2012 London Marathon

[FoxesAreBlue]

Anybody doing it? This will be my first ever marathon and wondered what it's like from anybody who's done it before... Any advice about accommodation is especially welcome (the cheaper, the better!).

In the past I've done a handful of 5k & 10k races and this years Great North Run (1/2 marathon), also booked in to the Silverstone 1/2 Marathon in March as a "warm-up" bu this is my first time attempting the big one.... Training started 5 weeks ago but bloody hell it's cold running out there now!!!

Also, I'm running for the NSPCC so if anybody would care to donate that would also be very good! www.justgiving.co.uk/andycallus

[General Smuts]

I applied but didn't get on. Thank **** for that.

Lisa is doing it though I believe.

[FoxesAreBlue]

I applied but didn't get on. Thank **** for that.

Lisa is doing it though I believe.

were u pissed at the time? I can put the blame of my running "career" solely at alcohols door and the words "how hard can it be?"

[General Smuts]

Shit faced. Woke up in the morning to the page still loaded up,

[Haydos]

[FoxesAreBlue]

Shit faced. Woke up in the morning to the page still loaded up,

[davieG]

A runner who died during the London Marathon has been named as Claire Squires, a 30-year-old hairdresser.

Squires, who had run the marathon once before, was in apparent good health before she collapsed in the final stretch of the race on Sunday. Immediate medical attention was provided but paramedics were unable to revive her.

Squires, from North Kilworth, Leicestershire, fell as she ran up Birdcage Walk, near St James's Park. It is the last road runners take before reaching Buckingham Palace and turning on to The Mall. The cause of her death is not yet known.

Donations made to the JustGiving page of the young woman, nicknamed Bear, soared as news of her death spread.

On her JustGiving fundraising page, Squires had written: "Its a fab opportunity to raise money for my charity the Samaritans."

In just a few hours, donations to Samaritans on her page went from £500 to more than £50,000.

Squires climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in March to raise money for the Royal Air Force Association.

Callie Wright tweeted: "RIP Claire Squires - lived life to the full. Only lady I know to take hair straighteners up a mountain!"

Friends left messages on her Facebook page. Lillie Renshaw-Booth wrote "Thoughts with you. Can't believe it. She was so healthy."

Around 37,500 runners took part in the event.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Our staff attended a 30-year-old woman on Birdcage Walk as part of the event and took the patient to hospital as a priority."

Squires's death was the 10th since the London Marathon began in 1981. Five of the previous fatalities were caused by heart disease in runners who did not know they had the condition. Four of these were cases of severe coronary heart disease.

The last death was that of David Rogers, a 22-year-old fitness instructor, in 2007.

Catherine Johnstone, chief executive of Samaritans, said the organisation was deeply saddened at news of her death.

She said: "We are devastated following the tragic death of one of our marathon runners and are supporting the family through this very difficult time. Our thoughts are with everyone who knew her.

"We appreciate all that our marathon runners do. It is with their support, commitment and fundraising efforts that that we are able to offer our vital service for people with nowhere else to turn."

Squires was a hairdresser at the Moko hair salon in Church Street, Market Harborough.

A stylist at the salon said on Monday that Squires's family had been in touch and asked them not to comment on her death and to respect their privacy.

She added that the family did not wish to say anything at this time.

A statement on the London Marathon website said: "The organisers of the Virgin London Marathon would like to express their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

"We would like to emphasise that our immediate concern is for the family of the deceased. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with them at this difficult time."

[Phube]

A runner who died during the London Marathon has been named as Claire Squires, a 30-year-old hairdresser.

Squires, who had run the marathon once before, was in apparent good health before she collapsed in the final stretch of the race on Sunday. Immediate medical attention was provided but paramedics were unable to revive her.

Squires, from North Kilworth, Leicestershire, fell as she ran up Birdcage Walk, near St James's Park. It is the last road runners take before reaching Buckingham Palace and turning on to The Mall. The cause of her death is not yet known.

Donations made to the JustGiving page of the young woman, nicknamed Bear, soared as news of her death spread.

On her JustGiving fundraising page, Squires had written: "Its a fab opportunity to raise money for my charity the Samaritans."

In just a few hours, donations to Samaritans on her page went from £500 to more than £50,000.

Squires climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in March to raise money for the Royal Air Force Association.

Callie Wright tweeted: "RIP Claire Squires - lived life to the full. Only lady I know to take hair straighteners up a mountain!"

Friends left messages on her Facebook page. Lillie Renshaw-Booth wrote "Thoughts with you. Can't believe it. She was so healthy."

Around 37,500 runners took part in the event.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Our staff attended a 30-year-old woman on Birdcage Walk as part of the event and took the patient to hospital as a priority."

Squires's death was the 10th since the London Marathon began in 1981. Five of the previous fatalities were caused by heart disease in runners who did not know they had the condition. Four of these were cases of severe coronary heart disease.

The last death was that of David Rogers, a 22-year-old fitness instructor, in 2007.

Catherine Johnstone, chief executive of Samaritans, said the organisation was deeply saddened at news of her death.

She said: "We are devastated following the tragic death of one of our marathon runners and are supporting the family through this very difficult time. Our thoughts are with everyone who knew her.

"We appreciate all that our marathon runners do. It is with their support, commitment and fundraising efforts that that we are able to offer our vital service for people with nowhere else to turn."

Squires was a hairdresser at the Moko hair salon in Church Street, Market Harborough.

A stylist at the salon said on Monday that Squires's family had been in touch and asked them not to comment on her death and to respect their privacy.

She added that the family did not wish to say anything at this time.

A statement on the London Marathon website said: "The organisers of the Virgin London Marathon would like to express their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

"We would like to emphasise that our immediate concern is for the family of the deceased. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with them at this difficult time."

So tragic... But it's now at £110,000!

[Babylon]

I know it's sport, but I think it's more of a human story now and have put a thread in general chat about her.

Over 300k now!!!