London Marathon 26th April 2009

Up early to catch the first train from Totteridge at 6.55am. For the last 6yrs, I've met a chap who runs with a group from Hampshire. He usually stays with a friend in Totteridge on the Saturday night. This year he was in Potters Bar, but rather than travel direct from there, he chose to come to Totteridge Underground Station in order to meet me. I felt very flattered when he told me and said so to which he replied that it wouldn't have been the same and chatting en route helped keep the nerves at bay. I bid him farewell at Charing Cross until next year !
I changed at Embankment where runners were hovering about getting off or not; I told some to do so or it'd be a long jog back from Temple.I jogged down from Monument to the Tented Wheelchair entrants Rendevous opposite the old Billingsgate Fish Market. Quite a few were already there including Steve Peatty, my fellow coach ( N&EB ), who trains a group at Mile End Track in tandem with Paul Rea and my group at Ladywell, SE 6. I was nervous, worrying about the kids, especially those who'd not done the race before; I even had to make a visit to the Portaloo ! Last year, Colin Jackson confessed how nervous he was, he said it reminded him of the call up area at big Athletic Meetings. Time passed quickly as I had to fix chips to the chairs, check the chairs, tape up the athletes etc.One of our girls was a bit late as we had a lot of adjustments to carry out before she was comfortable, but I rushed her round the bollards and pushed her in at the front to the accompanyment of banter from Gerald Alterman ( Shaftesbury ) the Starter.
To kill the 10mins before the off, I led the waiting youngsters in some warm up and stretching drills and asked who was the celebrity. A small, slim, bald, black man in enormous shades put up his hand, so I cajoled him into talking to the children. It was Mo Farah - he seemed a nice, shy young man.
In the midst of the frenetic burn off the line, an 11yr old, Kirsty Young, was knocked out of her chair; the first time this had happened. After checking her shoulder, wiping her tears and checking her chair, I asked a woman to assist me in putting her back and she continued with me jogging beside her until the slope down the first underpass after which I didn't see her again until the end. Brave girl, she finished in 29.52, as I said to her, to be a true wheelie, you've got to come out once so to do it in "the London" is the business! Having a hold up at the start meant I was trying to catch up all the way, so I accompanied Sam Curtis ( grandson of George Curtis, the well-known Throws coach ) who finished in his day chair in 33.53. I got cheers from the likes of Christine Fleming and jeers from the likes of Ty Holden who were in good positions about 600yds from the finish by which time the first of the Mini Marathon runners were passing us. I managed to catch up Sam near the end after he'd sped down the slope from Big Ben to the flat finish before the Palace Gates.
The youngsters get fitter, I get older, the rucksack carrying tools, First Aid kit, spare clothing etc gets heavier, so I'm more knackered every year ! But once I've seen the youngsters with their medals, tucking into their early lunch and going through their "goody bag" their smiles are worth the effort and the worry.
I spied Chris Hoy going into the Portaloo at the Finish, so I waited for him to come out and asked if he'd mind having his photo taken with Maggie and I; charmingly he agreed. I didn't ask if he'd washed his hand before I shook it. I also spoke to Charles Comenee, reminded him that we'd last met at Copthall when he was with Denise Lewis ( pre Sydney ) and I was with Paul Rea ( then the British Wheelchair Pentathlon title holder ) when he refused to shake my hand because it was dirty from where we'd been putting the shot.
Next in was Andy Cheek, Paul's training partner, looking weary but he'd done ok, clocking 2h 05, we sorted him out, then Paul arrived in 2h 13 they'd done well in the heat.some of the idle,red-coated "Medics" were so gorgeous, Paul thought of feigning a wobbly to get some attention,but then got wrapped up in chatting to his wheelie mates It took some time to find Paul's day chair because Shaho Qadir, our Kurdish friend had put his prosthetic legs in it and obscured the label. He arrived a while later. If he trained properly and took good advice, he could beat both Andy and Paul and several others too, but he's in the middle of a documentary about his life story which is taking him all over the World. Shaho said that Charlie Browne ( holder of