Here's me a the start line, all bright eyed, bushy tailed, and generally optimistic about what's to come!


 My start was in Greenwich Park, from the red start line, which meant getting the DLR line to Greenwich and then walking for about 15 minutes (including a fairly big hill) to get to the right area. 

After a certain point, spectators are no longer allowed, so they're checking bibs and letting just the runners into an area where there's loads of people all ready to run, a big TV screen, and lots of holding areas depending on which "wave" you're going to start in. I was wave 6.

There was a gazebo where BBC were interviewing those in fancy dress, and a helicopter was flying overhead. The big TV screen was showing the start line, and we arrived just in time to see the Elite Women's start.

I made the mistake of queueing for ages by the entrance in the main area for the toilets. I was half an hour in the queue, but then when I went to the wave 6 holding pen there were loads more loos with no queue. No toilets had toilet paper, so if I do it again I'm taking my own.

Also as a pleasant surprise there was a buxton stand giving away free water, so I could take a pro-plus and a carb gel at the start. I also took some warm clothes that I didn't mind losing at the start, and threw it into clothing recycle bins just before the above picture was taken.

Eventually my wave was called and we were escorted to the start line, which we then ran through, before being joined by the other waves further down the road. There was a crowd of people cheering almost immediately, and that lasted the rest of the course.  I was so so scared at the start, but then I saw several "no peeing" signs at the start, and I just laughed so much my nerves were cleared!