London Marathon Outcome, 21 April 2013

April 22, 2013 0 0

Report and Photos from Peter Simpson

Our VRUK members running in the 2013 event produced one of our best team performances to date. Importantly, nine runners were wearing a vegan runners vest. Visiting the Start via Blackheath, I saw the runners in the Blue Start and briefly visited the ‘Good For Age’ Start but did not see Simon Dally. As the runners lined up in the Blue zones, I located Cedric David and we had a brief chat. After the gun went, the runners filed past and eventually I located Cherryl Sinclair and Claire Fullbrook-Scanlon in the final 9th zone.

Travelling onto Rotherhithe (Mile 11 not 9 as previously mentioned), I did not arrive in time to see the leaders pass and it was some time before I picked out the first vegan runner in Chris Simms going well. Distracted by mobile messages I may have missed many of our other runners. Rafal Tkaczyk came along to support and joined me, holding the banner for a time to allow me to take some photos. By chance we took a photo of Chloe Tyler who appeared to be running for a vegan charity. Later we picked out Paul Snell and Claire F-S, both going well.

Travelling onto the Finish I needed to walk along the course to Bermondsey tube station. Arriving a little late, Simon had already visited the meeting point but it was not long before he returned, obviously very pleased with his performance and time of 2.44.55. The other vegan runners soon followed in quick succession and the camera was busy. With a busy meeting point and the shade under the trees we moved across the road into the sunshine for photos.

Many vegan supporters were present including Christopher Shoebridge (alias Chromis), Rafal, Dave Arnold, Vanessa Hudson and Evelina Odej. With most of the runners home and many feeling hungry, many left early for The Jai vegan Chinese buffet in Soho. I stayed on to see if I could meet Paul Snell and maybe Claire F-S but leaving shortly after 4pm I just missed Paul.