Keep on running – the London Marathon with Ruth Chappell Pt 2

If you haven’t listened to part one of Ruth’s London Marathon journey yet, you’re going to want to listen/read about that here first!

How it started…

The start of the marathon, Ruth explained, was not as glamorous as you might think. The weather was drizzly, and the vibe was a mix of nerves and excitement. Yet, the support from the crowds, even in the rain, was overwhelming. The encouragement from strangers, calling out her name from the sidelines, created a sense of community.

London landmarks

Part of the marathon experience is being able to take in some of London’s landmarks along the 26.2 mile route. Ruth chatted about the first sight of the Cutty Sark, running over Tower Bridge (the half way point), and how each landmark and the accompanying crowd helped to drive her on. In fact, she said that they really were the most enormous help, particularly as exhaustion set in.

Finish line in sight

There were many challenging moments, like hitting a wall around mile 17, but the crowds, her determination and her will to complete kept her going. She also knew her mum, dad and husband were waiting for her at the finish line. The sight of Buckingham Palace signalled that the marathon is ending, she saw the sign marking the last 385 yards, pushed on, and was met by her family on the finish line.

The tech

I’d downloaded the app (as instructed) so I could track Ruth’s progress, but I was honestly blown away but how clever the app was – it was working across thousands of people and still provided me with her location throughout the route, split times, pace per mile, and even an estimate of when she might finish. It was like having a front-row seat to her marathon adventure!

The technology behind the marathon experience fascinated me even more when Ruth mentioned the chip in her number bib. At specific points along the course, the chip sent information to a strip on the ground, which then transmitted data to the app. So clever and so useful for people on course as well as people following at long at home.

What advice would Ruth give?

I asked Ruth, as a London Marathon completer (if that’s even a word!), what advice she’d give to other people thinking of running a marathon. And despite recording this very soon after the marathon, she said to just do it! To start somewhere, to get a training buddy or join a running club, and work on your mindset as it really will make a significant difference.

As mentioned in part 1, Ruth was running for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, supporting the the incredible work they do in raising awareness about lung cancer symptoms and providing support. Find out more about them here.