The 30th London Marathon saw a change of sponsorship from Flora to the Virgin Group, so unsurprisingly Richard Branson was in the frame. Not noted for his shrinking violet tendencies, he ran the course dressed as a pink butterfly, beaming wildly through the pain barrier. At 60, he was running his first marathon and placed ahead of his son and daughter, who were part of Princess Beatrice's record-busting caterpillar. Though they managed an impressive 5hrs 15 minutes - all 34 of them.

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Good weather for the runners, was less welcome for spectators, with the rain on the Isle of Dogs only letting up after midday, when the elite athletes had finished. As usual the atmosphere was wildly raucous and good natured. But I suffer the condition, I'm sure many others do - that after several hours of watching people 'flowing' past in large numbers, the horizon starts to look decidedly wobbly.

After seeing the runners at South Quays, I took the DLR and Tube to the finish line. Entering the top of the Mall at Admiralty Arch you're met with a Sargasso of humanity, shod in training shoes and an equally shocking aural bombardment of 70's rock, courtesy of the tannoy crew ('Ain't seen nothin' yet', 'All right now', 'Smoke on the Water'). The river of red-faced fun runners, meandered into Horse Guards Parade, who between them raise extraordinary amounts for their charities (One caterpillar of 5 people, had raised £30,000). A strong surge of admiration builds, not just for the elite athletes, or the wittily costumed - but for the ordinary runner, selflessly helping others wiithout fanfare.

The sun cheekily showed itself late afternoon, warming the upended runners in St. James's Park. They were tended to by their pit crew of friends and family - applying Deep Heat, ice-packs and vigorous massage. Congratulations to all involved - runners, supporters and sponsors. You make it what it is.

Overheard

{often quoted at the finish}
"I feel like I've just run a marathon." (*rimshot*)

{Wife to her husband after seeing a tired-looking Darth Vader}
"He's got his mask off. He can't breathe with his mask off, can he?"
(*Shouted*)
"Come on Darth Vader. Use the dark side!"


{On a phone to his runner friend}
"I'm at the side, next to the railings, where the crowd is... Below the big tree... I know, I know we're in a park - sorry mate, I'm useless at giving directions."

 

{Daughter to her dad}
"There were some right smelly people at the finish..."

{Wife to her husband, about their daughter}
Wife: "I said to her would you ever run another one and she said - Never Again!"

Husband: "But you said that when we had kids. And look at 'em all!"