I had to read this Tony. My first marathon was in PNG, on Bougainville Island.

There were only ten women in the race, and I had been told quite often, being a newcomer to the island, that I did not have time to get fit enough to participate.

Of course I didn't share with them that I was already a distance runner.

Three women were already classed as the front runners for a placement.

Until the day of the race they had no idea I was running. My secret training was at 5am each morning.

Well I didn't come first either, but I did come third, the pain of the last leg ever etched in my mind.

Yours was a much more important marathon, of course, so congratulations.