London Marathon 2026 - You Get the Result You Deserve

The start to my London race morning didn't go quite as I would have wished.  I set off for the station after having a shake and a cup of tea, leaving Lauren and the girls to have breakfast at the Premier Inn.  I have an enlarged prostate which I don't take medication for (I should), most of the time it is manageable but a long tube trip lacking in toilet facilities, pre-race nerves and some over-hydration meant I was desperately hunting for toilet facilities after one tube stop, running up the escalator at 7:30 wasn't ideal.  

That dealt with, I returned to the platform and got on a much quieter tube and arrived at Greenwich DLR in plenty of time. The main start zone was red, but I was heading to pink, I had ambitiously put 3:30 as my target upon signing up and that got me in pink wave 4.  Pink was full of relatively quick people and was small, which made the pre-race less stressful but also meant the start lacked some of the big race buzz that I think the red start would have had.

I set off at 9:52 as scheduled, it was a lovely low key start.  I'm not sure how many runners there were in pink wave 4 but it didn't feel like many.  There were lots of speed bumps in the opening km or so, but the marshalls at each hump/bump were enthusiastically pointing these out to us, with some hump innuendo thrown in to good effect.  To continue the theme of the morning I needed the loo almost immediately and took advantage of the portaloos just before 2km.  That was a 30 second investment, but it was good to be comfortable and get into my running properly from there.

Over the course of the race my Garmin got 500m or so ahead of the official measurement.  It is London so I am happy the course isn't long, this was just a case of high buildings/tunnels mucking up the signal.  I saw most of the km markers, so maybe if I ever return I will manually split at each km rather than rely on the autolap.  The first five km's were as follows:

• 5:11
• 5:51 (30-40 sec loo stop)
• 5:07
• 5:06
• 4:55

Total time of 26:09 - Official 5km split 26:28 - Avg HR 149.

I felt comfortable, the sun was out but the heat wasn't there.  The crowds were good and the roads were the clearest they would be all day.  It was maybe after this 5km that we joined up with some of the other starts, but don't hold me to that.

The next 5km were the fastest of the race for me:

• 4:57
• 4:58
• 5:00
• 4:59
• 4:59

5km Garmin split of 24:52 and a total time of 51:01 - Official 10km split 51:44 - Avg HR 160

Geez I only finished the race this afternoon and the memories are leaving my head already.  This section was good, I was enjoying myself.  I know it is difficult to believe when we see where this race goes, but it did genuinely feel an appropriate effort level.  The splits are in a very tight band, the HR is ok.  I guess expecting to be able to hold 160 BPM for another three hours is ambitious even if we believe that I naturally have quite a high HR when exercising.

The third 5km splits were:

• 4:56
• 5:01
• 5:04
• 5:04
• 5:02

5km Garmin split of 25:07 and a total time of 1:16:08 - Official 15km split 1:17:39 - Avg HR 164

The gap between the Garmin and the official splits goes out big in this section.  From 43 seconds different in 10km it increases to 1 minute 31 seconds after 15km.  It was at this point when I was seeing a whole load of low 5 minute km's (I missed the big 2nd km split) that I started to dream, maybe just maybe I could PB this thing.  Pre-race I thought there was a 20% chance I could PB, but now with a bounce in my step and the race effort fogging my brain that number was increasing to 30% plus.   I think if I had registered that gap between my splits and the official splits I might have reined it in a little, but maybe not.

I had hoped to see Lauren and the girls just after 10km by the Cutty Sark but they had some issues with pushy spectators and a runner in distress near where they were standing and so we missed each other.  I messaged once I was past the Cutty Sark to let them know so they could move onto the next spot.

The fourth 5km splits were:

• 5:04
• 5:06
• 4:59
• 5:02
• 5:00

5km Garmin split of 25:11 and a total time of 1:41:20 - Official 20km split 1:42:47 - Avg HR 164

That difference between the Garmin and the official splits essentially remained the same through that 5km.

No sooner had I had made the decision that it was PB or blow-up, that I had this five km.  The splits and HR are both very similar from that 10km-15km section, but it felt harder.  The difficulty with London is you get swept along by the cheering crowds, but more importantly by the flow of runners.  It is very difficult not to get caught up by the pace of those around you even if it is 5 or 10 seconds a km too fast for you.

The fifth 5km splits were:

• 4:58
• 5:06
• 5:11
• 5:09
• 5:39 (walk breaks begin)

5km Garmin split of 26:03 and a total time of 2:07:23 - Official 25km split 2:09:10 - Avg HR 167

The average HR for the section of 167 and that is enough to break me.  Walking in the 25th km means a slog for 17km.  It is one of those maths equations, if you can just push that out, make it to 30km make it to 32km, then we have 10km of slog, an hour maybe 70 minutes of torturous run/walk grit your teeth and make the best of it.  17km now we are talking nearly two hours of this silly dance and the best bit is you get to do it in front of tens of thousands of very vocal and enthusiastic spectators wanting you to put on a show.  It is a very public, very humbling suffering.  Totally self inflicted on my part, a lack of long runs and poor pacing choices on the day, but painful none the less.

