London Calling

Gareth Jones graduated from Liverpool University’s School of Dentistry in 2003, where he was awarded the HR Williams prize for oral surgery. He takes pride in providing high-quality dentistry in a relaxed, gentle and unhurried manner at Monmouth Dental Practice in Monmouth, South Wales. Gareth is a keen athlete and in recent years have completed several triathlons, including an Ironman, and marathons. www.monmouthdentist.co.uk

On April 22nd 2018, I toed the start line of the London Marathon along with 41,000 other runners in a race, which was reported to be the hottest day in the race’s 37 year history. Taking part in the race was the culmination of a 30 year old ambition to run in a race which had captured my imagination when I used to watch it on TV as a child. Back in the 1980s, my Dad had applied for a place to run unsuccessfully for three consecutive years. His luck changed and he was drawn out of the hat at the fourth time of asking, but shortly afterwards was diagnosed with arthritis in both of his hips and had to withdraw. For me, taking part felt like finishing some outstanding family business.

It isn’t easy to fit in the training that I do with my other commitments. Currently I am plotting a course towards taking part in Ironman Italy (a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycle and 26.2 mile run) in September whilst juggling having a young family and running my private practice in Monmouth, South Wales. I have a very understanding wife who puts up with my training but also understands that if I didn’t train then I would be miserable and not the kind of person you want around! My sport is my stress relief. If something work related is bothering me at the start of a training session I often find it has evaporated by the end of whatever workout I’ve been doing and I was probably getting worked up unnecessarily. If it’s still on my mind after a run or swim, then it is something that usually needs more of my attention.

My hope is that seeing me pushing myself and enjoying my racing will inspire my two sons (aged five and eight) to take as much pleasure from sport as I have. I will be using my Ironman in September as a way to raise some money to have a defibrillator purchased for the boys’ school. The headteacher is very excited about this and we hope to get the kids at the school involved as a way of promoting health and fitness. I think that my boys will be playing the role of sports reporters from Italy as we are making it a family trip!

The marathon started to feel very real on the day before the race when I went to the marathon expo to collect my number. Unlike previous races where I have been incredibly nervous however, this time it was eclipsed by the anticipation of fulfilling my long-held ambition and finding out what kind of shape I was in.

Despite a five-week period at the start of the year where I was unable to run due to a calf injury, I came into the race with good confidence on the back of some strong training runs. I had had a good interval session on the track three weeks before and decided to try to beat my personal best of 2h59:59 from the Manchester marathon last year. The atmosphere on race day was electric from the very beginning with a buzz of excitement in the air. I was able to chat to my training partner and teammate Rich as we waited in the start pen for the Queen to start the race. I started strongly but at a pace that felt comfortable and crossed the halfway point just after Tower Bridge in 1h25.

The temperature continued to rise and I realised that I would have to slow down or risk the wheels coming off and a disappointing time. Fortunately, I had noticed the possibility of a hot day on the long-range forecast two weeks before the race and spent the two weeks leading up to the race training whilst wearing extra layers in a bid to get used to high temperatures. This seemed to work as I was affected less than lots of other runners and finished the race in 3h00:53 which gave me 1163rd position. It’s not every day that you can say you beat 39840 runners in a race!

I had heard that the crowd support in London would be great, but it was amazing to see how many people came out to watch the race and the bands in particular gave me a great lift. As I turned the final corner into The Mall, my training partner Rich caught up with me and we agreed to cross the line together and call it and honourable draw.

Sharing the special moment of crossing the finish line with a good friend was the cherry on the cake for the day.

At the end of a tough race like that I quite often get emotional (mostly due to exhaustion) and this race was no different. This time I managed to keep it under control until I spoke to my Dad on the phone and we both shed some tears as it meant a lot to both of us that I had finished what he had set out to do.

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