Fastest race in history

This is the moment Usain Bolt won the fastest race in history...and I was there! (With acknowledgement to Max Boyce who popularised the phrase). It's by no means the best of the bunch from today's 100m final and certainly not worthy of stars or little hearts.But, for me anyway, it sums up why so long ago I thought I had to try and be there after watching this sporting superstar in Beijing.

The atmosphere was unlike any I've experienced in a sporting arena before. The hairs stood up on the back of your neck. Once Bolt had hit the front, the crowd rose as one (a bit of a problem when trying to keep a long lens steady) and cheered him over the line.

Earlier in the evening we saw Oscar Pistorius running in the 400m. That really was something to see.

We were high up in the stadium in line with the 100m track but on the far side. it's hard to follow all the sports as many are on at the same time, and it was tough trying to get close up images from so far away.

We spent the best part of the day in the Olympic park, soaking up the atmosphere and, in two drenching thunderstorms, soaking up the rain, but we hunkered down and saw it out before watching Ben Ainslie triumph in an incredibly tight race. Congratulations Ben! Then it was Murray and Federer on the big screen and yet more jubilation in the crowd.

I'm sure it couldn't top the previous day for patriotic fervour (and I'm chuffed to see that my nephew Matt has come on to blipfoto with an image of Jessica Ennis throwing the javelin). But you can see why the 100m is the hot ticket. It's just about raw power and the final was one amazing line up of sub 10 second talent.

We paid enough for our tickets but didn't spend a fortune in the park - £23 on a tee-shirt for George and £3 on a packet of Cadbury's buttons, living for the most part on packed sandwiches and water. Well we are from Yorkshire.

There was so much negative press about the London Olympics beforehand but I have to say the whole thing is superb. The volunteers are magnificent - good humored, helpful, offering to take family pictures etc. The merchandise isn't at all bad - apart from the abomination, Wenlock. I loved this guy with his stick pins from lots of past Olympics. A few more shelters from the rain would have been welcome. When the sun shone it made such a difference.

I put this up in the early hours and wanted to submit it to a group. But there isn't a sports group. Come on blip central!