The 2025 London Marathon was the largest marathon in history, with over 56,000 people making the finish line, and Newport & District Running Club was well represented amongst the crowds of runners. Starting in Greenwich, the famous route takes runners through Woolwich, Bermondsey, Wapping, The Isle of Dogs, Blackwell and the City of London, before they take the well-known finish on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace, watched by huge crowds, both lining the route, and also on TV.
This year, the weather threw a very warm day at the runners, making for tough running conditions, and Jonathan Pierce was the first Novaportan runner to finish, clocking a time of 3:50:23 in 14,497th position. Andrew Wilmot ran a time of 4:02:03 in 18,427th, and not far behind him were Amy Hughes, who stopped the clock at 4:07:35 for 19,956th place, and Aaron Nicholas, who finished 20,053rd in a time of 4:07:54. Ruth Corrigan ran a time of 5:16:31 in 40,701st place, and Martin Murdoch finished in a time of 5:52:29 in 48,125th position.
We were very lucky to get a number of reports from our runners after the race, and this is what they had to say:
Ruth: “London was my first ever road marathon so I had no idea how participating in a major event would unfold. 2 weeks out I was preparing for rain, and by the night before I was adjusting my pace to take account of the heat. My training had gone mainly well, and I have done many long events off road so I was confident I could finish.
By 10:30am I was trying to keep my body temperature down, sitting quietly with others in a small patch of shade, taking the whole assembly area activity in whilst waiting to start at 11am. The organisation of starting so many people off is slick and impressive.
I was surprised by how emotional being on the start line was, knowing my family and friends were out on the course or watching at home. I started alongside a pacemaker, and stayed with him for 8 miles. Not having to think about pace or where to be along the route was great, and allowed me to just take it all in and join in with the banter from the sidelines.
Unfortunately, the heat got to me and I struggled to effectively fuel myself, so my pace slowed. By docklands I was run-walking so I knew my time would be well down on what I had hoped for. The upside was that when I met my family at 22-miles, and friends at 23.5-miles I was happy to stop and chat, and take photos. These were amongst the highlights of the day.
The finish was also emotional. It had been a gruelling run and those that made it to the end were very thankful to get there. I can’t say I enjoyed the run, but I loved the day.”
Jonathan: “Well, what can I say? It was soooo hot! Early start, as I was in the Yellow 2nd wave from Blackheath. So, I caught the number 43 bus from the hotel to Tower Bridge station, then a relaxing journey to Blackheath at 7.30am. Blackheath was cold and foggy. I made my way to the start area, and chilled out. 9:36am start, the sun had come through and was warming up at an alarming rate.
I started with a good pace, 4:20-4:30 minutes per kilometre for the first 21k, but at this point it was so hot. I started to drink water early on, not something I normally do but it was so hot. At the halfway point, the water started to give me stomach cramps, so I had to stop and walk it off. From that point I struggled to regain my original pace. Considering the conditions, I was happy just to finish, not a day for PBs!
Martin: “As I ventured to take on my 2nd London Marathon, it didn’t start too well, finding that we had been scammed with our accommodation, resulting in having to find a hotel on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday morning and off to Greenwich Park for my start at 11.05am and off I go amongst the other 1000s on our adventure through those iconic brick pillars. Due to injuries, my intention was to “Jeff” (alternate between walking and running) the whole race but whilst going to my wave, I met up with two ladies running also for Lingen Davies Charity Fund, so off I go with them to chuck my pre-race plans out of the window after 30 seconds as I decided to run with them, the first 5K in a pace I was happy with. At the 5K point I let them carry on and I changed to Jeffing, as it was the experience and not the time that was important to me.
The heat became sweltering, although classed as the fourth-hottest London Marathon, there were lots of comments posted after the race where people had commented that conditions were worse than the hottest recorded one in 2018. As you meander through the iconic points of course at 6 miles is the Cutty Sark before hitting Tower Bridge just short of half way. Then off out to Canary Wharf before heading towards Embankment.
It’s always said you may only do 20 miles in training runs but you don’t need any more at London as the last 6.2 miles the crowds just carry you to the finish; mile 22-23 was another level with the deafening noise. The last 6 miles, Joe Wicks was in close proximity and I did say to him that I would change my name to Joe as everybody was shouting it out; to be fair to him he obliged with the crowd and other runners who wanted a selfie with him. He’s meant to be a keep fit guru and I beat him time wise, so presume I can call myself an elite athlete!
Then, finally, heading past St James Park before turning right at Buckingham Palace, which I didn’t notice in 2019, past the sign 385 yards to go and hitting the final straight, following a Japanese lady who decided to stop and bow, out of respect to finish line, only to then set off and face plant! Ouch, then it was tears of joy in crossing the line in a time of 5:52:29, much slower than 2019, but the whole experience was so much better this time around.
A slow crab-like walk then followed back to the hotel, wearing the medal like Medallion Man, chest out and proud. I did say never again, but I won’t be the first or last to then have a brain freeze and enter the ballot for next year. Upon returning to Tibberton on Monday and venturing to the Sutherland Arms, I did not know, but Deb had arranged for a group of friends to meet up to celebrate me surviving the day.”
Amy: I have always said that I will run ONE marathon, and when I finally got a ballot place for London last year, it was on. I didn’t miss a session for 3 months, and then lost a month to injury from late Feb. Got back on track for a final couple of long runs before the taper.
I’d dreamed (probably quite optimistically) of sub-4 hours, and on the day got 4.07. I think without the lost training and the heat against me, I might have got there. I wasn’t far off, but once the goal was off the table at mile 18, I decided it wasn’t worth busting a gut (or, more probably, collapsing with heatstroke) for a 4.03 or a 4.04, so I settled into it, and focussed on enjoying the scenery, the signs, the support… and the cold showers! But I’m absolutely thrilled with my marathon debut, all things considered – 8 weeks ago I didn’t think I’d be on the start line, let alone the finish line. The training I’d banked with my plan pre injury and a top notch sports injury therapist saw me right! And my amazing family trekked through the crowds to cheer me on.
And about that ONE marathon, because I really haven’t got the time for all this, with 2 kids, 3 horses and a full time job… A little part of me is eyeing up future possibilities for that unfinished sub-4 business…! Everyone is talking about whether Eliud Kipchoge is ready to retire… I’m 3 years older than him and I’ve only just started!
Newport & District Running Club 