So James spent his Sunday running 26.22 miles while we sat glued to the telly, and watched his tracker on the mobile phone app as he went round the course . The only time we saw him was as he crossed the finish line, which I suppose is the best place if you only get one shot at it.

He raised just shy of £14,000 in 3 hours 52 minutes 8 seconds. Plus who knows how many hours of training. And we are lost in admiration. I know some blipfriends chipped in, and grateful thanks for that.  

It was weird at the start, seeing drone shots of the houses round Blackheath where I used to deliver papers, and meat to Fanny Craddock. Would we ever go back? Not for a big gold clock. But the marathon is a wonderful example of how communities can act selflessly together for good purposes.