Stuart and Stephen having a well earned rest after completing the TCS London Marathon 2024.
The TCS London Marathon is the largest marathon in the world, with over 53,700 finishers this year and is one of the six World Major Marathons.
This year we had nine Harriers represented at the TCS London Marathon. Christian Green and Zak Hurrell earned a place after achieving the championship qualifying time, David Hirst had a ‘good for age’ entry, Stephen Nicholls and Graham Goldsmid received entries through our club ballot, and Callum Cardwell, Melissa Aspinall, Stuart Nash and Matt Lusby got their entries through the main public ballot. The group included two marathon debutants, five PBs and a personal course best performance.
Read on to find out about their race day experiences.
Melissa Aspinall
3:49:38 (PB)
This is the third time I’ve done the London Marathon. This year I’ve been training with my daughter, Phoebe. She’s been reading a lot of books on running performance and shares her knowledge and passion for running. We have mainly been focusing on endurance training; long slow runs and keeping heart rate down. We run with the Harriers on Wednesday and Sundays, and enjoyed the Street 5k series.
The weather was perfect this year: cool, gentle breeze and little direct sun. I was hoping for a sub 4 hour finish. I knew I was doing well when I over took the 3:55:00 pacer, then the 3:50:00 pacer. I just missed out on the good for age time, but I was very pleased with my time of 3.49.38. I am going to sign up for some half marathons and see if I can get a good for age time! I have also applied for next year's ballot.
The stand out moment (other than overtaking the pacers) is the crowd; the cheering, singing, choirs, and snacks being handed out made me feel emotional- so amazing to see so many people supporting such a big event and cheering the runners on.
The Cheddar Gorge Half Marathon is the next planned race. Phoebe and I enjoy trail races in the summer.
Callum Cardwell
3:42:49 (First time)
Callum ran his first marathon at London and managed to run a negative split, running over four minutes quicker in the second half of the race.
Graham Goldsmid
3:27:51
I had a great experience competing at the London Marathon this year with its amazing atmosphere and crowds. I have run London twice before, the last time was back in 2003, so I wanted to try the marathon distance again. I did not get in on the public ballot but was lucky enough to get the Yeovil Olympiads place in the draw at the club's Christmas dinner.
As a V60 runner who does not race further than half marathons, I realised to get round London you need to build up a good training base of running for at least three months, but not over do it in case of injury and also to practise refuelling. So from January I ran an average of 55 miles a week which included one rest day and one long run which I varied from 13 up to 23 miles. I also did a couple of races including the Bath Half in the build up along with weekly sessions of cross training and yoga which helped improve my strength for the race.
With a marathon you just want to make sure you don't blow up in the last six miles and hit the dreaded wall, so my plan was to try and run an even pace all the way round looking for a time of between 3:30 - 35, stay hydrated and moving! Overall the plan seemed to work well on the day. I had plenty of space at the back of the Blue Start in wave two at Blackheath and managed to run sub eight miles and keep hydrated up to mile 23. Although my legs felt tired over the last 3.2 miles and the pace dropped, I kept going along the embankment pulled along by the noise from the crowd including Alex Coombs at the Houses of Parliament for the last stretch into the Mall.
So at the end as I crossed the line I was really pleased with a time of 3.27.51 which hopefully gets me a fast for my age place next year or I might just wait another 21 years. I will wait and see!
Christian Green
2:32:59 (PB)
Running at London was fantastic, the atmosphere was unbelievable and running such an iconic race is always a treat. It was a beautiful day and despite a fairly brisk wind conditions were pretty good. Coming into the race I felt I was in decent shape after a strong half marathon so was hopeful all the miles and hard work would pay off. I was able to pace things really well, keeping it very steady whilst enjoying the experience and not getting carried away in the raucous support. It was just wild around the Cutty Sark, Tower bridge and along the embankment. In the last 2k I was fighting off cramping in my hamstrings and calves but was able to adjust to carry me to the finish just sneaking through in 2:32:59, a 2 and a half minute pb. I always feel I learn so much from every marathon I run and it always leaves me wanting to go back and make use of that experience and hopefully keep improving. The support on the course was amazing, great to have friends and family there and a big thanks to all the harriers who cheered on and helped give us all a boost!
David Hirst
2:49:15 (Course best)
2024 was the second time that I have run the London marathon and I was just as excited as the time before.
Everything about the race is on a grand scale and the support from the crowds is like no other running event. My opinion is that you split the race into two halves. The first is just running in your comfort zone and enjoying the sights and crowd. Running across Tower Bridge is amazing. During the second half I had to really dig in, but the various shouts of ‘come on Wells’ from the crowd keeps you going.
I am really pleased with going under 2:50 again, even more so as the route felt a lot busier than in 2021.
