I'll never have a better starting position

Just watching some more of the marathon and saw myself on the second row of the red start. It only took a fraction of a second to cross the line (on the picture left of the marshal on the right).

Well, that;s the end of my coverage of the London Marathon for this year. Finally got all the lists published.

All Manx perfrmances in the London Marathon since 2002:  By time   By name   By year

Just had a look at my camera card and found a few photos that are worth an airing. A couple are from my excursion around the docks on Saturday afternoon. The other was on my way to an excursion around London on Sunday morning. Andy and Emma are looking nervous; Nigel is as happy as ever. Mike just never stopped texting!

Patience is thin

With the discovery of yet another Manx runner for the London Marathon I am having to republish all the lists again but I was hoping to watch the race on the iPlayer as I watched. Its a bit difficult when the download speeds drop to 0.2 Mbps. Its now risen to the mighty level of 1.10 Mbps - I suppose that is "up to 40 Mbps" that I am paying for as it certainly well within the parameter. Its driving me crazy and interrupting my work.

I don't remember the 1978 Commonwealth Games

Rob Elliott sent me this link which as he says is a slightly tongue in cheek recognition of Tim Erikson's bronze medal in the 1978 Commonwealth Games. The only trouble is the action is actually from 1982 and I can be seen at about 26 seconds.

No photo site from the ashes

For photographers with fond memories of the www.fotopic.net site its been a sad week.

The founder of the site (he sold it long before it crashed) has been working on a new site for over a year at http://pikfu.com

This week he announced that it is to close as he has been threatened with legal action and cannot take the risk. I have been following a user group since fotopic went down although I think I saw the writing on the wall when I signed up for a much larger site over a year ago.

Parish Walk entries

I've turned my back on the Parish Walk website during the past week and in the meantime another 77 entries have flooded in. I have just resumed my other blog with an update of who they are:
http://parishwalk2012.blogspot.com/

Its a foul morning and I couldn't run in a straight line on the prom this morning because the wind was so strong. I couldn't walk in the straight line last night because the beer was so strong.

More Parish Walk and London Marathon stuff later today. No opportunity to cover the Sara Killey memorial walk but the Manx Independent should be in the shops now with full coverage - assuming that the papers are not delayed by the weather.

Two more events this weekend.

Website - one of the busiest phases ever

854 different people visited the website on Sunday. There were a further 709 on Monday and still 376 on Tuesday. I'm not sure how many were visiting for the London Marathon coverage, how many were searching for walk result or whether there extra visitors because of the Manx records but I was quite amazed.

I finished off my 2012 marathon coverage last night and merged the 2012 results with the remainder from 2002 to 2011 but now I have a 50th so I will have to re-do it all later.

FW: England Athletics eBulletin 24th April 2012 - Championship special

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England Athletics eBulletin - Championship Special www.englandathletics.org Information on England Athletics Championships 2012 looks set to be a great year – so make sure you get involved in this year’s national championships, whether as a competitor, spectator, coach or official. You'll find all sorts of useful information about our championships via the links below as well as a reminder on how you can claim a special discount in the England Athletics store. We look forward to seeing you at one of our events and wish you a very successful year! Latest News Here come the 2012 championships! The historic year of 2012 sees an exciting series of England Athletics outdoor championships - whether you are competing, spectating, officiating or attending as a coach be sure the important dates are in your diary! England Athletics 10k Road Championships - entry open England Athletics is happy to announce that their 10k Road Running Championships will again be held in conjunction with Bristol City Council. The Run Bristol 10k will be held on Sunday 20 May 2012 at Bristol Harbourside.  Closing date for entries is 30th April. England Athetics marathon champs results The Virgin London Marathon included the England Athletics marathon championships.  Results are as follows: Features Championship information All the information on our Championships can be found at our champs web page. Find out which are England Athletics events (some EA champsionships are held within an existing competition), how to enter, information for athletes and officials, and results once it's all happened. www.englandathletics.org/championships Special discount on Athletics 365 clothing To mark 100 Days To Go to the Games England Athletics are offering a special discount on all our Athletics 365 clothing in the store – this includes men’s T-shirts, women’s T shirts and hoodies. Just use the discount code 100DTG when you get to the checkout! Championships Portal Online entry, payment of fees, accommodation advice and viewing of current entrants can all be found at the Championships Portal: http://england.athletics-uk.org Accreditation for coaches Of course we also welcome coaches at our events. To apply for accreditation for our indoor and outdoor events. Please use our Downloadable Coach accreditation form which is available by clicking the headline above. England Athletics growing the next generation of athletics champions Athletics House, Alexander Stadium, Walsall Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham, B42 2BE General Enquiries: Tel: 0121 347 6543   |   Email: enquiries@englandathletics.org To unsubscribe click here

