| At 9.00 am last Sunday morning around 35,000 pairs | | | | represented. |
| of trainers prepared to pound the capital's streets in | | | | Many runners hope to break other records as well as |
| the Flora London Marathon. | | | | their personal bests. The Guinness World Records for |
| At the same time, millions of people across 150 | | | | running the marathon dressed as Elvis, on stilts, whilst |
| countries turned on their televisions, settled back with a | | | | knitting a scarf or carrying a coal bag were all up for |
| cup of coffee and remain glued to the screen for the | | | | grabs last Sunday. |
| next three or four hours. | | | | The marathon is all about the strength of the human |
| Why do so many people choose to put themselves | | | | spirit and our ability to triumph over adversity. That's |
| through 26 miles 385 yards of physical and mental | | | | why we are so touched by the stories of those |
| hell? And why do we want to watch them do it? | | | | running in honour of family or friends and the charities |
| The first London Marathon took place in 1981, the result | | | | that have supported them. |
| of a pub conversation over a few pints of bitter and | | | | We also love the men and women for whom one |
| the experience of the late Chris Brasher who had just | | | | straightforward marathon just isn't enough: those who |
| run the New York City Marathon. | | | | run five consecutive races or run the marathon course |
| Brasher, an athlete and sports journalist, asked himself | | | | backwards in the early hours of the morning and then |
| if London could host such a race: "We have the | | | | start with everyone else to run it again, forwards the |
| course . . . but do we have the heart and hospitality to | | | | second time; and those 25 Metropolitan Police Officers |
| welcome the world?" | | | | who run together in a chain. |
| Today the scale and success of one of the country's | | | | Another of the highlights of the London Marathon is the |
| most anticipated annual sporting events would give | | | | sight of some of our celebrities slogging it out on the |
| Brasher his answer. The London Marathon is a winning | | | | city streets. Floella Benjamin OBE and world-renowned |
| combination of spectacular setting and human drama. | | | | chef Michel Roux have both run 10 London Marathons; |
| The bobbing, multi-coloured ribbon of people weaves | | | | James Cracknell, Olympic rower and celebrity chef |
| its way through some of London's most iconic sites | | | | Gordon Ramsey are both event regulars. |
| and outstanding architecture. Greenwich, Canary | | | | Unlike many other sporting events, there is a special |
| Wharf and Docklands, the City, the River Thames, | | | | relationship between the participants and spectators. |
| Tower Bridge, the Embankment, Parliament Square, | | | | The athletes and the crowd interact, working together |
| Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and The Mall provide a | | | | to lift the spirits of ailing runners and urge them on to |
| suitably dramatic and beautiful backdrop to the stories | | | | the finishing line. Veterans of the endurance race say |
| of the thousands of individuals involved. | | | | there is nothing like hearing your name being shouted |
| This year, 92,000 hopefuls applied for a starting place | | | | to inspire you. |
| on Blackheath. We're all impressed by the elite runners | | | | Of 36,396 starters last year, 35,694 were inspired to |
| and wheelchair athletes with their two hour sprints | | | | finish. More than 34,000 runners finished this year. |
| along the course, but let's face it, we're much more | | | | Completion times over the years range from two |
| interested in the real people. | | | | hours five minutes 15 seconds to seven days. And it |
| These are the people who've spent months abstaining | | | | seems that the marathon is addictive to both viewers |
| from booze and cakes, fundraising for their special | | | | and participants alike, with thousands applying year |
| charity and punishing themselves in training - all whilst | | | | after year, despite vowing 'never again!' as they cross |
| holding down their normal job and home life. Applicants | | | | the finish line. |
| this year included 83 taxi drivers, 2,148 teachers, 383 | | | | In addition to raising cash, increasing awareness of |
| secretaries, 95 pharmacists, 97 film makers, 586 | | | | charitable causes and promoting running as a sport, the |
| builders and 405 accountants. | | | | marathon is also responsible for boosting the British |
| The youngest individuals who took part in this year's | | | | tourist industry. The London Marathon attracts runners |
| race were Jonathan Smith and Siobhan Besford, both | | | | from around the world and also showcases our capital |
| 18 years. The oldest were Buster Martin, aged 101 and | | | | city to a global television audience. Some London |
| Iva Barr, aged 80. Buster gained notoriety last year as | | | | hotels run special marathon deals and many |
| a senior hero, for both refusing to take his 100th | | | | participants stay at Heathrow airport hotels. |
| birthday off work and fending off a group of young | | | | Since 2006 the London event has been part of the |
| attackers. He has since joined a band, The Zimmers, | | | | World Marathon Majors, a series of races which |
| and become an agony uncle for lads' mag, FHM. | | | | includes the world's five biggest city marathons: |
| Runners from Great Britain and Northern Ireland | | | | Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City. |
| always make up the majority of participants in the | | | | The 100th anniversary of the Olympic Marathon will be |
| London Marathon, with around 50 other countries | | | | marked officially at the Beijing Olympics. |