On being a marshal: The 2018 London Marathon was my third time marshaling this race, and the most challenging. But I’m getting ahead of myself…
First to say well done to everyone who undertook the race. It was the hottest ever with the running beginning with high humidity and bright sunshine. I know there are many runners who didn’t achieve their time targets, and a few who had to pull out due to issues brought on by the heat. But brilliant work my friends, you’re an inspiration!
Second, my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Matt Campbell, a 29 year old runner who died after collapsing at 22.5 miles. The statement from the Virgin London Marathon can be found here.
The Lead Up
The lead up to the London Marathon is always an exciting time. Twitter goes a little crazy, runners are nervous, many are a little weepy. Yep, I’ve been fortunate to run London twice before (you can read how I went here and here), so I know and really do understand these feelings.
Much of the Twitter chat was about the weather. For many, having trained during a long and cold winter, the thought of running in 20+ degrees was nerve wracking. For me as a marshal, I knew what it meant – potentially dealing with folks with heat stroke and dehydration.
Before arriving to my marshaling meeting point at the Shadwell Fire Station, I read everything I’d been sent. Numbers in phone, alarm clock set, I was ready to go!
Marathon Day
The alarm kicked off at 5.30am. After eating some toast, the all important hit or two of caffeine, and making sure I had everything needed (sunscreen, snacks, jelly babies to had out to runners, water), I headed out the door. The morning was humid and bright. I was a little late after too much faffing so got the bus part way to Shadwell. Then I started running – a big 3.8 miles for me and as part of that, I made sure I ran across Tower Bridge.
It was an absolutely glorious day. I decided to run even though I knew I’d be on my feet for another 8 hours at least as I’m training for a 50k ultra in July. My training hasn’t gone to plan due to tweaking my back so while I might not be at the running mileage I should be, I need to do what I can to increase my incidental activity including walking, standing, core etc.
Arriving at the Fire Station at 7:45 or so, I was dripping. It was going to be a warm one. I caught up with some of the others marshaling from my club, collected my kit bag, drank some more coffee, listened to the briefing and out we headed. We were out on the route before 9am, my running club group spread out between miles 13 to 14. I’m grateful for us being on the shady side of the road.
It’s quiet at this time.
Slowly the anticipation builds. Charity supporters begin putting up their banners and balloons. Relatives and friends of runners, locals and other onlookers begin to arrive.
Just before 9am, the Elite Wheelchair Race begins. We wait, we chat, we keep an eye out. Then the lead vans come towards us. Then we see them! Cheers from the sides of the road.
This is then followed by the World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup ambulant racers and the Elite Women.
Athletes amazing to watch.
Then the Elite Men.
One of the great things about being able to marshal is the chance to be so close to see some of the best athletes in the world.
The crowds by this point were really starting to build.
Close on the heals of the Elites were those runners aiming for sub-2.5 hours and sub-3s. Many of them wearing club tops. They were working hard. The heat and humidity was really getting to a lot of them.
The crowds at this point were really starting to build. As a marshal, this is where the real work begins. Once the sub-3hr marathon runners are through, you get hit by a wall of runners that lasts for a good hour or so. There is no way to stand on the side of the road, instead having to stand on the verge, making sure spectators are keeping their feet off the road and that runners are safe.
At this point, my main concern was runners dropping. A women did a little further down on the left of the runners. Help from marshals and St John’s Ambulance quickly got to her from the other side of the road. She was carried to the first aid station.
I pretty much failed to see everyone I was on the lookout for who was running. I was too concerned with runners looking distressed and/or collapsing. While I didn’t have to deal with any collapsed runners, a number of other marshals from my club did.
The heat was affecting so many. Paces were slowed with so many runners coming through at 2.5 to 3 hours into the race, suggesting a finish of about 5 to 6 hours. This was the sort of pace I’d done previously but usually the numbers start petering out…this year they didn’t.
During this time I was chatting to some of the spectators, kids holding their hands out for high-5s. I came across one family with the boy handing out wetwipes – I’ll be doing this next time as well. It gave runners the chance to wipe sweat off their faces and stickiness from their hands from gels.
This was followed by a bit of a break on my part and I headed back to the Fire Station for a bite to eat. I really need this – I’m an extroverted introvert. While I love chatting with folks etc, I find I’m in desperate need for a little quiet time so I took the chance while I could.
At about 3, perhaps a little earlier, the Sweeper Bus came through. This is the point at which we needed to try and get runners on my side of the road to the footpath. I had one woman ask me where the nearest tube was, she’d had enough. At this point it started to get quiet on my side of the road so I managed to have a chat to Katerina from Racecheck and Caroline who is a friend from Twitter.
The marshals shuffled to the middle of the road. On the other side the 35km marker. The crowd support continued. Marathoners were running, walking. There were some tears. Where I could I made eye contact and smiled. I know that pain! I cheered and clapped and gave a big hug to Carmen (another friend from Twitter).
I chatted to other marshals from my club. Many had looked after collapsed runners during the day. Another hour or so, we were stood down.
I went home and slept well. I spent yesterday being very lazy and antisocial!
But all in all, a great day. So thank you to everyone that makes this event what it is – one that is truly special to be part of – as a runner, marshal, supporter or spectator.
Happy running all!
*Thanks to Mel for the fabulous photo of Mo Farah at about 13.5 miles.
Thank you for doing this, on behalf of our runners on the course. Also thank you for doing this “making sure spectators are keeping their feet off the road and that runners are safe” – the marshall by where I was did not manage to do this. There were spectators spilling onto the road and runners had to swerve around them. As a committed marshal and official in training for endurance events I KNOW how hard it is to control excited spectators, but it has to be done, and I was so upset but didn’t feel I could do anything. It was a crossing point being manned by just one marshal, which had its own issues, but they should have been empowered to keep people off the course and stop those spectators getting onto the route (not crossing). I’m glad other marshals were more able to do that.
Anyway, I’m so glad you had a good day. I wish I’d known you were only a mile or so from me as I spectated!
Thanks so much Liz! And crossing points are always very tricky. I was lucky this year as noone was being difficult and I didn’t have to give anyone ‘the look’. I do find marshaling brings out my bossy best 🙂 One day we’ll manage to meet up!
Ah, I’ve been thinking about seeing if I could get a volunteer role next year if my ballot entry isn’t successful. I’d love to be able to help with the day! I can imagine how difficult a job it would be though, especially in that heat!
That’s great Katie, it’s well worth it if you can. I had the easy job – and very glad I wasn’t running this year! Tough going for them! Good luck in the ballot. I’ll be putting in as well.