Lots of emails

Although I had my laptop with me in London at the weekend I couldn't possibly keep up to date with the number of emails and texts that I received so its going to take a few days to catch up.

I have some more names to add to the list of finishers but there is a disproportionate amount of work for those that did not let me know before the event that they were taking part.

Why go to London?

After crossing the finish line and having my timing chip removed, the first three people I saw were three of my own club mates. Fellow Manx Harriers, Jim Macgregor, Gianni Epifani and Nigel Armstrong were all standing talking to each other. I shook hands with each one but, after then nearly falling over with exhaustion, I continued my walk along The Mall, congratulated Adam Russell and then proceeded to the Underground and back to the hotel. I wasn't in the mood to chat much and there would be plenty of other opportunities to talk to most of the runners that I had seen in the last mile.

I think I was overtaken by five Manx runners in that distance. Gianni passed me on the embankment, Nigel sped past in Parliament Square and, to rub salt in the wounds, Adam passed me coming onto the Mall. Looking at the times I think Tim Knott and Jim must also have gone past. I changed positions with Jim three times. He went past me near Cutty Sark and seemed too fast for me, but when I thought my plan was coming to fruition I retook him at about 18 miles only to slow badly towards the end.

Slightly behind me in the early stages (I was on the second row on the red start and didn't lose any time at all) Paul Curphey burst past thousands of runners from the third pen on the blue start to catch Nigel and they ran together for a while with Gianni nearby. There must have been lots of other cases of the Manx runners sharing the same piece of road. It was almost as if we were holding the Manx championships in London as Mark Clague and Paul Cubbon (I met both at the start) followed me through and Andy Watson was another (from the Blue start) who reached half way in an hour and half. And James Toseland was there too after a great 1 hour 27 minute first half.

I didn't go to London to run 2.57. I know that I can run faster as I have done in training. But sport is all about taking calculated risks and I lost some time by taking a chance and going all out for 2.50. Not that I thought I made too many mistakes on the day as I allowed hundreds of runners to go past me in the first few miles, had an easier first half than any of my 14 Londons and didn't even note my half way time - I was so busy watching the elite runners on the other side of the road. I shouted for Jess Petersson but she didn't hear me above the noise of the crowd. The story of her incredible run is still to come - we exchanged a number of emails after the race.

But seriously, despite the feeling that I had gone to London to race my own team mates (Mike Garrett was another whose plan didn't come off and was surprised that none of us overtook him as we queued up behind) there are so many reasons why I was glad I made the trip. And I spoke about many of them as I consumed my first alcohol for 53 weeks last night when Nigel led Mike, Paul and I back to one Jamie Oliver's restaurants.

Not least was an incredible experience as Nigel trudged along the tunnels between Monument and Bank stations behind me on our return to the hotel. We were probably some of the first to reach that point as the runners who had completed the course dispersed around London or simply stayed near the finish to enjoy the satisfaction of finishing the race. Some of the crowd walking the other way started saying "well done" and then the whole lot burst into applause. I was quite emotional.

Paul may have gone a little too fast trying to get onto some clear road but he drove himself to sickness in the final stages as he pushed to try and get his first sub 3 hour run since 2005 - he missed by just 12 seconds but  he needed assistance from Mike to get back to our hotel.

