24/04/2023
My London Marathon 2023. ❤️🏃♂️🏅
Where to start.
I am writing this travelling back from London with my legs aching and my mind still buzzing from an incredible day running 26.2 miles around the capital city.
First - I want to say a huge thanks to the RSPCA (England & Wales) for allowing me to run the race I had always wanted to do, in their colours, to thank them for giving us Rascal and Oscar. Fundraising for them has been my pleasure and I am so grateful to all of you who kindly made a donation. With your help we have raised £3481. My page remains open and you can donate at www.justgiving.com/BenStoneLondon2023.
The support I have had during the build up has helped me through and Becci has been there on the days where getting out of the door felt like a monumental challenge. I do not have the words for how much I have appreciated her support and belief. She has pushed me when I've needed it, calmed me when I doubted I could do it and has been my biggest supporter throughout. ❤️
Marty’s family, led by Rachel have been nothing short of amazing and to have them across the course watching me yesterday, meant the world. They are the best. I wasn't running alone yesterday. Yesterday was about remembering one of the greatest lads ever because to run London was Marty's bucket list item as well and although tragically it wasn't how we planned it, those miles were for him, and my achievement is his achievement as well.
To my family - a huge thank you for the phenomenal support. Tom and Pamela have been there whenever we have needed them, like rocks, over the last few months. Marty and I had the fact we have great brothers in common and Rupert and his partner Alex were also in London yesterday. Tom co-ordinated a brilliant route and I got to see everyone at three crucial points. That really helped me get through those miles. Having my cousins, Keith, Will, Amie and Megan there was absolutely brilliant and seeing them at the finish was superb.
My Mum was also a vocal part of my cheer squad and it was so good to see her after the finish for a huge celebratory hug! Marty's Mum Trish has also been one of my biggest supporters and I will never forget that.
I know my Dad (Peter)would have loved to have been there, as he has at so many of my races including the Virtual London Marathon in 2021, but as he recovers from a stroke in February, home was the best place to cheer me on yesterday. And I know he was.
And to my friends - both those I saw yesterday and to every single on of you who has messaged me in the build up to the London Marathon - THANK YOU. I think Adam and Ashleigh have just about forgiven me for the fact I didn't see them at Mile 19! Polly and Nathan were spot on with what they told me in advance, it was an unbelievable day and one I will never ever forget.
So what about the race?
The train journey from Tower Bridge was a bit manic. People everywhere and it was a slow ride to Blackheath Station. But thank you so much to Chris and Bradders for travelling with me. You kept me calm and you knew it was a really testing morning me. I appreciated it so much. You are both London Marathoners in your own right now and I am really proud of both of you. Seeing a familiar face from home in Jade in our start wave helped me settle. She also ran a brilliant race 👏.
I don't think I truly appreciated what the streets of London were going to be like. The noise, pretty much from the word go, was like nothing else I have ever experienced. Those first few miles give you a real taste for what is come with people blasting music and cheering at almost every corner.
I think Mile 7 will always be one of the most memorable. Running past Cutty Sark was sensational and the cheers were so loud that it felt like the road was shaking beneath us. It kept me smiling right the way to Canada Water at mile 9, where as the rain came down, seeing Becci and my family and friends for the first time, gave me a boost and a few tears.
It rained quite a bit in this section but we knew that despite the puddles, Tower Bridge was to come, and I was looking forward to this iconic part of the course. It was like a cauldron of noise with people both sides of the bridge. It has a cheeky uphill section but the crowd really pull you up it.
I felt quite strong at the half marathon stage. It is a funny feeling knowing that there is another 13.1 left to do - and I could hear Marty in my head saying "But you always told me you love Half Marathons...." - so yes, on we go. That carried me through to Mile 18 where I had more cheers from family and friends at a stage where I really needed it.
We were told Canary Wharf was always the quietest part of the race but I felt the noise continued and running around those buildings felt quite awe inspiring. That carried me onto the final 10k and the section around Limehouse and Poplar High Street was really rocking with music and cheers. The atmosphere was sensational and the Blackwall Tunnel was echoing as we ran through en masse knowing the finish wasn't far away.
I was expecting the wall to come at 22 miles as it has on my last two marathons. Yesterday it didn't. Although a bit slower, I felt I ran a better paced race yesterday - and perhaps there was someone watching, making sure that I got through. And I did. I wanted to savour those last two miles and running towards the Houses of Parliament with the Thames to our left was like a dream. We turned right from the Embankment towards Westminster and I knew the end was in sight.
At 25.7 I saw my family and friends cheering me - I stopped to cheer them back and looked to the sky. It was another moment where tears were flowing.
Then the countdowns are in metres rather than miles. Another right turn at Birdcage Walk guides you towards the line - and Franny and more of Marty's family saw and cheered me towards that finish.
This was the bit I wanted to savour. With Buckingham Palace behind us I took a deep breath and got into the zone. I remember saying out loud - "Marty we've done it. Bucket list. ✅ We've done it," and I crossed the line with loads of emotion let out. 3:34:31. That medal means so much.
That was my London Marathon 2023. It wasn't the one we had planned. But in the circumstances it was the one where everyone made it the best it could possibly be.
