5hrs 8mins. Testing and hilly on home ground.

Always going to be a toughie, this one. The lead into London is obviously the crescendo to all this but this marathon was always going to be a bit flat, heading home and then away again.

Heading away from Lewes, we decided after a tricky nine miles or so, that it was difficult for Samia to be lurching round bends on her own in the Fiat Tupperware and also that the A27 was too tricky to be worthwhile for Hugh. I joined again in the navigation seat H bundled into the wagon, we then left to go to Coggins Mill where he would do the remaining miles. He knows the roads extremely well owing to his months of training there. This also meant Samia and I could take the Fiat to get serviced. A good use of time all round - a commodity we find has been in short supply on this trip. We very nearly forgot to get the wine we bought seemingly ages ago in France but we loaded up Samia's 4x4 with this so we have one essential supply for the remainder of the trip.

This was a hilly run, Sussex providing a late test for Hugh and he took it easy, also having to fit in two phone interviews on the for a fitness magazine and a triathlon magazine. Proper multi tasking, this. The legs were tired after the quick run at Brighton and also conceivably because of 40 something other marathons.

Hugh was reunited at Coggins Mill with Sophie and the kids. Freddie in particular was delighted to see him, having followed his progress and watching him move agonisingly slowly towards home each day. The twins; Gracie and Louis looked more quizzically on at this weathered figure stretching in the kitchen. Later there was a splendid meal at the Middlehouse, the benchmark pub in Mayfield with Tessa, Hugh's mum presiding and also with brother James who's running the next leg, as is Guy, father of Little Charlie so perhaps a couple of running dynasties are being formed. Not sure James will agree with that.

We start from the High Street tomorrow on the penultimate run. Away from home again but this time briefly and Freddie won't be checking the map much longer.