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London-Marathon, 22/04/2007
Big and hot
German
Bettina N. runs Double Record Marathon in London
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Gathering below
blue skye:
36.369 runners are waiting at 3 starting lines in the East of London.
Until 6.45 pm, after 9 hours, 35.680 of them will have arrived at the
finish in front of Buckingham Palace. They make the 27th London-Marathon
become the biggest of its history.
Almost 600 runners had to give up, thereof 73, who ended up in a London
hospital!
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Woody and Daughter:
Lloyd Moreton (50) and daughter Jenny (18) are running for St John
Ambulance as a pair of trees.
193 runners are collecting money for this charity, which also cares for
the medical service at the Londn Marathon.
70% of all runners do it for one of the countless charities and
generate donations of more than 30 mio pound. |
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Mental Preparation:
What proved of value in New York, cannot be useless in London. However,
the time until the gun shot is shorter in Blackheath: Shortly after 8
am our bus arrives at the start area, the start is already at 9.45 am. |
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Countdown to Start:
Our blue start with pen 3 is for runners aiming for 3:30 to 3:59 hours
and it is jam-packed. At the red start this is much more relaxed.
The overseas runners' 2007 move from the red to the blue start is no
improvement. Indeed the route profile is easier but the road is much
narrower, the field struggles to get going just to be stopped again at
a bottleneck after 500 yards. We are delayed by one minute after the
first mile and we don't manage to make up for it during the race. |
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Cheering Alley:
The crowds are big and cheerful also on
the South bank of the river like in Woolwich, Greenwich and Bermondsey.
We regret that the Cutty Sark is gone this year. It has been dismantled
to get restored. Spending a modest 25 mio pounds the wooden planks are
done up ...
The braid of Witten, Germany, is looking
brand new after 10K.
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Mile 9:
Hard to overlook are the big mile markers,
which are equipped with big digital clocks at both sides of the road.
Additionally there are markers every 5K and at half marathon point. |
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Crossing the Thames:
Tower Bridge is the emotional highlight of
the event, exactly after 20 K.
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Blowing Kisses:
Being in high spirits on Tower Bridge, one
feels like giving the whole world a hug. |
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Beaming:
Running is fun and keeps you young. If you
need a proof - look at Bettina who is in her forties. |
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Highway:
Around half marathon point we can watch oncoming runners. The fast guys
on the other side have a lead of 8 miles over us.
So much the better to be on the other side yourself and watching back
on those who yet have to circle the Isle of Dogs. |
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Nicknames:
"Like your first
is my last name!"
However, I guess he didn't get it. |
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Runner Wash:
The provided showers are very welcome today.
There are 28 service points offering 700,000 watter bottles and 200,000
Lucozade pouches.
On The Mall a radiated heat of 27,5°c was measured. Usually the average
finisher's time is 4:20 hrs, today it is 4:37 hrs. |
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Royal Parade:
Along the final stretch in The Mall we
thank the crowds for cheering us. |
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Finish Cheers:
Bettina N. of W. in Germany is smiling in
front of the finish of the biggest and hottest London Marathon ever.
4:03:59 hrs
9,969 of 35,688 overall
1,707 of 10,867 women
303 of 1,731 W40
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Stocks:
We can't be that slow - a good number of
medals are still waiting to be received. |
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Tidy:
Nicely presented around 36,000 kitbags are
lying ready to be picked up by the finishers. |
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The Winner:
Martin Lel of Kenya is the dominating
London runner of the recent three years - two wins and runner-up once!
What is his secret? |
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Modest and friendly:
According to the contract Martin is
carrying the sponsor's water bottle throughout the press conference.
He must be happy that he has not to take home the cup.
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The Winner's Secret:
No alcohol, no sweets,
and his main food - especially during race week - is UGALI, a
Kenyan mush of sweet corn.
This should be worth a try for club runners too,
here you find the
recipe.
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Stats London-Marathon 2007
Applications: 125.000
Accepted Numbers: 49.963
Starters: 36.396
Finishers: 35.688 thereof 10.867 women (30,5%)
Time at
50% Finishers: 4:37 hrs
Last registered time: 9:58:54 hrs
Next race date: 13/04/2008
Obituary: 22-year-old fitness-instructor David Rogers
passed away Monday morning in a London hospital. He finished the race
after
3:56. His death was caused by Hyperhydration. The runner drank too
much water.
More about
Water Intoxication
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Overseas: 2.511 (7,0%)
French: 525
Italians: 332
Germans: 275
US-Americans: 147
South Africans: 91
Irishmen: 39
Compare: New York City has a rate of
50% overseas runners! |
Top Ten 2007
1 |
LEL,
MARTIN (KEN) |
M25 |
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2:07:41 |
2 |
GOUMRI,
ABDERRAHIM (MAR) |
M30 |
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2:07:44 |
3 |
LIMO,
FELIX (KEN) |
M25 |
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2:07:47 |
4 |
GHARIB,
JAOUAD (MAR) |
M30 |
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2:07:54 |
5 |
RAMAALA,
HENDRICK (RSA) |
M35 |
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2:07:56 |
6 |
TERGAT,
PAUL (KEN) |
M35 |
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2:08:06 |
7 |
HALL,
RYAN (USA) |
M20 |
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2:08:24 |
8 |
GOMES,
MARILSON (BRA) |
M25 |
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2:08:37 |
9 |
ROBINSON,
DAN (GBR) |
M30 |
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2:14:14 |
10 |
JONES,
ANDI (GBR) |
M25 |
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2:17:49 |
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1 |
ZHOU, CHUNXIU (CHN) |
W25 |
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2:20:38 |
2 |
WAMI, GETE (ETH) |
W30 |
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2:21:45 |
3 |
TOMESCU-DITA, C (ROM) |
W35 |
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2:23:55 |
4 |
KOSGEI, SALINA (KEN) |
W30 |
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2:24:13 |
5 |
KIPLAGAT, LORNAH (NED) |
W30 |
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2:24:46 |
6 |
YAMAUCHI, MARA (GBR) |
W30 |
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2:25:41 |
7 |
JOHNSON, BENITA (AUS) |
W25 |
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2:29:47 |
8 |
YELLING, LIZ (GBR) |
W30 |
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2:30:44 |
9 |
ABITOVA, INGA (RUS) |
W25 |
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2:34:25 |
10 |
ADERE, BERHANE (ETH) |
W30 |
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2:39:11 |
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All you want to know about the marathon at
www.london-marathon.info
Official website
London-Marathon 43
photos of interAir travel group
Sabine's Blog
Video Report by
Adrian Massey
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www.london-marathon.info
is dedicated to the
AMANI children's home
in Moshi, Tanzania,
at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.
If you appreciate the website
please consider
sponsoring my
London Marathon 2007.
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