ACHING limbs are starting to heal after this year's London Marathon, which saw 35,000 runners take to the city's streets.

Maasai warriors, stormtroopers, stilt walkers and several Supermen pounded the 26 mile course despite lightning and heavy downpours.

This year saw 130 people run for Havens Hospices, which hopes to top the £190,000 raised last year.

Greg Crease, 37, got in the spirit by bringing his ironboard and a few creased shirts along, raising about £1,600 for the charity.

"It was cold at the start, but when I got going I warmed up quite quickly and was steaming for a couple of miles," he laughed.

"I stopped to do a couple of shirts at the Cutty Sark, but it was quite busy so I moved on and glided over the finish in about five and a half hours."

Mr Crease, who lives in Leigh, spent about 50 minutes of the race ironing and got through 15 shirts, two jumpers and two tea towels.

He said: "I've never done this before. I've done it bare foot and I've done it backwards, but never ironing."

Richard Blois, 81, ran for Havens with his daughter Lucy Blois and her two friends Lucy-Ann Bush and Amy Allen, who raised £7,000 between them.

He is already back to pounding the pavements, though he found the marathon particularly challenging this year.

He said: "I was struggling a bit, but I'm alright. I didn't get any blisters. It was teriffic, but I don't enjoy cold weather. When it rained it was ice cold."

Mr Blois, of Heritage Way, Rochford, completed the race in seven hours 41 minutes. He had been ill during training and had a catheter removed just the week before, but still decided to walk the course. He added: "I'm hoping to get back to running it properly by next year."

Mike Martin, 30, of Basildon also ran the marathon for Havens hospices.

The course record was set this year by Martin Lel of Kenya with two hours, five minutes, 15 seconds, while Irina Mikitenko of Germany took the women's race with a time of two hours 24 minutes and 14 seconds.

Steve Beaumont, from Westcliff, found running for the British Heart Foundation gave him the dogged determination to reach the finishing line in four hours 55 minutes.

The 43-year-old said: "It was tough at times, but knowing I was doing it for such a great cause kept me going."

Mum of two Heidi Smith, 38, of Falcon Avenue, Grays, has raised £1,000 for children with leukaemia.

She said: "The pain and training was definitely worth it thanks to all my family and friends that came to support me on the day."

To donate to Havens go to www.just giving.com/gregcrease2008