the Guiness Book of Records Moonwalking backwards record ) who has visited the Railway Bell and entertained Helen Hoyle was across the road. I jogged over to catch up as we'd not seen each other for a while. It was like talking to an internee of Guantanamo Bay through two lots of security wire. We were happily engrossed in "chewing the fat" when an officious woman in a bright blue uniform,like a tacky travel agent asked that I cleared the area for them to take pics of the finishers. Not only do the runners have to pay an exorbitant amount to enter, but thet're ripped off for a photo at the end, interrupting the conversation of two coaches who do a lot for the Marathon as a whole for free! Charlie had tickets for the Emirates and was taking son, Ruben to see the Gunners, so he had to go . Time for a rest, some food and a chat with the Para lads who were" Security"( the soldiers are so young these days ). Some buy their own boots which are more comfortable than the ones issued by the Army. I love how they wet or steam their berets to make them perch on their heads flopped over to one side. I noticed that they all had short haircuts but not real shaved jobs;excellent. I enjoyed telling them that my mate was a Colonel in 4th Para and we were off the next day to climb in the Brecon Beacons and have a go at the SAS trek over Pen Y Fan. Respect
Before I could sit down, Mel Parker was there. Grateful for a bottle of water a bit wobbly, but smiled for the camera and was willingly led to the blood testing station in the "Elite" area, where he was administered to by a young woman doctor in a pink outfit. No wonder he volunteered for the research, but was she really a doctor? Then Phil Cunningham came in , worse for wear; I led him to the Blood Testing tent and left him with an ugly bloke.
Maggie and I looked after loads of finishers who affected by the heat later in the day, were desperate for water.The skin between my thumb and forefinger was raw with twisting open bottles. People from all over the World staggered and just sat on the ground which gave me a chance to try out the old French. The new regime of blue-coated officials cajoled finishers to move on ,"red numbers to the left blue to the right" Maggie and I were moved away from our usual place in the middle and had to try and spot our people from one side which is why we missed a few.Luckily, we met Gina and Maggie's Hadley Wood group and I was pleased to see Nicola Maggs who ran a great first Marathon. We missed Eddie and Simone,but found out why later in the week.
By about 3.30, I left Maggie with my pass and went to see our Club people on their two baggage lorries. What a great job they do. Hard work, John administering to the lame, kind words, help to the weary runners;excellent. Lovely to see the beautiful Tasha, who with Estelle used to lay in bed at our house all day and play Trivial Pursuits when they were about 14yrs old. After a brief sit down, off home; had a chat to Mike Tappin, so missed Maggie who went off with Gina. En route to Charing Cross, I met Dave Thomas, who's ginger-haired daughter we'd looked after at the finish as she was a bit stressed. He was on a loadhailer advising where runners could meet up. He and I had introduced an Iranian boy, Ali Jemal to wheeling and he later took up weightlifting and now represents Britain in the Paraolympics. The station was packed as were the trains home. People kept asking me what time I'd done as I was wearing my "thank you" medal and bright yellow "staff" T shirt. I explained what I'd been doing which created some interest. I stood with an attractive Eastern European girl who'd completed her first Marathon in a respectable time, we chatted and I tried to sell her the Club. She left me at Tufnell Park. Some Arsenal supporters were making conversation with an older guy who'd run and then seeing me started some banter. The team had won , so all was well. By the time I got out at Finchley Central, I was not in the mood for conversation ( unusual for me ! ) so I stood in a patch of sun to wait for the Totteridge train and reflect on a good day.
Home in time for dinner and the Highlights on TV at 6pm. More should be made of the "also rans" and the young people who do the Mini Marathon. .Many of those youngsters who do well in the Mini Marathon go on to be International competitors. I have no compunction in getting money out of London Marathon Ltd for use in spreading the gospel of sport for both able and disabled people as the Event is a money - making exercise.
 
  Steve Harris

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