The London Marathon Virgin by pwhent

What do Louise Cross, Rob Sterry, Charlie Smith, Jessica Lutkin, Alison Hardisty, Mike Davies, John Hibbs, Frankie Holah, Helen Bevan, Robin Barnwell and I have in common?

We have never met and none of us knows each other, but we are bonded by two things. The first is that we are all running in the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday. But more specifically we are all part of a thriving community of London Marathon runners who have taken to Twitter to share the experience.

Over the last 5 months this small group and many like us have used the simplicity of Twitter to give and receive information, encouragement, motivation and occasionally commiseration. The #LondonMarathon hashtag is a great example of the generous side of human nature with many people putting their own problems to one side to help and encourage others through theirs. There has been a constant willingness to engage whatever the subject. Part of this is probably due to the fact that we have run out of people who will listen to our London Marathon stories elsewhere – I know I have. But more likely the bond is because only someone else going through four winter months of relentless training sessions on cold dark mornings will know how hard it gets and how occasionally it can really get on top of you. Luckily not everyone on Twitter has hit their low point at the same time. There has always been someone ready to give a few words of encouragement.

This community (and I include many more than just the ten names listed above) is virtual and temporary. Once the 22^nd April has passed the group will evaporate back into the ether from whence it came to be replaced by the class of 2013 in about 6 months time. So before that happens and as we approach the big day let me take this moment to say thank you to everyone on the #Londonmarathon thread for their company, information, encouragement, motivation and interest. But most of all for being a part of my incredible London Marathon experience. As a group we have come a long way, literally! From tentative 3-mile runs back in December to monster long runs in the last few weeks. We have chatted together, shared highs and lows and enjoyed many jokes. But whatever else we have done, as a group our finest hour is yet to come.

Good luck everyone!