When Mrs W ran London in 2012 I watched her run through the start and then cut down through Greenwich Park to catch her just before the City Sark.
On the way, I saw a bloke running towards the start. He flagged down one of the baggage trucks, which had set off towards the finish, and threw his bag to the driver 
He looked like quite a decent runner, but I reckon he would have been one of the last starters and would have had to run through all the walkers at the back
Aaghhhhh!!
any top tips for accom etc for 2024
@awildt seemed to have a winner this year
I stayed at the Novotel in at Greenwich the night before and the Hub by Premier Inn St James the night after. Both amazingly located for start then finish.
I got a cracking deal via Expedia for the Ibis in Greenwich who then moved me to the Novotel. However I booked it more than a year ago because I knew I had the place so that kind of helps. It would appear a load of bookings are made as soon as people can, then they cancel when the ballot results come out 
with the date being less than a year to go, a lot has already sold out.
I stayed at the Travelodge Lodge by City Airport.
I liked it as it was an easy DLR two stops to Woolwich, then 3 mins walk to the overland train platform to go either to Blackheath or Maze Hill/Greenwich depending on your start.
It was still busy, but much quieter coming in from the East than would have been the case coming from central London.
They started the breakfast early on marathon day but it wasnt very good.
Because of the curfew there’s no planes landing on Saturday evening or early Sunday morning but you are next to the DLR line but it’s well soundproofed.
There are a couple of slightly fancier options in that area, including a Marriott if your budget stretches or you have loyalty membership.
Other benefit is it is 15mins walk from Excel. So we did Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to Customs House, registered and walked to hotel. There’s very little round about but you can walk back over to Excel area for dinner, we went to an Italian the other side of the Centre. Dead easy.
Hotels around Excel would let you do the DLR to Woolwich option but just with a longer walk to City Airport station in the morning. I’d prefer that than going on it back to Poplar and then trying to change onto the line down to Greenwich which I imagine is mobbed.
All good options, or you can head out south, somewhere along the Bexleyheath line which stops at Blackheath
Appreciate Will Clarke ran 2:22 and ttowel 2:39
Clarke was always a good runner though.
Will Clarke’s FB page says he ran a half marathon PB in March too, 1h07
Hmmm. I might book these hotels and see if I can get a GFA time this summer. Goes off to Google GFA deadline…
Edit for anyone who gives a f…
Done London twice back when it was Flora. I do fancy another bash. Work can pay for the flights…
On the FB sub 3 forum it’s encouraging seeing lots of crusty middle aged guys ducking under 3hrs still… there’s hope yet 
Super shoes, far better understanding of the value of recovery, and a dash of Big T (natural or otherwise), and it can be done.
cheers for info very helpful
many thanks for info
The lad who died on his way home was a lovely guy…
I coached him on O/W a couple of summers ago…
Really sad for his family and club. A real shock for them.
Here’s a link to my race report from Sunday. It’ll take almost as long to read as it does to run the thing again!
Ballot open for 2024 for those not fast enough for GFA.
His family and friends have been remarkably calm in their social media posts…
I will message his wife with my condolences in a few days…
Just read the @funkin race report, wow what an epic.
You nearly lost me at the can of cold rice pudding 
but I stuck with it.
Great report & well run sir
