The last instalment of Phil’s London Marathon series sees him reflecting on race day.

I was feeling a little nervous. I guess most people would be if they were trapped in a pen with a giant bear. Luckily for me it was Paddington bear and he was adjusting the race number on his duffel coat. That’s not easy when you’ve got large paws that are probably a bit greasy from a marmalade gel.

I was at the back of the red zone waiting for one of world’s most famous mass participation sport events to begin. It was jammed pack, behind me some brave participants were carrying a huge sign that I couldn’t quite read, but I imagined said: “I hope it’s not going to be windy”. Slightly further away were the massive doll/nurses that I had seen before from the TV, I was a bit scared of them.

It took about 25 minutes to cross the start line, but that was OK as our collective mood was generally jolly and the weather was chilly but fine. My first focus was to get to Cutty Sark and meet my cheering crew at about seven miles. Like countless runners starting that day, I had an injury niggle. In my case it was a weak ankle that I had knackered running down a hill in Snowden some months before.

So through those first miles my thoughts were mainly “Ankle OK?… Wow – I’m running the London marathon! … Do I REALLY need a wee?”

I got a love boost from my supporters after trotting past the surreal sight of the Cutty Sark and readjusted my sights for half way and the run across Tower Bridge.

At ten miles I was not feeling great, which was worrying as usually my mental and physical fade kicks in around 18 miles. I fuelled up on nut balls with a side of apple gel and told myself to concentrate on the mile I was in and not the 16 to go. My mind slowly cleared and I was back with it as Tower Bridge approached. Running over its arc and looking across London was a real rush and powered me on to my next mental marker of the cheering crew at 16 miles.

As I passed the mile signs I looked around and thought of the famous Kathrine Switzer quote: “If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.” I was reading the stories on the shirts and felt waves of sadness and respect for those running in the shadow of their personal loss.

I would probably adapt Kathrine’s quote a little to say “…go out and watch the back of a marathon.” That’s the crew I was with and witnessed the fight they were putting up.

Although I wasn’t speeding up particularly, the experience of the marathon seemed to go faster as I was lucky enough to catch my support crew at 16 and 22 miles, with a fantastic surprise high five from a friend I thought I’d missed at 23 (thanks George).

During my day I saw plenty of amazing sights including the 84-year old woman who had been in the news, a massive dinosaur, the firemen running with their truck and I eventually caught up with Jesus, jogging barefoot carrying a cross, just before the end.

However, the most welcome sight was the 26-mile marker. I found some energy to push on round the last corner, pass Buckingham palace and fall into the welcome embrace of the finishing line.

Running has given me plenty of laughs but also some painful race days, but thankfully London was not one of them. I had a good day. I hope Paddington did too.

Phil ran the London Marathon courtesy of Holiday Inn, Official Hotel Partner. www.holidayinn.com/running