We met up with our fellow marshals and the race organisers just before 8.30, put on our high-vis, chatted about the unforgiving course, and listened to our instructions for the morning.

The organisers must have known that we were linked, as they very kindly put me and Angela together at the same post! We said goodbye and good luck to Chris, and set off to our post on Vicarage Lane. Whilst waiting for the first runners to come through, our lead area marshall arrived with a bag of refreshments.

I'm not sure how Angela put up with me for three hours; I couldn't contain my hunger and ate the cheese sandwich just after 10am, and then inexplicably clapped a driver and a non-racer. I think the sun got to me.

It was all over very quickly: we cheered the first runners at our almost 7 mile post around 35 minutes in, and then were stood down by organisers at 11.30-ish. We headed back to the recreation ground for a lovely cup of tea and homemade coffee and walnut cake (I could have easily eaten more). We saw our Andy briefly at the end, taking a short break from his important event radio duties.

Amazing work by the runners in that heat!

Laurie