I intended to get showered and changed before starting work on my compilation of times for the website and media. But I couldn't resist starting work first and in the meantime Nigel (who didn't have a bath in his room) used my bathroom to take a cold bath. Finally I went for my bath three hours after the race after leaving the water running as I published the draft list - Nigel was called a few names when I climbed into a cold bath!

A big breakfast awaits at 8.15 but I am going to try a jog now. I wonder if I will meet half of the Isle of Man around East London.

PS thanks to the people who contacted me about the runners that were missing from my list. It seems that all 47 made it to the finish. Well done to everyone, particularly those running for the first time. I republished the list just after midnight, 20 hours after my day of hope, despair and emotion finally came to an end.

Results page

I've not put this on the front page because this year's results might not be published in the same place but here is where the marathon results from previous years can be found.

http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/marathon-centre/race-results/race-results/

Excel at 4.30 am

Our hotel is advertised as being convenient for Excel but I didn't expect to sorting out problems in Excel at 4.30 in the morning.

As the self appointed Isle of Man London Marathon media reporter I was preparing my results spreadsheet last night. I discovered that I could not paste formulas only values.

As is custom, I've not slept well before the marathon and at 4.30 I decided to go to my laptop and address the issue. I discovered that it is caused by an upgrade to Skype called "click to call". I had to disable this from my browsers and, when this failed, uninstall.

I'm back in business. Just hope that the results format is the same as last year now so that I don't have to make too many changes after the race.

I'm sure most of the other Manx runners will have more conventional preparation. Mind you Emma Rogan arrived here yesterday evening after a full day's work as a vet.

Its now 5.30 and as I edit this post again Excel is coming into view from my my hotel window - that's the exhibition centre not my laptop thrown outside although it has been tempting. What's the formula for going back to sleep?

Meeting Mike and Paul for breakfast in half an hour.

Radio sandwich

"It might be a good idea to take some sandwiches" I said to my mates due to our arrangements to travel over lunchtime and most airport and airline food being unhelpful for our marathon preparations.

With 15 minutes to go before Mike Garrett was to call and pick me up I thought I had better put my own advice into action and was just cutting Marie's wonderful homemade bread when they phone went and I received a request from 3FM to do an interview about the London Marathon.

http://www.three.fm/news/isle-of-man-news/strong-manx-presence-at-london-marathon/

The sandwiches were rather rushed as a result!

Not a lot to report

We've met far fewer Manx runners on our way to the London Marathon this year. I travelled with Mike Garrett, Paul Curphey and Nigel Armstrong (who you can see just after demolishing breakfast a short time ago) and we met with Andy Watson and Elizabeth for dinner last night as they are staying at the same hotel as us, The Ramada, which is close to registration at Excel.

On the plane to Luton we met Helen Taylor and Kevin Quirk, who are both making the debuts.

Nigel has been out for a run this morning. His preparation has been affected by injury so he has not really eased down as much as normal he is just training he way through the marathon. Paul and Mike are off to Oxford Street whilst I am staying local. I love exploring wherever I go but I am only in London for one reason and its not sightseeing. That said I will have a wander and take some photos. Maybe I will go back to Excel and search out for some Manxies.

Only real negative is Paul, who should run sub three hours, starting in pen 3. He is going to be mighty frustrated in the first few miles but don't rule out him passing some of us as he benefits from that steady start.

At the airport

My Camra card

I was talking to some friends yesterday about the declining number of pubs in Laxey. We thought there used  to be seven but now there are only four. This contrasts with Kirk Michael which only had one thanks to my grandfather, a staunch Methodist, who bought the Railway Hotel to prevent it being turned into a pub and instead ran it as a temperance house.

Quite what he would have thought of one of my 21st birthday presents from my student friends in Stoke-on-Trent which still hangs on my wall a few yards from where I type this I don't know. Still less what he would have thought of me on my 21st birthday when I consumed too much of what Camra was campaigning for. My pace judgement at the Norfolk Inn was equivalent to saying you are going to run a sub three hour marathon and running the first few miles at 5 minute mile pace. There is a lesson there as a quiz night team I represented some years later summed up my performance - Norfolk and Good.

