Best strategy for a roving spectator?

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♪♫ ♪♫ Synge ♪♫ ♪♫ Feb 2019 11:38am, 28 Feb 2019 27,517 posts	0 ♪♫ ♪♫ Synge ♪♫ ♪♫ Suggestions please! This year, child #1 is participating for the first time. Championship start and target time under 2:50. I will be going to the start with her (although not necessarily staying there until the actual start) and will be aiming to see her somewhere in the last mile or so. (Perhaps near the end of the Embankment or in Birdcage Walk.) Times along the way should be fairly predictable. I am familiar with the course, having run it several times, but have never spectated before. I wonder whether there is a viable strategy for trying to see her at one or two other locations in between? I suspect you will tell me that there are long queues for public transport ...
GordonG Feb 2019 11:51am, 28 Feb 2019 7,681 posts	0 GordonG just to clarify: you are talking about the London Mara? from my experience last year, then yes public transport will be busy but definitely manageable, particuarly if you avoid the obvious places and buy a travel pass Isle of Dogs is usually good as is the part of the (A13 i think it is) where runners go down one side then up the other. i found moving around all perfectly manageable, but you definitely need to plan in advance and not wing it on the day.
♪♫ ♪♫ Synge ♪♫ ♪♫ Feb 2019 11:52am, 28 Feb 2019 27,518 posts	0 ♪♫ ♪♫ Synge ♪♫ ♪♫ Thanks, GG, yes, I posted it into the VLM section but failed to identify it in any other way ... d'oh!
♪♫ ♪♫ Synge ♪♫ ♪♫ Feb 2019 11:56am, 28 Feb 2019 27,519 posts	0 ♪♫ ♪♫ Synge ♪♫ ♪♫ So ... DLR from Greenwich to Tower Hill? Or does that count as obvious places to be avoided? And then - District/Circle line to St James Park?
Fizz :-) Feb 2019 12:47pm, 28 Feb 2019 3,083 posts	0 Fizz :-) You could walk from the start to Deptford quite easily (mile 8), then tube into Canary Wharf, and finally the finish. If she's Championship, then it might not be too crowded? Also, try to agree which side of the road you'll be standing on, and maybe agree a nickname that you'll shout at her, instead of her real name (if she's having it printed on her vest).
larkim Feb 2019 1:08pm, 28 Feb 2019 6,836 posts	0 larkim She's pretty swift then!! Top 10 non-elite woman last year was 2:53, will have to watch out for her results!! Good luck!!
DeeGee Feb 2019 1:10pm, 28 Feb 2019 18,429 posts	0 DeeGee What I usually do as a roving spectator is get to the Angerstein Hotel in Westcombe Park, which is about mile 5, then edge my way across the road to jog to North Greenwich station, popping up at Canary Wharf to catch miles 15, 18 and 20, then get to the Highway for Fetchpoint.
♪♫ ♪♫ Synge ♪♫ ♪♫ Feb 2019 1:11pm, 28 Feb 2019 27,523 posts	0 ♪♫ ♪♫ Synge ♪♫ ♪♫ Thanks! (Her debut was 2:51 in the Marine Corps Marathon last year - fingers crossed!)
D2 Feb 2019 1:24pm, 28 Feb 2019 11,118 posts	0 D2 I'm excited for her already Synge!!
Oranj Feb 2019 3:41pm, 28 Feb 2019 1,415 posts	0 Oranj Can you still run through the Rotherhithe tunnel on marathon day? That was always a useful shortcut when I was chasing after mum (but she was only a sub-4 runner, at best, so I had more time).