In the capital for his 15th London, 35th overall and possibly last marathon, Monmouth fundraiser and distance runner Mark Williamson, pictured with his green hair, was set to run for the longest time of his career to date.

Suitably set up for the occasion, sporting a Macmillan Green Hairstyle, generously donated and created by Helmet Hair of Church Street, and taking his Olympic Torch, he was all set for an enjoyable swansong.

Speaking to the 100-plus guests at the Macmillan Pasta Party on Saturday evening, Mark shared hints, tips and experiences of the last 20 years before wishing his fellow fundraisers good luck for the next day's challenge.

The day started out well, the sun had come out, there was a gentle breeze and a party atmosphere around London.

Penned in at the back of the red start, for the first time ever, it took almost half an hour just to reach the start.

The breeze swiftly dropped and the temperature rose quickly ensuring the runners basked in sunshine and needed plenty of fluids on the way round.

Running with two friends and a colleague, Mark was encouraged to keep a slow, steady pace and take regular blood pressure and heart rate checks on the way round to ensure a safe completion.

"Both hairstyle and Olympic Torch, which he carried all round the course, were received enthusiastically by the crowds.

"Five and one quarter hours later Mark crossed the finish line, tired, happy and content that he had raised £4,635 so far and would no doubt reach his target of £5,000 for this year's effort.

"That was probably the toughest challenge I've ever undertaken," said Mark.

"The distance was not a problem, but having to maintain a slow pace and taking that amount of time was quite exhausting.

"Job done though and onwards to the next challenge."

Old Monmothian cricketer and former mayor of Usk Tony Kear, pictured with his medal, broke a hat-trick of records on Sunday as he completed his fifth and final Virgin London Marathon.

He lowered his personal best by over 16 minutes, beat his sub four-hour goal (by one second at 3:59:59) and raised a record amount for St Anne's Hospice of over £5,000 by joining forces with Usk's current Mayor Chris Wilkinson, who had also nominated St Annes as one of her chosen charities during her term of office.

"I spent 25 years running just nine-and-a-half yards to bowl off spin and then the last five years dedicated to a new 'sport' called marathon running," said Tony.

"I started in 2009 when Mayor of Usk as part of my mayoral charity fundraising and completed the last Flora sponsored LM in just under five hours.

"The bug had started and being competitive I always had a sub four hour time as my goal. Each attempt I had chipped away the time by 10 or 15 minutes to last year's 4:16.

"Training this winter has been dreadful in such a long cold four months since the new year but all had gone well with personal bests in three half marathons along the way in Bristol, Cardiff and Newport.

"The run up was marred by the dreadful scenes in Boston and it was incredibly emotional as some 36,000 runners went from schoolboy excitement to respectfully observed 30 seconds silence followed by spontaneous applause.

"The weather was perfect and the crowds enormous. Spine-chilling to say the least around Cutty Sark and over Tower Bridge never mind the now typical hoards around Canary Wharf and along the Embankment.

"The noise and encouragement shouted was truly extraordinary. I can honestly say it felt a privilege to take part in this year's race.

"A faulty watch meant I thought I had finished with four minutes to spare and thus avoided a sprint – if you could call it that – past Buckingham Palace and down the Mall over the finish line.

"My twin brother's congratulatory text revealed the narrowest possible one second gap between my goal and the official time of 3:59:59. Phew!

"I'd knocked an hour off the time from my first attempt but along the way have raised over £20,000 in five years (including gift aid) for St Anne's Hospice.

"I'm very proud to have supported a wonderful local cause. I'm equally grateful for everyone who has supported my fundraising events and sponsored me and not forgetting my wife Kim for putting up with my new found obsession.

"I can retire back to cricket umpiring for the summer – weather permitting of course."