Times change. Whenever my marathon running has fallen to the standards of my 21st drinking levels I start a period without alcohol and some other vices. The 2011 London Marathon was a year ago today and after a few drinks over a meal that evening I entered a alcohol period that has taken me passed another failed marathon in Amsterdam and straight past Camra's festival last weekend just a hundred yards or so from where we live.

I must get that pace judgement right on both counts on Sunday. The Camra never lies - as my football friends told me on Sunday.

Yesterday was a rare day of rest for me and there will be a few more this week. Yesterday was also the day Ben was two years older than when I was given my Camra mirror. More sensible than me? Mmm.

Time to check out the Parish Walk entries. See some of you in Ramsey tonight with my Camera card and not Camra card.

Sky's the limit

It really has been a fantastic day in the Isle of Man. And that is a completely objective view and has nothing to do with us having the capacity to cater for visitors to these shores in a beautifully updated holiday cottage for the next few weeks!

My Sunday started, as it has done for more than half of the Sunday mornings through the autumn, winter and spring with a run close to the aforesaid holiday property near Port Soderick and onwards around the Marine Drive. It was bit nippy then.

I planned to fast forward through the Formula 1 recording before taking my mother-in-law out for a drive and was struggling to do it in the time allowed because there was so much good racing. The views around the Isle of Man were staggering by now. Mollie has very poor eyesight but could see the clarity of the mountain views and Isle of Man countryside.

But it as a bit confusing to tell her as we drove into West Baldwin that was where we were when the sign said East Baldwin! And the reverse was true of the East Baldwin side which I know pretty well as my grandmother was born there. Looks like a pretty good April Fool and it was a wonder it didn't make the papers.

And the photos above were of our afternoon walk around Ballaglass Glen and through to Cornaa. The sky was the only limit to the scenery. More than 100 photos were added to the Lambden collection.

Talking of Sky, we have been customers of Sky TV for 19 years and with three subscriptions (two for those well established holiday properties that I am plugging) we have paid them a few thousand pounds over the years. But there is a limited to how many times I can reply to their incessant attempts to upgrade us  (x 3) within the 10 second maximum time that I allow and limit my speech to exclude two words with the second one being "off". I managed again today but Sky really are on the limit of my patience.

I am pretty excited to be heading for London on Friday but the website in the morning will be featuring another big running event on London. There is a limit to the number of entries which will be accepted for the event.

Still running around in circles

It must be about 30 years since Western AC started their summer handicap runs around Peel. If I remember correctly, it followed the success of the Douglas Fireman's runs and the start of the Ramsey version. There had been talk of a third handicap series during the winter but instead of even more events in the winter, Western organised theirs in the summer. And the now defunct Southern AC started another summer handicap series - the Capital Travel 10km.

I didn't take part or attend for about  10 years and so if anyone wishes to correct my version of history then please do so. They were originally sponsored by Peel Commissioners and were held over a two lap "round the houses" course - four miles starting and finishing at the Town Hall. They moved in the mid nighties to the camp site but maintained the lung busting drag through Michael Street on each lap.

The course was varied when there were road works and eventually it moved for a few years to an out and back course along the Poortown Road. Next it moved to St Johns onto a 1.2 mile course (4 laps), last year it was increased to 10km (more than five laps) but this year it was back to four laps.

Since the early 90s I  have attended the majority of events as a parent, runner or photographer but last night was first competition there for a couple of years. And some things never change. There was definitely a lack of sweat on the faces of a few runners I saw finishing behind me whose form usually returns once the handicap marks have been set.

I was involved in one of the closest and (now I have stopped grunting my way around can say) enjoyable of those that I have taken part in. I was carrying an appropriate number 55 (my age) and with Richard Radcliffe 58 shortly and Andy Gosnell past the half century, my battle was a far cry from the under 9s race that started the evening. Adam Russell and Juan Kinley, who would have been in my sights at the finish had I kept my eyes open, are not exactly youngsters either but Ben Corkill, who finished second to Gianni Epifani, lowered the age profile slightly.

