[Other Sport] The 2024 Flora London Marathon

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

One year I got overtaken three times by a bloke being towed along behind a giant chicken. Eventually they ground to a halt and I coasted past them with ease. "What's up mate? You were cruising it back there. What happened?" I asked as I sailed past the forlorn couple. "Dunno mate" he replied "I think my big hen's gone"

 

[Badger]

Good luck to everyone running on Sunday. I have a few friends from Toronto who have flown over and I definitely have some jealous feelings (despite the fact I ran a marathon 4 days ago!) I have spectated a couple of times and it's just such a great a event to be part of.

London is on my bucket list. My 3 brothers have run it and I haven't. I need to correct that and establish myself as the #1 seed.

 

[dazzer6666]

One year I got overtaken three times by a bloke being towed along behind a giant chicken. Eventually they ground to a halt and I coasted past them with ease. "What's up mate? You were cruising it back there. What happened?" I asked as I sailed past the forlorn couple. "Dunno mate" he replied "I think my big hen's gone"

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I got beaten by bloody Big Bird in the Brighton 10k a couple of years back

I ran a reasonable time in London but having Barney Rubble over take me at the finish took the shine off a little.

 

[essbee1]

I did it in 1999 for the first time when we went through Tower of London cobbles. That hurt, I can
tell you after 20 miles or so.

Anyway, I was being sponsored to get extra cash for my time and I still feel a little bit guilty about
steamrolling through one of the tower gates and nearly knocking some old fella over. I apologised
but it wasn't my finest moment.

 

[big nuts]

I ran it for the first time last year; what an event; the best marathon I’ve run by some distance.

Good luck to everyone this year.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Even though I have a bit of a love/hate relationship It is a truly special event and I'm lucky enough to have run it three times (including my first one – FLORA FTW!). @dazzer6666 is right – there are so many special landmarks and points on the route – and the number of runners taking part in memory of other people is something else. I've never spectated, but would like to one year. Although I would imagine I'd suffer from major FOMO!

Oh – and good luck to THPP Jnr

 

[Driver8]

A German sausage overtook me on Tower Bridge.

That was the wurst.

I got overtaken by a stick of rock during the Brighton marathon.

 

[timbha]

I got overtaken by a stick of rock during the Brighton marathon.

two toilets overtook me a few years ago at BM in the “sprint” for the finish line

 

[BrianB]

My daughter is running her first marathon this Sunday raising money for Guide Dogs ,

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

I gave blood on the Thursday before the London marathon around 2002/3. Not one of my better decisions

 

[jonny.rainbow]

A guy dressed as a jockey overtook me on Birdcage Walk. I tried to keep with him and he was in my sites down the mall but I ran out of road.

When I watched the BBC coverage when I got home, him crossing the finish line was part of the closing best of montage set to the anthem ‘The Trap’.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

I know they run for good causes, but I just can't watch people running...

 

[jimhigham]

Running. The silver bullet that changed my life. It took me out of a mid-life crisis and gave me a renewed sense of self-esteem. And photographing my wife running led to a hobby becoming a decent side hustle.

I shall be photographing the London Marathon as part of the official crew for the first time on Sunday (I’ve snapped for Save The Rhino for fun). It’s a big deal. I’m buzzing with the anticipation. I’ll be at the start for the first massed wave and will then scurry off to Canary Wharf for the masses.

And yet the anticipation can’t match how much I actually want to run it myself. Never been lucky with the ballot in seven attempts. Will keep plugging away. Have told myself that if I don’t get lucky next year I might have to come out of “rhino retirement” to get the job done.

The very best of luck to everybody involved, whether that’s running, volunteering, supporting or even just the long suffering family members putting up with the training.

Also, I popped up in a podcast talking running (below) that’s the brainchild of a local photographer (he’s snapped at the Amex) who’s turning his hand to stand up and MCing. Please feel free to support the super Mr Beckford with a listen. Listed as Audible here but available on all the usual podcast places.

https://www.audible.co.uk/podcast/R...eativeId=da10e633-bbc5-4c97-9b7c-902348dad3f9

 

[BiffyBoy]

There’s something very special about the London marathon as both a spectator and runner.

As a spectator I’ve always felt it has that FA Cup Final day type feeling.

I’ve run all the Abbotts world major marathons and London is still my favourite.

The weather is looking good. I did it back in 2018 when it was the hottest in history and that wasn’t pleasant. A costume that year would have been brutal.

 

[Triggaaar]

One year I got overtaken three times by a bloke being towed along behind a giant chicken. Eventually they ground to a halt and I coasted past them with ease. "What's up mate? You were cruising it back there. What happened?" I asked as I sailed past the forlorn couple. "Dunno mate" he replied "I think my big hen's gone"

 

[brighton_tom]

Good luck anyone taking part! Just put myself in the ballot for next year.

 

[dazzer6666]

There’s something very special about the London marathon as both a spectator and runner.

As a spectator I’ve always felt it has that FA Cup Final day type feeling.

I’ve run all the Abbotts world major marathons and London is still my favourite.

The weather is looking good. I did it back in 2018 when it was the hottest in history and that wasn’t pleasant. A costume that year would have been brutal.

2018 was horrific. I ran the first half ‘on plan’ (ie not taking the heat into account) and almost blacked out just after half way. Basically limped to the finish from there then flaked out in St James’s park for ages. Didn’t have a piss until Monday lunchtime. There were people dropping like flies all over the place.

 

[BiffyBoy]

2018 was horrific. I ran the first half ‘on plan’ (ie not taking the heat into account) and almost blacked out just after half way. Basically limped to the finish from there then flaked out in St James’s park for ages. Didn’t have a piss until Monday lunchtime. There were people dropping like flies all over the place.

Wow! I’m impressed you managed that first half on plan. I remember it being hot from the start and just not being able to cool down. I ran London last year on the same training and it was 40 mins quicker than 2018 so times must have been a lot slower!

Good luck to everyone running! And enjoy the nice cold beer at the finish.

 

[dazzer6666]

Wow! I’m impressed you managed that first half on plan. I remember it being hot from the start and just not being able to cool down. I ran London last year on the same training and it was 40 mins quicker than 2018 so times must have been a lot slower!

Good luck to everyone running! And enjoy the nice cold beer at the finish.

Don’t be impressed, it was plain stupid