Dr Trueman was no match for me

The sheer numbers of people meant that it was pretty congested even for the first two or three miles.

That probably did me a favour because I would have been tempted to go a bit quicker at the start, but I couldn't so it stopped me overdoing it too early.

You've got to have some kind of tactic whether you're Gebrselassie or the average man on the street.

My approach to the race was just to take it easy early on and enjoy it - that way I knew I would be feeling it less than a lot of people later.

I've never run more than 16 miles in my life, so it was a target of mine to get there comfortably, and I would say that was when I started feeling it.

Beaten by Uncle Bulgaria - can you believe it?

But when I got to the cobbles under Tower Bridge, it began to get really painful and I was struggling to put one foot in front of the other.

It's an awful thing to say, but it's a huge psychological boost to go past people who are stopping, stretching and walking while you're still running with a few miles to go.

That's what kept me going in the end - that and overtaking Dr Trueman from Eastenders.

Unfortunately, I was overtaken by the entire cast of the Wombles at various points and for the last few miles I was running with Shrek.

Every second stride I took, I heard: "Look, there's Shrek!"

That was a bit surreal and frustrating.

Certainly no-one loves you when you run next to a rhino or other costumed character because they all shout for the rhino and you don't get noticed.

Do you want a medal or something? Stuart Roach

I'm not going to do my street cred any good here, but I found crossing the finish line quite emotional.

You get over the line and this lady plonks a medal on your head - I don't know what came over me but I gave her a kiss.

I don't know if that's in the rules, but it had to be done.

Despite all the pain and soreness, I really can't complain.

I've raced a world-quality field where a world record has been broken - it wasn't by me but I was there.