The London Marathon
The London marathon has been voted in numerous polls around the world as the best annual marathon, this isn't just with trained runners but with first hand marathon runners and people who haven't been running for long. It's so popular because it's a marathon that caters to people on all levels, and it attracts a number of famous faces taking on the course each year and every year the atmosphere gets better with everyone cheering each other on.
The London marathon first started in 1981; the course is 26.2 miles long and is held every April. It was first started by former Olympic winner and journalist Chris Brasher and John Disley another athlete. The idea started with Chris after he ran the New York marathon, in which he found everyone running and working together was one of the most joyous things he'd ever done, it was then he questioned whether London could stage such a festival?'. With this idea in his head he set off to the USA with John to look into the organisational process and financial planning of the NYC and Boston marathon. He went on to get a charitable status and signed a 50,000 deal with Gillette, set 6 main aims for them to achieve putting London on the map for being able to hold such an event, meaning the London marathon was born!
For the first marathon n 1981 over 20,000 people applied but only 6, 747 people ran it on 29th March. Since then its popularity has continued to rise with 34,947 people crossing the finishing line in 2008, and the grand total of people who have passed the finish line since it started in 1981 is 711,260. Even though the race is loved by a high number of professional runners, it is the fundraisers running the race that attract the crowds of millions who watch the race.
Over the years the London marathon has seen many iconic moments in history such as; in 2003 former box Michael Watson, who has been told he would never walk again after a devastating injury during a match with Chris Eubank, completed the marathon in 6 days, walking for 4 hours a day in 2 hour periods with Chris by his side. The marathons first wheelchair race was held in 1983. Another iconic moment was in 2006 when Sir Steve Redgrave set a Guinness World record for raising 1.8 million in sponsorship money. There are also the iconic group the Ever presents' who have taken part in every marathon since it first started, there are now 21 of them with the oldest of them topping 75 years old.
The course starts off at 3 different point in Blackhealth, the south of the River Thames, it then continues east through Charlton, with the three routes meeting in Woolwich. They then head towards Greenwich, then Surrey, towards Bermondsey and reaching the half way point passing the Towers Bridge. The course heads to the east through Wapping, towards Limehouse, through the Isle of Dogs, heading to Canary Wharf, then onto Poplar. The course then turns to the west back towards Limehouse, onto Commercial Road, back onto The Highway, leading onto the Lower and Upper Thames Street. The final leg of the course passes St Pauls Cathedral, Nelsons column at Trafalgar Square, the final mile leads along The Embankment, passed the London Eye, turning into Birdcage Walk, passing Big Ben, Buckingham Palace ending at The Mall besides St James' Palace.
The course is pretty much the same as it has been since it started in 1981 with only a few minor changes being made. Some of the changes include the finishing line first being at Constitution Hill, them moving to Westminster Bridge due to construction work, it stayed there for 12 years until it moved to the current spot The Mall. The route around the Isle of Dogs changed from clockwise to anti-clockwise to avoid the cobbled streets around the Tower of London.
During the marathon there is also a mini marathon that takes place aimed at children 11-17 and covers the last 3 miles of the course. The BBC covers the marathon every year with live coverage of the run on all day hosted by a number of famous faces, getting interviews with celebrities who are taking part. The London marathon has had a number of sponsorships throughout its time, for a number of years it's been known as the Flora London marathon, until their sponsorship ended in 2009, it is now the Virgin London marathon as they have the sponsorship currently until 2014.
As mentioned before London marathon has become increasingly popular with celebrity figures to take part in to raise money for charities, so here's a list of a few that have;