I'll feature some of the photos taken last night later in the day but after a short run this morning I have a day at our holiday cottage which includes the annual inspection for Isle of Man Tourism's grading system.

Bloggers don't circulate very well

Its often said that people who spend too much time sitting behind computers lack social skills. From a sample of two bloggers, such people definitely lack the ability to circulate.

I was checking Michael George's blog earlier and was reminded of his story about loosing his gloves. In this post  he talks about having Raynaud's syndrome.

Well here is photo of my hand from this time 8 days ago:

One of the recommendations is to take plenty of exercise. Come on Michael? You are not training hard enough - you must be slacking like me!

Fewer photos this Easter

My cameras were used slightly less this Easter. With no Mountain Marathon this year, at least until September, and my completion of all three races in the Easter Festival for only the second time in my life, it reduced the opportunities. And then I left my camera in the car when we had lunch in Peel today with many of my extended family.

You might recognise the family name of my sister, who visits most Easters from London and is staying in Peel with her family, as the Gosschalks took over my camera whilst I ran yesterday morning, although I did take a few shots of the women's race first.

Younger son Ben also had my camera ready and waiting when I ran up Peel Hill for a second time on Saturday. Again it was photos of the women that filled my SD card. But as a family we didn't do badly after a tricky start. Ben's Friday night photos were a washout when he struggled with light (making Ian Astin's shots all the more remarkable) but Ben made up for it with some cracking photos from Peel Hill on Saturday.

As Ben and I teamed up in a relay team on Sunday morning I did suggest that Ian should join the team too but he laughed me off the prom! He leaves the family running to his three exceptionally good daughters.

But I did manage to get a few photos that were a bit different. In fact, Marie and I managed to get an hour or more together on Friday morning in some of the best weather of the weekend when we enjoyed visiting one of our favourite Island spots. And we didn't see a person.

Just in time

I didn't get to the top of Greeba Mountain in time for Lloyd Taggart in the Greeba Fell Race and the same thing happened at Benn-y-Phott a few weeks later. This Sunday I just made it to Snaefell as he arrived. There was an element of luck though as I had started to jog to get ahead of Roger Moughtin and Steve Taggart who were some of the early starters and had opted to tackle check points 4 & 5 in reverse order. I tried to get ahead of them to get their photos at the summit and Lloyd  arrived from the opposite direction just ahead of them.

I'm fighting another battle against time with our holiday apartment. We've had a few days to spare during which time all the furniture was moved to the garage and new carpets have been laid. We are taking a critical approach about what goes back in and our network has been extended with a internet enabled TV and BluRay player. Out go a massive box of videos.

But I'm re-writing our tourist information pack which was seriously out of date. If you have met anyone asking where Safeway's is you will appreciate how bad it was. I've got another session back in the apartment tonight (as well as a social engagement) and tomorrow night to complete our spring clean.

Its was a big weight off my mind to complete the interview with Maurice Herriott the day before yesterday - just in time for the arrival of one of the two athletes that Maurice named as his favourites, Ron Hill, visits the Isle of Man for the Easter Festival.

Who Fayle for it?

I had a few people asking me why I had not featured an April Fool this year.

I remember when I started my weekend and school holiday job as a 13 year old on a milk round at Kirk Michael trying to find the names Sell and Fell in the delivery book. The houses I had been delivering to were actually in the names of Sayle and Fayle but with a strong Manx accent they are pronounced somewhat differently.

So Mrs April F (fool) Fayle formed a part of my April fool this year - particularly as she was buried at the cemetery at the Braaid. And there was no Australian long jump record set the previous weekend and there is no Harry Cregeen long jumper from Brisbane.

Oh, and by the way, Michael George didn't stand for the House of Keys last year. There were some people who thought he was several months after last year's wind up.