Thank you!

So the marathon is done and over. On what turned out to be an extremely hot day, which affected lots of runners - I managed to get round in about 6 and a quarter hours - about 45 minutes slower than I had hoped. But, I am pleased to have gotten round without collapsing, heat exhaustion or other issues...it was also an honour to run alongside PC David Rathband who had been shot in the face by Raoul Moat. He was just one of the people who were running for all of their own many personal reasons.

It was the hardest thing I have ever done - but I wanted to take this opportunity to say a huge "thank you" to my better half for going running with me and for getting me to do this in the first place (even if it was a year late!), my family for their support and ribbing that forced me to do the distance but perhaps as importantly the thousands of total strangers who stood and cheered all of us running.

The priest who blessed us as we went past - the London Fire Brigade who were out hosing us down, the families there with their children offering much-needed jelly babies - the St John's Ambulance volunteers who were there offering vital supplies of vaseline (say no more), the people handing out water and Lucozade and the thousands of people who made the event so slick and well managed and who cheered every single one of us over the line...

I doubt I will ever do it again, but I have my medal and literally the t-shirt. I am also in the process of losing at least one toenail and trying to regain movement in my back and legs. A wonderful experience and I'm glad that I've done it.

To everyone who completed the race - well done. To anyone thinking about doing it - do the training and don't ever underestimate the scale of the undertaking. It is absolutely worth it.

Alan