November

[Sweder]

I forgot to mention an incident that occured just before the last kilometre yesterday.

Thundering along the prom towards Palace Pier I heard a couple of screams right behind me followed by an ugly clatter. I turned to see a lady stumbling forward mere feet behind whilst some oik on a BMX bicycle attempted to ride up her legs and back. The fool had a reversed baseball cap, bum-fluff stubble and beady black eyes. A fierce volley of vitriol and colourful invective rained down on him. It was like a hyena running into the back of a pack of charging lions; all turned heads and snarling teeth. We reacted in an instant, as one, ready to tear the swine limb from limb. His beady eyes got big as saucers before he launched himself off the pavement and across two lanes of honking traffic. Idiot.

In mitigation the race does encompass a cycle lane; however it is extremely well marshalled and the presence of a couple of thousand lycra-clad lopers might just suggest it's not a good idea to try and ride along it just at that point.