PICTURES: West Dorset athletes tally up charity funding at 2017 London Marathon

For Bridport's Richard Cooper, 53, well known as the former owner of The Bull Hotel and founder of The Stable pizza chain- it was less a case of euphoria and more one of sheer relief that it was over.

He said: "I feel a bit fragile but elated none the less.

"You hear so much about how hard a marathon is. You hear about the wall, about the pain and no matter how much somebody explains it to you they cannot do it justice - it is a living hell.

"Everybody says the crowd carry you to the finish line. I can assure you they are brilliant but they don't carry you - I asked!"

"It was an amazing day, an international event like no other, it is a world class event."

Richard ran his race in 4 hours and 53 minutes and raised a record £7,000 for Dorset Mind

He added: "My personal challenge was to run the entire race, which I did I just wanted to get under five hours and I achieved it and raised the money, which is more important."

If - and it's a big if - he ever does it again he says he'll take his training more seriously and run many more miles in preparation he said, having been less than diligent about his pre-race preparations.

He added that he was overwhelmed by the amount of support he got to raise the money for Dorset Mind.

He said: "It is a wonderful local charity where all of the money gets directed locally and it will go to help many people old and young in an area of the mental health service which is pretty much lacking in Dorset and for me that makes it so worthwhile. That's the wonderful thing and something I am very proud of.

"The amount of of goodwill I have received has been overwhelming and I am truly thankful."

His virgingiving page is open for another 30 days after the race.

* BRIDPORT Policeman Brian Puttock's London Marathon was a (bucket) wish come true.

The 43-year-old had running a marathon on his list of things to do before he was 50 and he's pleased and proud to have ticked it off already.

He said: "It was a brilliant experience. I don't see how anyone who does it couldn't think that."

PC Puttock who did the run in just eight minutes over his target time of 4hours 30 minutes, says he didn't hit the 'wall' everyone talks of at 21 miles - but does admit by mile 25 his legs were getting 'a little bit tired'.

He said: "It was a little bit like walking through treacle by then but you set yourself mini goals, like overtaking that person.

"It is true what they say about the atmosphere and all the public support and seeing the iconic landmarks is brilliant.

"I underestimated how many people would be there though and for the first ten miles or so it is difficult to get into your normal running pace with so many people in the way so I don't think being eight minutes over my target is too bad."

PC Puttock was running for the Make a Wish charity and has raised £1,500 but is hoping he can get the doubters among his supporters to help him reach his £2,000 target.

He added: "I have ticked off running a marathon from my list, now I'll have to find another challenge."

Money can still be donated at virginmoneygiving.com/brianputtock

* A YEAR ago Martin Bowen-Ashwin, director of Humberts Bridport hadn't even donned a pair of running shoes.

On Sunday he ran the London marathon in 4.43 hours.

Martin only took up running 12 months ago after joining Bridport's Transition Running group led by Joe Allen.

He then started doing the Weymouth 5km Park Runs and jogging around west Dorset often accompanied by his dog Bilbo.

This encouraged him to apply, and get extremely lucky in winning a ballot place in the 2017 London Marathon.

More than 250,000 people enter for only 20,000 places. Martin felt both daunted and privileged to get a place and had to undertake a 16 week intensive training schedule.

Weather on the day was marathon perfect, and more than 800,000 spectators lined the streets of the capital to cheer on all the 40,000 runners.

Martin said he loved every mile of the amazing course, enjoyed the brilliant atmosphere and passing so many iconic landmarks, even though he was not always in the best shape to take it in.

Martin ran for Humberts chosen charity, Canine Partners, who do great work training assistance dogs for the disabled, transforming their lives.

Martin is extremely grateful for everyone who has already donated, but further contributions are still welcome and can be made by emailing martin.bowen-ashwin@humberts.com

Martin said: "I hope my running experience going from being a total running novice to completing a marathon, will inspire others to take up running."

* MARGARET Pearce is a keen athlete and has been member of the Axe Valley Runners club for a number of years but even with all her experience she didn't know how she would cope running the London Marathon.

IN the event she sped round in 3hours 49 seconds and only encountered problems in the last two miles.

and has completed several long distance challenges, including the famous Grizzly.

She said: "It was was amazing, I couldn't stop smiling for most of the way round due to the support of family, friends and the people of London.

"It's hard to describe what you go through on the day, you do all the right training, get some good tips from your fellow runners but you never know how it will pan out.

"I'm very pleased with my time of 3.49. For most of the race I was consistent but the last two miles were quite painful due to sore calf's and hip so it was a big challenge to get to the finish line.

"I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to run the London Marathon to raise money for The Project to help young people with mental health problems, they need our support. I am hoping to have hit a target of £1,500 when all monies are in."