I went over Tower Bridge just before halfway and this was the spot to look out for Luke and Amber and the boys.  I had just finished texting I am over Tower Bridge thinking I had missed them when I spotted them and managed to shout Amber as I ran past and I was greeted with a loud cheer from them all.  After the race Luke said I looked strong at that point, but it was 3km later that I succumbed to that first walk break.

The sixth 5km splits were:

• 6:09
• 6:13
• 6:38
• 6:18
• 5:57

5km Garmin split of 31:15 and a total time of 2:38:38 - Official 30km split 2:41:35 - Avg HR 157

I couldn't work out why the official splits looked ok.  My blow-up definitely felt worse than they were indicating.  That is because I thought the average pace I was looking at was for the 5km section, but in fact it was your race average and so the drop off wasn't as severe.  

I don't want to spoil the ending with us still having 12 agonising km to cover but by the end of the race I would have run for three and a half hours, walked for 33 and a half minutes and spent a minute standing still.  When I was running I was really running, not shuffling, averaging 8:37 minute miles (5:21 min/km).  I just needed those walk breaks to get my HR down and to get myself safely to the end.

It will have been in this section that I saw Lauren and the girls along with our surprise guest, Amy from Dubai! I knew she was over, but thought she had family commitments and so wouldn't be coming to watch.  What a lovely pick me up that was to see all four of them as I was slogging my way through that endless run/walk cycle.

My brain really was mush at this point, I feared I could be on for 4 hours and 40 minutes plus at one stage.  That was probably worst case if I walked it in with no running, but there was also just some bad maths in there as well.

I reluctantly left my supporters and continued on my journey to the finish, my medal and a well earned sit down.

I think we can mash together the next two 5km sections, we were fully in the pain cave throughout:

• 6:51
• 7:37
• 7:19
• 6:47
• 6:14
• 6:19
• 6:47
• 6:34
• 6:47
• 6:47

Garmin splits of 34:48 and 33:15 and total time of 3:13:26 and 3:46:41. Official splits of 3:16:46 and 3:50:33.  HR now down to 146 and 149 thanks to the walking.

One of the risks of running and particularly with marathons is the threat of collapse.  Whether that is the heat, a pacing issue, an underlying health condition, being undertrained or one of a myriad other reasons.  I saw a lot of runners in distress today, and to my memory they were all men.  I hope all of them were ok and made it home safe to their families.  

I can see how it happens, there were times late on where I felt myself trying to push it, no great pace but just running further than I should before my next walk break.  I was keen to get the race completed as quickly as possible and would have liked to have gone sub 4 hours, with proper pacing I definitely should have.  But in that final hour I pulled back at several moments, the risk of being one of those runners needing medical attention far out weighed the reward of going sub 4 hours.

In the end I finished in a time of exactly 4 hours and 4 minutes.  Finishing with splits of 6:19 and 6:20.  Along with a final garmin section of 0.53 miles in 4:44.  I went through the sign saying 385 yards to go and still found time for one final walk break.  It meant that I could run strong down that final finishing straight.

I received my beautiful and weighty medal, some water and Lucozade and found my support crew.  Hugs were given and received, photos taken and race stories exchanged.  We then headed to the pub for lunch before the train home.  What a day!

The London Marathon gave me everything I expected.  The crowds were incredible, there really was no let up.  I was in my own little world and so maybe I missed some of the landmarks, but I definitely got the Cutty Sark, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.  I expected the crowds of runners, but walking was difficult and I felt very much in the way when I was doing it. I am very grateful for having got my place in the ballot and experienced one of those bucket list races.  I have done so many races and the average person really isn't too interested, but the London Marathon is the exception, so many people wished me well and tracked my progress.  

I have entered the ballot for 2027 and will likely do so every year whilst I continue to run, I hope I return and get to run the whole thing and really do myself justice but it won't break my heart if I don't.  Me and marathons don't really get on and particularly not big city marathons.  10km and half marathons you can hurt yourself early and throughout, marathons are a game of delaying the pain, putting the handbrake on, the race doesn't start till the final 10k and that isn't really a bit of me.  

It would have been really handy if Pheidippides had run a full effort 10km before collapsing and dying rather than the 26.2 miles between Marathon and Athens.

