Dim's plan to be Good for Age is to grow older by Dim

• Wow, Wow, Wow

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  May0520129:56 p.m.

  Where do I start? Well I'm going to start by mentioning some very generous people. I am overwhelmed by the number of people who have really dug deep and very generously sponsored me for the VLM 2012. I was running in aid of Nightingale House Hospice and in memory of  a great colleague, Steph who very sadly died of cancer last year at the age of just 26.

  The support has been amazing, raising over £1,400 to date. Added to that the value of some of those donations has been incredible. I also have some sincere thanks to post on here to an anonymous donor who sponsored me £50 on my Virgin Money Giving page. I wish I knew for sure who you are. The simple but effective message "Encouraging you from afar...." was as greatly received as your most generous donation. Thank you so much.

  Now onto my second "Wow". London, you really know how to party. What a great time I had at the Marathon. I had the good fortune of starting at the Green Start which was great. In order to make the most of the day, I got there really early (okay really, really, early) as I took the very first, and pretty empty train of the morning to Maze Hill from Charing Cross.

  There were few people about and as I had plenty of time to kill I made my way over to the celebrity enclosure where the BBC were warming up. While I was there, there were many celebrities who I failed to recognise but also some that I did. Out of all the celebs, it seemed to be Gordon Ramsay who was called out for the most from the crowd and to be honest I was impressed by the way he responded and interacted with them.

  Whilst looking around I had my first moment of fame on the BBC, although I was totally oblivious until I returned home. It seems that as Sue Barker was warming up, standing in the crowd (generally looking the wrong way was yours truly, stood there in his very old and very faded blue tracksuit top (One that I was to ditch just before the race).

  I have started from the blue and red starts before and really enjoyed the atmosphere but this was my first time at Green. It was great because you could spot celebs and it was great because the starting pens were so small everyone was quickly over the start line but I do think the red and blue starts have more atmosphere.

  Soon we were on our way and given my poor training this time I just decided to take it easy and enjoy myself, particularly as the weather was so perfect which was a great surprise after the freezing cold rain and wind the night before.

  Shortly after the start was the sound of gunfire and a lady to my right went down. What was going on? Was there a sniper picking us off? As it happened the 2 incidents were unrelated. The lady had tripped on uneven ground and went sprawling but was fortunately okay. The gunfire was from an Olympic shooting test event at Woolwich Royal Artillery Barracks.

  The next really big event for me was the sight of the Cutty Sark. This was my 4th London Marathon but the first where I have been able to see this magnificent piece of maritime history. Awesome.

  After about 10 miles I just had to stop. I wasn't tired and I was still grinning from ear to ear as I was loving every minute but after drinking so much water I had to join the queues for the loos - and there I stayed for over half an hour (okay it was actually less than 2 minutes but it felt like half an hour). It didn't actually bother me though as I had no time to aim for.

  My grinning continued as I crossed Tower Bridge. In previous times I thought Tower Bridge atmosphere was electric with all the crowds. This time although good, the crowds seemed to respond better elsewhere.

  This was the first marathon where I have been able to respond to the crowd. In past ones when someone has shouted "Go on Glenn" or "Well done Glenn - keep it going" I have tended to nod in their direction and put my thumb up or make a thank you gesture. This time, as I wasn't pushing so hard I could actually speak and thank them, and they responded. Was I loving that? - You bet.

  My smiles continued till past 19 miles where I started to tire but again not to the extent of previous times and I still had energy to wave to cameras and pick jelly babies out of kind supporters' bowls.

  At The Tower of London I got my next few moments of fame on the BBC. Another chance to wave at the camera and it appears that my ugly mug was broadcast to the nation.

  Before long I was at the Houses of parliament and making the turn for Birdcage Walk. My estimated finish time was between 4:30 and 5:00 hours but I felt it would be nearer the 4:30 mark. When i looked at my watch  I got a bit of a shock. I was rather early so tried to pull out my phone and dial Melanie and the children who were going to be in the grandstand to welcome me in from around the 4 hours 30 point.

  "Get off the phone - you're nearly at the finish" came a shout from the crowd" I garbled a message about being nearly there over the phone to Melanie and I took off down Birdcage Walk, turned into The Mall and waved as I ran past Melanie and the Children. It was fantastic. I then stepped it up a gear and went for the finish, which I made in 4 hours 10 minutes. My slowest but the most enjoyable marathon I have ever done. Yes I still had a few tears at the end but Wow it was fantastic.

  Due to my workload and poor training schedule this time (My choice of putting work ahead of running so I'm not complaining), I'd already decided that trying to put so many hours in at work whilst training for a marathon is not the way to go and for that reason I knew this would be my very last marathon - at least for a few years. It may come as a slight surprise then that on Monday morning this week I was one of the first to sign up for the ballot for places in 2013. Is this madness? Well probably, but Hannah and Ben (my children) have both entered as well and how amazing would it be if we all got in together. 

  Oh, as I was so taken with the BBC's coverage of my efforts I've posted them in my videos section. I appear 9 seconds into the "TV Debut" video, in the centre front of the picture wearing a white shirt and white sweatband on my head waving away (oh how uncool). You won't be able to pot me on the other video unless you have really sharp eyes as I appear very much in the background of the shot 1 min 19seconds in. I'm wearing an old blue sweatshirt to the right hand side of the picture while Sue Barker was starting the day off.

  Sorry about the quality (of me and of the video), it looked better before I converted it into wmv format.

   Right I've droned on enough so I'll leave you with just a few photos.

  

  

  

  

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  评论 (10)

  • peterb 'well done Glen , pleaesd you have entered for next year too, all runners are mad !!!!!!!!!' added 6th 五月 2012

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  • Nick 'Good to hear from you again, Glen. I'm just sorry I missed you on the day! Maybe next year?' added 6th 五月 2012

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  • fatrev 'Great account Glenn hope to see you next year ' added 6th 五月 2012

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  • crooxi 'Your post title sounds as though it might be about a dog! Will you still talk to us now you've attained celebrity status?' added 6th 五月 2012

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  • Petecw29 'Great running Glenn hope you get time to train next year and hopefully I'll see you there!!' added 6th 五月 2012

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  • janisbrown 'Fantastic report Glenn - that was an amazing time. Just wish my day had gone so well as yours. Sorry I didn't see you at the start but I spent so long in the queue for the portaloos that I didn't see anyone. I'm afraid I won't see you there next year if you get in - I haven't entered this time - 5 years in a row is enough for me - can't face doing that same route again' added 7th 五月 2012

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  • judith 'Great report and hope to see you there next year.' added 7th 五月 2012

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  • Johnf 'I didn't even know you were running but well done on getting round it again, sounds like it was fun though of course you'll never want to start with the common people again!' added 8th 五月 2012

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  • moose10 'well done glen always surprising how well we run when we don't put any pressure on ourselves great report' added 8th 五月 2012

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  • Hat 'Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Glenn, so glad you enjoyed the race but I am really miffed that I missed your starring performance on the tele! However, the great pics make up for it! And congratulations on raising so much money in memory of your colleague Steph - what a star you are and what a lovely report you've written. So, then... signed up for next year with your children, how very exciting! PS. Your son is very tall isn't he...And good looking too of course, in fact you have a really handsome family indeedy!xxx' added 9th 五月 2012

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