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My London Marathon by KM reporter Mary Graham
One of the most defining moments of the whole marathon course was a sea of runners approaching Tower Bridge flanked by deep crowds either side.
It is not just the race itself that provides so many wonderful moments. There’s the build-up with supportive messages from friends, special training plans and sponsorship money creeping up that makes you feel part of an elite club.
I have always wanted to run the marathon and often had a little pang of jealousy at interviewing others who put themselves through the 26.2 miles but on the day it is the crowds who make the challenge so enjoyable.
At every single stage of the course there is someone clapping and cheering you on. In many places the crowds were six or seven deep.
And when you are feeling battered by the pain of running you can’t quite put into words the joy of hearing a stranger shout out your name, or spotting friends and relatives in the crowd.
That didn’t mean there weren’t any low points. The niggly aches and pains set in at mile 13 and only got worse.
My "wall" came at about 17 miles - already aching and trying not to think about another nine to go. Miles 17-20 passed by in a blur of thinking that I was going to walk for a bit and try and take it easy but I didn’t and that again was thanks to the crowds with one woman shouting out: "Keep going Mary, you’re looking really good".
And then there was the rather hilarious moment shared by me and several other women deciding to avoid the queue for portable toilets and lining up to take a wee behind the bushes around mile five.
But I think the other 34,999 competitors would agree that it is the spectators who deserve a huge thanks for getting us round.
I don’t know who most of them were or where they had come from but I could have hugged them for bothering to turn out and do what was necessary to keep our legs going.
