am actually doing the London marathon” and maybe a few other things not fit for publication. From this point it was wall to wall support from the cheering crowds and time to knuckle down and get the job done. Around mile 3 we began to merge with the runners from the other starting points and it was just a pure sea of runners.
I think the heat was definitely the challenge of the day, so it was going to be a tough one. There were regular points of water showers across the course which we took full advantage of at each and every one and further into the course they were handing out cups of ice at some stations, which were a godsend.
Our first ray of light was at around mile 7 at Cutty Sark were we first saw the amazing RCR purple army support crew. I can hear those cow bells a mile off!! A quick high five here and on we went. Honestly, I cannot tell you how amazing the crowds are. They make each and everyone of those thousands of runners feel special. To hear your name being called out by complete strangers, just willing you to carry on. The whole 26.2 miles is lined with supporters. banners, DJ’s, singers, choirs and so much more. It is impossible to take it all in.
Sadly, for me disaster began to strike just before Tower Bridge, around the 12-mile mark. When my calves started to cramp. My heart sunk. As you can imagine, my mind racing as to what the rest of the run would look like now. Of all my worries about race day, was this ever one of them. Absolutely not. Injury, exhaustion yes… bloody cramps.. no!!! I have only ever suffered with this once before and again it was on a long run on a very hot day. Just my luck.
Well giving up was not even an option… I would have crawled over that finish line if I had too… Thankfully if I walked a bit, stretched a bit I could still manage some running, so all was not lost. If I slowed the running, shorten my steps I seemed to be able to hold the cramps away a little longer, but they remained with me until the very end.
So, now it was time to plough on and get it done. Mile 17, Canary Wharf was another lovely motivational point. My friend had bought my children, Megan and Brayden to London for the weekend. I knew they were around this marker, and I desperately wanted to make sure I saw them and stop to say hello. They had seen me at Cutty Sark, but I hadn’t seen them. Thankfully there they were, jelly babies in hand. It was really great for the kids to be there. If not, to them, Mum was just on another long Sunday run.. big deal,,, I think they were truly amazed by the whole event and for teenagers that’s saying something. A few hundred yards up were the fabulous purple army again, so we stopped and had a little chat. Which was actually really lovely. Finishing time no longer a real issue, just finishing.
The final miles saw more amazing crowds, the struggles where real all around us. The heat had really taken its toll on many. Mile 23 and there was the purple cheer squad again, a quick high five this time and on to the end. Finally Big Ben was in sight, mile 25… Literally the last push now… The finish line was amazing. Onto the Mall and past Buckingham Palace. What more could you ask for.
I have never been so glad to see a finish line… Now where’s my bling!!
So that just about completes my marathon experience. It wasn’t the run I had trained or hoped for, and I am not going to lie. That has made me feel quite disappointed and sad. So many thoughts this week of what I could have done better. Did I not hydrate enough, fuel enough. We all know hindsight is a wonderful thing. As the week has gone on and with so many positive messages coming my way. I’ve tried to put those negative thoughts behind me… I finished a Marathon, and I have a massive shiny medal to show for it!
All that said, it truly was the most amazing experience, a marathon, taking in some of London’s best landmarks and with the best atmosphere from start to finish. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
Have I entered next year’s ballot — absolutely yes!!!! – along with the other 1.13 million people, so I won’t be holding my breath.
Post marathon has felt very strange. Almost like when you are back from holiday and think “Oh its over… that went quick” Thankfully the legs were nothing more than stiff for a couple of days and the stairs a bit of a challenge. I got back to gym classes by Wednesday to get them moving again and all seemed ok, but now there is a marathon shaped whole in my routine. I’m still getting my head around that one!!
I just want to say a huge thank you to Teresa for being such a great marathon buddy, to everyone who joined on training runs, everyone for all their lovely messages, support and kind words. Everyone in the RCR cheer squad that made the trip to support – it all made such a difference, so thank you.
And finally, a big thank you to RCR for the chance to experience such an iconic event. I really am truly grateful, and I will never forget it.
Wishing all the best to next name drawn for class of 26 – you are going to love it!!
Happy running.
Claire
