Road Runners run London Marathon

Here is a report from Qumrun who was one of our runners

 From Heat Struggles to Crowd Cheers: My London Marathon Redux

If life were a marathon,the London Marathon 2024 would be my victory lap.Flashback to 2018, when I waged war against the scorching heat, and let's just say, the heat won. But this time around, armed with determination and a hefty dose of sunscreen, I was ready to tackle those London streets once again.

Now, let me tell you, I'm not exactly what you'd call a "crowd person”. Give me a quiet beach over a bustling city any day. But when it comes to running the London marathon, I'll make an exception.

Being part of a club has its perks, they say. And boy, were they right! As a club member, I had the golden ticket to marathon glory this year. Four other brave souls from our club, Louise Draycott, Lucy Richards, Roscoe Howell and Kimberley Evans had also signed up for the adventure, but amidst the sea of runners, they were as elusive as a unicorn in Hyde Park. My friend and fellow club member, Maria Harries completed the challenge virtually.

The weather on race day was as perfect as a freshly brewed cup of English breakfast tea. Not too hot, not too cold, just Goldilocks-approved. And the crowd? Well, let's just say they were louder than Big Ben chiming at noon.

As I navigated the course, dodging elbows and high-fiving spectators along the way, Icouldn'tshake the feeling of deja vu.Hadn'tI been here before, battling the elements and my inner demons? But this time felt different. This time, I was determined to soak up every moment, crowd and all.

And as I crossed the finish line, a wave of emotions washed over me, relief, triumph, disbelief and most importantly, gratitude. Grateful for the perfect weather, grateful for the incredible crowd support, and above all, grateful for the opportunity to represent my club on the grand stage of the London Marathon.

So here's to the London Marathon 2024, where heat struggles and crowd aversions took a backseat to the sheer joy of the journey. It may not have been easy, but hey, where's the fun in easy?