I am definitely going to do another marathon again - but maybe not until 2025…
Zak Hurrell
2:39:03 (PB)
I absolutely loved running at London this year. It's definitely as good as all the hype it gets. The whole weekend is run really well from the super smooth running show where you collect your number, right up to collecting your bags after the finish. Training for me went really well averaging around 115k per week and managing the whole training block without getting ill or missing any sessions. This led to a big PB at Fleet Half in the build up which was a great confidence boost.
As for the marathon itself, I felt great on the day and set off at a very comfortable but on target pace. I went through half way in 78 minutes and all felt good. It was only around the 35k point I started to get stomach issues resulting in me throwing up at 39k, but managed to keep pushing on. Energy felt great so hopefully I can sort these small issues out for the next one and will be good to go for a faster time. The stand out point for me was Cutty Sark. The crowd was unreal which made your hairs stand up and you couldn’t help but smile. I’m definitely planning on doing London 2025 so now it’s time to build some speed back up over the summer, ready for next year's marathon.
Matthew Lusby
2:42:58 (PB)
Matt was the third Harrier to cross the finish line at this year’s London Marathon, completing his first official road marathon in a personal best time.
Stuart Nash
3:30:17 (PB)
I have always enjoyed watching the London Marathon and have been in awe of those who have run it whether they be elite, club or mass runners.
I applied through the ballot for a 2024 marathon place, and found out in July 2023 that I had been successful, so I had plenty of time to prepare/think/worry about it!
I started my training in January 2024 and used a 16 week plan which coincided with the Wells City Harriers Tuesday night track sessions and what is called the Wednesday Night Recovery Club.
I did most of my training runs as part of a group rather than on my own, which I found really beneficial especially when it came to the long runs.
The build up week didn’t quite go to plan as I picked up a chest infection (more on that later…) but the visit to the running show a couple of days before race day was fantastic… I even met my favourite YouTuber and running coach Ben Parkes!
The atmosphere at the start line on race day was amazing! So much positivity and encouragement from everyone and as many pairs of Nike AlphaFlys as you are ever likely to see in one place!
From the start line to the finish line the atmosphere created by those watching was electric and extremely loud!
My training was based on an estimated marathon finishing time of three hours.
25km in and everything was going well, however thereafter the ‘wheels fell off’ and the chest infection that I thought I had suppressed earlier in the week had reappeared.
The last 17km was the toughest and hardest run I had ever done, but despite being overtaken by both a traffic cone and a Christmas tree, I was determined to finish and to run and not walk to the finish line.
It was great to see and know that so many Wells City Harriers were supporting us all along the route. I was also supported by my girlfriend who was a welcome face at mile 25 and found me at the meet up zone when I was absolutely broken and needed a hug.
Would I do it again?
If you had asked me that the day after… I would have definitely said ‘NO’! However, after a few days of reflection, the support and kind words of my fellow Wells City Harriers and feeling like I now have unfinished business with the London Marathon… I popped my details in the ballot and I have my fingers crossed for a 2025 place.
Stephen Nicholls
3:12:15 (First time)
My preparation involved working through a tough 16 week training plan with Stuart Nash. We completed our long runs with the fantastic motivational support of Adam Gibson who also paced us very effectively. Matt Lusby and Dan Williams also proved to be a very positive influence. Wells City Harrier coaches Jon James and Simon Prior gave excellent technical advice and training session coaching support.
Running in London was an incredible experience. There was a carnival atmosphere from the start with non-stop cheering. There were many special moments. I remember turning and approaching the Cutty Sark. I felt so special and privileged at that moment and part of the greatest running adventure in my life. There were so many people supporting. I remember my name being shouted out and was so pleased to have Wells City Harrier support on the day along with other friends.
I was absolutely delighted that everything seemed to fall into place and to exceed my expectations. My family’s support throughout the whole process made it possible for me to run the marathon. I would like to run in another marathon sometime in the future!
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Congratulations to all of our runners. We look forward to seeing who will be representing the club at the 2025 TCS London Marathon. Remember, if you are unsuccessful in the public ballot, you have a second chance of receiving an entry through our club ballot.
We usually receive one guaranteed Club place each year and most years we have a second place due to our partnership with Yeovil Olympiads. The Club place(s) are allocated in a Club Ballot - most often held at the Club's Annual Dinner at the end of November/beginning of December.
To be eligible for the Club place(s) you need to
(a) Have been a Club member when you applied in the main London ballot;
(b) Have an England Athletics registration;
(c) Have been rejected in the main London ballot and provided evidence of the rejection; and
(d) not to have had a Club place in the previous 3 years.
If you think you're eligible for the 2025 marathon ballot, please contact secretary Alexander Coombs with evidence of your rejected email.