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CAPITAL RUNNERS – UP TO 40 MANX RUNNERS RAN IN FLORA LONDON MARATHON

Premier welcome home. Tony Blair looks the other way as seven of the Manx finishers in the Flora London Marathon meet up at London City Airport.

Back row: Andrew Cubbon, Daniel Jones, Sally-Anne Salt.

Front row: Mike Garrett, Paul Curphey, Amanda Birchall & Christina Skelly.

Paul Curphey and Mike Garrett were the fastest two Manxmen in London. Paul started from the "green" start and Mike from the "blue" start. When the courses merged after a mile, they both looked around and realised that they were running alongside each other – they couldn’t have done that if they had planned it!

Mike went faster than Paul in the first half but slowed after about 18 miles allowing his training partner to pass him at 22 miles on the cobbles by the Tower of London. Although Paul ran the slowest of his 11 "Londons" (2.51.01), he was the fastest Manxman for the 7th time, Mike not only made a sound 2.53.43 debut (comfortably beating his own initial 3 hour target), he also raised around £1,000 for Manx Cancer Help.

45 minutes before the start Nigel Sinclair told me that he is unlikely to run past the first mile after missing five weeks through injury. Not only did he complete the course in 3.21.19 but he is one only two Manx athletes to record a negative split (running the second half faster than the first) . Robert Griffin was the other local to run a negative split..

A few minutes earlier Alan Postlethwaite had also been less than positive. Like his Northern AC team mate Peter Hughes, he intended only to record a steady finish. But Alan, with a time of 3,06.39, was another to show good pace judgment (only 1 minute 7 seconds slower in the second half) and he was the sixth fastest local after Paul Curphey, Mike Garrett, Peter Hughes (3.02.37) and Jim MacGreggor with a great 3.05.22.

Unfortunately neither myself or Bridget Kaneen (who was photographing with me and whose pictures will also be featured on the site this week) were able to capture Jim with his dyed hairstyle. I’m also lacking pictures of any of the female competitors, who were lead home be Gill Stripp, during the marathon. All contributions welcome.

Neville Jewell (10422) was the sixth fastest with a big personal best of 3.11.23. He is pictured at 15 miles just before the showers turned into heavy rain.

Photos by Murray Lambden

RESULTS, ANALYSIS & MORE PICTURES

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