My marathon PB was set at Chester way back in October 2011, that was a quiet marathon out on country lanes for much of it, like the Shakespeare Marathon that I have enjoyed on a number of occasions.  It is those types of races where I feel most relaxed and run best, and hope to PB in the not too distant future.  It isn't a criticism of London and other big city marathons, they just don't suit me as well.

One advantage of run/walking that final 17 kms is that my legs should recover a lot quicker.  I am giving blood on Friday and so I will have a gentle week or 10 days post race before getting back into my running again.  I have a series of 10km and half marathon races over the next few months and I will hopefully find a marathon to target this autumn.  We go again, the marathon distance may have got the better of me this time, but I will win one of these days.

London Easter 10k - 6th April 2026

My original plan was to spend my Bank Holiday Monday running 31km, my last long run before the London Marathon in three weeks time.  Instead I chose to take advantage of Lauren and the girls visting Jan and booked myself in for a 10km race in London.  I enjoyed a successful half marathon in Middlesbrough in March along with my parkrun performance at Clare on Saturday and so I wanted to get a 10km race in to complete the set.

I last ran a 10k at the end of October last year in 47:48, now with five or so months of good training behind me and my 20:58 5km from Saturday I felt that a sub 45 minute 10km should be achievable.  I had done a little pre-race research and it looked like a small event of 200 or so runners.with not alot of super speedy ones so sub 45 would have me fairly near the front.

I was a little keen, and so left the house not long after 7am and arrived at the station in plenty of time for my 7:45 train to London.  Hopping on the circle line to Great Portland Street and the short walk to Regents Park for the race.  I arrived about 9am and had plenty of time to waste with the race not starting till half 10.  

I haven't been to Regents Park before, but it was beautiful.  A perfect spring morning and I enjoyed a stroll around the park, whilst trying to scout out the route as a I did.  With the walk to the station as well I managed to hit my 11,000 steps for the day before the race even started.  I did a short one km warm-up and got myself back to the start in time for the briefing.  Nothing too dramatic to report, 10km is 3 laps and count your own laps.  

The kids in the two mile fun run were right at the front and I was a couple of rows further back.  I just wanted to avoid any slow moving traffic in front.  I did ok in that respect, but only just.  One woman ran, then stopped dead on the start line, presumably because she didn't have satelitte signal or some such.  It was mental, but we all managed to avoid crashing into the lunatic.  

The race then turned onto a nice wide path and I could get into my running.  The park was still open to the public and so there was some weaving.  They had said in the race instructions that it was a no headphone race and I took them at their word.  I didn't want to mess about with bagdrops and so I ran the 10k with my big headphones round my neck.  The course wasn't the most straight forward and so hearing the marshalls instructions was useful and you are generally a bit more in tune with your surroundings when headphoneless.  

The race spread out quickly.  I was working hard throughout the race, breathing heavily from the start and throughout, and this time I didn't have the music to drown it out.  I could feel the effort level was a little too high and I was hunting for km signs early and often.  

It was difficult to tell who was in the race and who wasn't.   You would come past a runner and they might be someone you were lapping, or a runner happily enjoying their run, obvilious that a race was going on.  There were also dogs off leads, walkers and kids out with their parents enjoying the Bank Holiday sun.  It all meant that you had to have your wits about you.  As the race wore on and the fatigue set in that became harder and harder.  I managed to remain on course and not trip over any innocent bystanders.

There were some bumps around the course, nothing too dramatic but enough that you had to work.  The roll down the hill after the fountain that I used to recover, then turning around and back up the slope before a nice gentle downhill and a second gradual incline.  I was hanging on heading into the third lap and that is shown in my splits, here they are for the entire race:

• 4:16 - 1km
• 4:23 - 2km
• 4:14 - 3km
• 4:21 - 4km
• 4:23 - 5km
• 4:15 - 6km
• 4:23 - 7km
• 4:29 - 8km
• 4:26 - 9km
• 4:19 - 10km
• Final 0.07 miles 26 seconds (5:52 min/miles)

That cluster from 7km-9km you can see I am clinging on.  All mid to high 4:20's before a final push of 4:19 and then a sprint for the line and that 26 seconds of extra effort I could have done without.  Rather too long than too short though.

I finished strong, relieved to have finished, I could so easily have resorted to a 30 second catch your breath walk at numerous points during the race but didn't.  My final time of 43:55 really was my maximum effort and I left nothing out there.  I finished 27th out of 218 finishers, but was disappointingly only the third fastest Simon, in a stacked Simon field.  

This race was my 27th 10km race and my fifth fastest , it was also my fastest in nearly 11 years, since my PB race of 41:44 in May 2015.  WAVA has me achieving 63.37% yesterday which is my best ever over the distance, that PB from 2015 was only worth 63.28%.  Which seems a little cruel for having gone more than two minutes faster, but that is what the world expects of fit young 31 year olds, they are a little kinder to 42 year olds trying to cling onto their running dreams.

