Run > Race

Plan A for today was to 'run to feel' (probably about 7mm) until things started to wobble, and then switch to Plan B, which was just to enjoy it.

Plan A probably lasted until about 12 miles, when my legs were beginning to feel too tired, and then by about 14 my breathing was getting hard. Determined not to repeat the experience of 2010, so took a break to get half a bottle of Lucozade down, and then took the rest of the race easy. Was getting quite bad cramps in calves and quads from about 18 miles, which surprised me. Possibly down to the heat. Ended up doing a bit of a run/walk to the finish - but loved the atmosphere.

Not sure if it was the sunny weather, people wanting to stick two fingers up to the Boston bombers, or whether it was like this in 2010 but I was too out of it to remember, but the crowds were absolutely awesome. Loved the drums under the underpass again, the sight/sound of a French horn octet playing The Final Countdown, and a band playing once of my favourite songs (Dignity by Deacon Blue) just as I hit Tower Bridge. And the 30s silence at the start was electric.

So while it would have been nice to be a bit faster, I can't complain with a great run in the sunshine. Not sure about next year though...