LONDON MARATHON, Sunday 27th April

May 8, 2025 admin

Race report Verity Glover

After Edinburgh marathon 3 years ago, I’d said ‘never again’… here we are 3 years later… in London!!! I have always wanted to do London marathon and with the club ballot place I couldn’t say no. Tom Paget, Amie Jordan & Sean Hornby were doing it too.

Training had actually gone really well and I was enjoying it. Until taper week struck and bam – cold city. Gutted, but no way was I backing out over a snotty nose! Sean had been hit with a bad cold & chest too, so I knew I wasn’t suffering alone (soz Sean).

Numbers picked up and name found on the wall at The Excel, I finally started to feel nervous. All carb-ed up and praying for sleep.. I still can’t decide if it was the dodgy fridge or the tube noise that kept waking me up!

My wave start was 10:04–09 from Blackheath – shout out to TFL for the smooth (albeit slightly squashed) train journey. The organisation was spot on; bag drop, no queue for the PEEquals (women’s urinals – absolute game changer!), and loads of time to soak it all in. I even bumped into Sean so we got to moan about our colds together and discuss logistics etc etc…

I had got myself into quite a comfortable pace, was lapping up all the crowds, ticking off the landmarks and felt pretty good until about 15 miles. The heat had really started to crank up and at this point I knew it was time to forget the pace and just focus on enjoying it. The crowds were incredible I have never experienced anything like it. Every bit of the course there were spectators either giving our sweeties, ice pops, djing, it was like a full-on street party! By mile 23 it was head vs legs battle. Cramp was creeping in and I’d dropped my salt tabs earlier on – that was a mental game in itself. I’m pretty sure my toes folded in on themselves at one point too from cramp. (I’m now 3 toenails down to date.) Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament came into view and I thought, we must be nearly there. Nope. That last mile felt like forever!!

And then finally – Buckingham Palace on the left… the finish line ahead. Crossing that line was all the emotions in one. Legs went into full spaghetti mode once I’d stopped running and a marshal had to shuffle me along.

I’m now paying the price with an irritating cough but it was 100% worth it and I am not saying ‘never again’ this time – it was ace and so worth the wait of 8 year rejections! I will, however, keep chasing my sub 4 dream! Peace out London