Abingdon Amblers runner Paul Fernandez found the noise deafening after he was chosen to take part in a dress rehearsal for the men’s marathon at the London Olympics.

The aim of this dry run was to test out the filming by the Olympic Broadcasting Service of the marathon route.

The runners had to set off at 5am at just faster than six-minute-mile pace for a small (2.2 miles) and large (8 miles) loop of the marathon course.

During the run they had to simulate a race such as breakaways and surges. After the first loop they broke into two groups, then got back together after about ten miles.

They then split again, and for the last two miles they had to break down the ‘chasing group’ into pairs to give the camera crew a real work-out.

Fernandez said: “It was great fun and we got a good view of the sites of London.

“The route was partially closed to traffic , and we had eight police vehicles leapfrogging us to close off the other roads as we went past. “I felt a bit guilty to have these vehicles stopped, especially when we were in our ‘slow mode’ doing eight-minute miles. However, we received lots of cheers (not jeers) from motorists and pedestrians as they watched us go past.

“I guess they thought we were a bit mad to be out that early in the morning – maybe they thought it was a real Olympic race.

“The vehicles made it quite noisy and difficult to have a conversation with other runners “There were two camera cars, three camera bikes, six police bikes, two police cars, a vehicle for officials, helicopter at a few hundred feet and a plane at 36,000 feet which relays the pictures. “I am sure that, with the extra roar of the crowd, it will be deafening for the athletes.”