Only my second time applying and I got a ballot place.

I don't normally get race nerves but I had butterflies for a week before this race. 

Got the train from Leeds and flew through the expo. (I'm too grumpy and it was too busy). Got a reasonable night's sleep and met a friend to travel in to the red start. 

I walked from red to blue in glorious sunshine and soaked up the atmosphere. I managed to bump into quite a few of my club in the blue start. 

The race start was crowded, as I expected and so I had settled for a slightly slower first 2 miles. With the heat I had decided to drink every 2 stations to get the balance right (that went out the window after mile 10 when I took a bottle at every station). 

I had taken salt tablets and gels and took one of each at alternate 3 miles starting at mile 12.

The course was fantastic, some of the views were breath taking, I'll never forget tower bridge. The support was on another level, I had taken my music but think I heard 3 songs on the entire route. 

I met my family at mile 21, they were giving out ice pops to people and that was a welcome break, I was 5 mins ahead of my target time with 5 miles to go. 

It always amazes me how fast things change on a long run, mile 21 I'm fine, mile 24 I'm in bits and walking. 

I missed my target time by a minute but don't care, the day was fantastic and I finished.