I am hoping to get the originally planned 31km run completed tonight after work, no time goals, only to make it feel as easy as possible and boost my confidence as the London Marathon looms ever closer.  On Monday though there was no thought of the marathon, only the joy of having given my all for 44 minutes, the smile stayed with me all the way home.

Clare Castle parkrun - 4th April 2026

 It is always good to start the weekend with a parkrun, my opportunities have been few and far between with the girls dance commitments curtailing those.  This weekend was the Easter shutdown and so I took advantage and got myself along to Clare Country Park .   This was my second appearance at Clare, my previous one coming last Easter,  On that occasion I ran 24:31, and now much better trained I was hoping for 21:00-21:30.

It was a family affair, being the Easter weekend.  Lauren and the girls were there as my support crew, along with my Mum and Dad.  My brother Luke also ran with his son Thomas who is a regular at junior parkrun, and this was his second full parkrun, Thomas ran brilliantly, and comfortably came home in under half an hour.  Luke's wife Amber also ran strong and got under 35 minutes, far exceeding her expectations.

As for my race I had done some research and it looked like if I achieved my target time I would be finishing in the top 15 or so and so I positioned myself at the front on the right hand side ready for the go signal.  When it came, I hared off far too quickly.  I always like to go out hard, but even I knew this was excessive.  A glance at my watch and seeing 3:30 min/km confirmed it and I tried to ease back after that.

Looking at my 1/8th of a mile splits they have me going through the opening half mile as follows:

• 0.13 miles - 42 seconds (5:33 min/mile)
• 0.25 miles - 44 seconds (5:48 min/mile)
• 0.38 miles - 49 seconds (6:31 min/mile)
• 0.5 miles - 49 seconds (6:36 min/mile)

I managed to ease up sufficiently that I went through the first km in 3:53, stupid, but not as stupid as it might have been given the fast start.  It had me in 5th place, behind a young boy in an orange t-shirt.  The leader was off and out of sight, so it was clear my maiden parkrun victory would have to wait.  I ran 4:08 for km two, and a group of four runners went past me.  The race is three laps and so you get a look at those in front and behind you, I could see a steady stream of runners nipping at my heels and was concerned another wave would come past me.  In the event that didn't happen.

I saw Luke and Thomas running well as I headed back towards the start on the first lap, and waved and grunted at my supporters on completing the lap.  It was very much just trying to keep at it, I knew the time was good it was just a case of keep on, keeping on.  The third km was completed in 4:15.  I saw Amber on my second lap, and I was told after the race that she heard me before she saw me.  When I am at max effort I do make some horrible heavy breathing as I search for any available oxygen.  Thankfully I had my headphones on, playing my carefully curated Spotify playlist and so didn't hear myself.

Two laps completed is always nice, knowing that you are heading out on your final lap and you are seeing each spot for the last time.  I went through the fourth km in 4:13.  Clare is a narrow course and with it being three laps it can be a little awkward passing people, particularly near the end of the lap and the loop section.  You are then trying to fit in four lanes of traffic into what is a comfortable two lanes, and three at a squeeze.  Everyone was very accommodating and it didn't slow my progress.

I was relieved to make it out of the woods and onto the finishing straight.  I worked hard all the way through the line and was very pleased to receive a 9th position finishing token.  My official time was 20:58 just five seconds short of my time at Middlesbrough that I ran just after Christmas.  Middlesbrough is a much faster course, no sharp 180 degree turns, it is entirely on tarmac and is ever so slightly net downhill.  I was also 41 when I ran that and now aged 42 my WAVA is actually better for this weekend's effort.  

In fact, based on WAVA the only one of my 68 parkruns to beat this weekend's effort was my PB of 19:21 ran back in March 2011, that gave a WAVA of 66.67% compared to Clare's 66.06%.  Some other positive numbers from this weekend's effort, it was the first time I have run a sub 4 minute opening km since 2015, a more concerning stat is that my 5th km was 4:16 and the slowest of the day.  I normally start fast and finish fast, holding it together in the middle, with my third of fourth km being the slowest.  Today is only the second time ever that my slowest km has come in the final km.  It was only by a second, and the extra bit of distance at the end I ran in 15 seconds at 5:17min/mile pace so I did still leave a little something in the tank.

Overall I was really pleased with my performance, a comfortable course record and very close to my recent best.  I am hoping to run Southend parkrun next weekend and perhaps I can get sub 20:50 if the wind plays ball.  I won't fret too much, the plan is to take some big chunks off my 5k time during the course of 2026, for now Clare Castle parkrun was a very pleasing start to my Easter weekend.