VLM

Not quite the race I was hoping for. I was pretty terrible really... and after all that hard work in training too.
However, if there's one thing I'm good at... it's analysing what I have done wrong, and indeed, what I got right. So, here goes... (Bad stuff first)

Suncream
Despite being advised against it, I used the same cream I have on the last few races that I've suffered in the heat. Graeme thinks because it's a "holiday cream", it's more designed for someone sitting by a pool as opposed to running a marathon. He maybe has a point. I'll look for a sporty alternative.

Fennec Top
Bloody marvellous in dry heat, bloody shite in humid weather... enough said!

Tapering
Some people (probably most) really benefit from tapering. It gets the body well rested and carb loaded ready for the big push. Looking back on my training logs, would you believe that every PB I have achieved has been when I've been running high mileages the previous week. Yesterday I felt incredibly unfit, and to be perfectly honest I also felt just as unfit last week when I did a 10.6 mile run. I think I work better without the taper.... so that is how I will do it next time. 20 miler on Sunday anyone? ;-)

OK, so here's the good stuff... the stuff I actually got right! (Expect it to be short)

Blisters
Hallelujah... the woman who can't run 8 miles without getting a blister ran 27.02 miles (yes... London really IS the longest marathon) without so much as a red patch on the skin. The Engo blister plasters were truly amazing and I shan't contemplate a run without them from now on.

Right... that's it then. Well, I did say it would be short!