THE toughest thing I have ever done.

That’s the best way for me to begin explaining Sunday’s London Marathon from my own personal perspective.

I have completed the 26.2-mile course around the capital city four times in the past.

But none of them were as difficult as the one I endured at the weekend and I have no idea why!

I had stuck to my training regime and put the miles in during a rigorous and demanding five-month period.

Yet that seemed to count for very little on Sunday.

Now, I fully expected to suffer extreme pain and doubts as to whether I would be able to reach the finish line.

But I certainly was not expecting to experience it at the 10-mile mark.

That kind of distance had become quite straight forward by the end of my training but that was not the case at the weekend.

Faced with the daunting prospect of a further 16 miles I began to panic, tears rolled down my face and I was certainly not helped by being over-taken by a man on crutches.

Echo:

In pain - Chris Phillips running the London Marathon

I began to think about when to stop, how to get back to the start-line and what to leave as my Facebook post explaining my decision.

My dodgy back also began to play up around this stage but, after seeing my parents cheering me on, I carried on.

And by the time I got to the 14-mile mark I was mentally back in the game and was fine to continue to the finish.

Other than briefly stopping to crack my back on the barriers, I made it round without stopping and experienced a feel-good factor only a marathon can create.

From fellow runners to the hundreds of strangers screaming you on, there are moments of euphoria which give you goose-bumps and bring tears to your eyes.

Around the course I also became friends with a man with a lion on his head, a giant beer can, a minion and Elsa from Frozen.

Thankfully I had not started to hallucinate and was encouraged by a number of humorous banners.

‘You’re running London better than Boris’ was my personal favourite and encouraged me to eventually finish the course.

Due to the struggles I overcame I was proud to make it round.

But despite my best efforts to view things differently I remain disappointed and embarrassed that it took me so long.

I certainly gave it my all and, three days on, I am still mentally and physically exhausted while every move I make results in a noise more suited to a DVD found on the top shelf.

I am also still having to walk downstairs backwards and I will, 100 per cent, never ever ever be doing another marathon.

Although I seem to think I have said that before, four times to be precise!

> Chris was sponsored for this year’s London Marathon by FWG, now part of BTMK Solicitors.

They now have new offices at 1 Church Hill in Leigh on Sea.

He has now raised more than £7,000 for Havens Hospices and can be sponsored online at www.justgiving.com/cjp1982