The Project has weekly groups held in Axminster and Chard and it offers a safe and welcoming You can sending donations to her care of Peco, Beer, Seaton, Devon, EX12 3NA or go to the website mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/margaretpearce1

For more information about The Project, visit its website theprojectyp.org.uk

* MATT Little and his finance Lucy Constable had planned to run the London Marathon together but a knee injury forced Lucy to pull out.

So ex-army man who is now a chef at West Bay's Snack Shack, ran alone and completed the course in 5 hours 15 minutes.

It took him longer than his target but long queues for toilet breaks and to see family delayed him.

He was raising money for Whizz Kidz and is so far just over the £1,000 mark.

He said: "I'll have to have another cake sale to make more but as I was running I kept hearing my phone pinging with email alerts from my justgiving page.

"I really enjoyed it but I think the hardest part was along Canary Wharf, it's just awful. You enter it at mile 14 and don't get out again until mile 21.

"The best bit is running down The Mall and hearing people at the finish line.

"The people of London are amazing, there are people everywhere all along the route."

Lucy and his family were among them - and he was particularly heartened to see a huge banner made by his brother an sister-in-law.

He added: "I was gutted for Lucy after all her hard work but it worked out better with the amount of after care I've needed - it's taken me about two days just to be able to walk again! It would have been horrible if we'd both been that bad."

* MORE than three decades after his first - failed - attempt at the London Marathon Bridport runner Clive Whaley is now the proud possessor of a finisher's medal.

An intensive training programme paid off for Bridport runner Clive Whaley who successfully completed the London Marathon in a time of 3 hours 33 minutes.

Being a member of Bridport Runners and a running coach he had a clear idea about what he was getting himself into and was better prepared than he was in 1986, despite being 30 years older.

He finished as number 6,954 out of almost 40,400 starters and was ranked 219th in his age group 55-59 years.

In preparation of the race, Clive took on an intensive 16 week training program which he had tailored for his own needs. Clive is a qualified Coach in Running Fitness (CiFR), according to the rules of United Kingdom Athletics.

Clive also used the race to raise funds for the official charity of the marathon 2017, ‘Heads Together’.

This charity aims to tackle the stigma that still exists around mental health issues and also help people find the mental health support they need, when they need it.

Clive’s fund raising page is still open for donations.

Clive’s finish also means that he can now close a chapter which he had opened more than three decades ago.

It was his second attempt with the London Marathon after entering but unfortunately not finishing the race in 1986. He said: “I had not been near the event since but I am very pleased that, more than 30 years later, I could finish what I started.”

* CLIVE and Sarah Samways found running the London Marathon a thrilling but humbling experience.

This was Sarah's third marathon but Clive's first.

They were running for Action for Hearing Loss and have so far raised £2,700 but are hoping to make that up to their target of £3,000.

Sarah said: "The charity is something very close to our hearts after Clive’s skiing accident and later meningitis left him deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other.

"Also some good friends of ours have two little boys with progressive hearing loss.

"It meant we could also have a focus not only on Clive but a focus on somebody else and they are only little boys and it is tough if you actually cannot hear, you are very much like in a fish bowl, it is difficult but on a run like that you are so humble.

"You have got guide runners running with blind people, you have got people pushing wheelchair people with one leg. It is amazing that you see and hear.

"It was a magnificent day, the weather and conditions were perfect, we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sarah did it in 3 hours 45 Clive did it in 4 hours 29.

Sarah added: "For us the worst were the nerves beforehand - about getting to the start, about doing the run, about what you should eat, what you shouldn't eat, all of that is quite nerve wracking.

"The highlight is of course just 26.2 miles of support, people, bands, music, people handing out jelly babies, oranges, water. People are fantastic.

"It is a once in a lifetime's thing you have just got to experience. And we don't ache!"

* TWO friends felt "incredibly lucky" to run the London Marathon together - raising more than £4,000 for a children's charity.

Tach Mooney, who works at Barton House GP surgery and Claire Pitcher, who works at Hooke Nursery, took on the challenge to raise money for Phabkids. The national charity promotes and encourages disabled and non-disabled people to come together - providing residential projects for children and their families.

In the duo's first marathon, the couple enjoyed the "electric" atmosphere and enjoyed being part of the event.

Tach said: "It was our first ever marathon.

"We'd been jogging together on and off for a bit and decided we'd like something to make our kids proud and a target to aim for and thought, okay, if we're going to do there's only one and that's London."

She added: "It was such an incredible day - we ran the entire race together, finishing in four hours and 39 minutes.

"We'd like to thank our family and friends for their support and also the crowds and supporters in London - the atmosphere was electric and has restored our faith. We would like to also thank patients and parents for their support throughout.

"London was buzzing on the day and we feel incredibly lucky to be part of such and incredible event. We've raised over £4,000 and our children are proud so job done."