´óÏó´«Ã½

For a start, on Sunday morning it was interesting to watch one of the biggest cities in the world grind to a halt. That in itself was impressive!

Such was my excitement at being involved in the event, getting up at 5am was a breeze and by 7am I was at my reporting point, at Cutty Sark.

The police were in position and organisers were checking the barriers were in place, roads were closed and there had been no overnight graffiti on the advertising. We were all ready. Suddenly people started emerging from everywhere!

The French corner shop owner selling fresh bread and pastries started to have an argument with a young man employed to hold a board up all day promoting the local fast food joint outside his shop, concerned he would steal his trade on this busy day.

A band emerged from a house and were setting up speakers and microphones to entertain, then it started to rain. It was not the weather we had been predicting but it soon passed, as did the elite men and women. They flew past us at Cutty Sark, not that you could tell we were at the home of the . Scaffolding and boards are still everywhere as the renovation after continues.

Later in the day, Cutty Sark chief executive Richard Doughty confirmed one of the world's most famous vessels would be completed by the end of 2011. That should be just in time for the 2012 Olympic tourism boom!

I was primed and ready to pounce with my microphone as the masses arrived like a huge wave at sea. The colour and noise were fantastic. There was lively cheering from the crowds that had patiently gathered. All were looking for friends, family and colleagues to give support.

In total I must have interviewed about 15 people. There was a camel, a gingerbread man, Mr Bump and a fairy, to name a few. Their costumes may have been different but the drive, passion and fun they were having was all the same.

I loved the atmosphere, and it was clear the runners and spectators. Those running with their names on their vests were being cheered by strangers. Some runners were clearly uncomfortable, but their heavy costumes were lightened by the crowd support.

Having read beforehand many of the emotional stories and reasons for people taking part, I was hoping to maybe catch a glance and shout some support to those whose stories brought a tear to my eye, but not a chance.

The wave of people was fast flowing. I don't recommend jogging along side Gordon Ramsey doing an interview then having to turn back and plough through thousands of people. I felt like a salmon going against the flow!

We spotted Richard Branson in his butterfly costume and asked if he would say a few words for ´óÏó´«Ã½.

"How can I do an interview, I'm running a marathon!" he said. But he was carefully led through the masses to the camera by my floor manager David, who held his hand as you would a child crossing the road.

Then it was all over, the brave runners continuing on their personal 26.2 mile journeys.

The French shop owner had run out of pastries in his shop, calming his earlier fears, and the band had packed up and retreated until next year.

I don't know whether the giraffe beat the fairy but I don't think it mattered. They reckon £50million is raised for charity by this one race and 36,000 people can cross the London Marathon off their to-do lists.

The online ballot for 2011 entries opens on the 4th May. Will you be aiming to take part? Having seen it live, I would love to do it one day. I'll just have to see whether my knees can take the training.