London Marathon was much Better in the early days of the event. Use to watch the start in the park then down to Cutty Sark and then through foot tunnel.
Now appears to be all advertising hoardings. Then on to football match after running.
I went and saw a few mates at Deptford then Cannon Street. Thought it was incredible to be fair, uplifting and emotional even as a spectator. Got to be one of the only large scale events with no dickheads about, the best of community and society both on the track and the sidelines. I really need to do it.
I went and saw a few mates at Deptford then Cannon Street. Thought it was incredible to be fair, uplifting and emotional even as a spectator. Got to be one of the only large scale events with no dickheads about, the best of community and society both on the track and the sidelines. I really need to do it.
p.s. Why were playing on a Sunday in 1983?
Back when crowds were on the smallest size we tried gimmicks!
Someone thought might be an idea play on Sunday morning of marathon might pick up some extra people out watching race. Unable to kick off in morning so put kick off back to afternoon 2pm. Did it work? No.
I managed 4 different places and saw my friend each time to give her sweets. Charlton (mile 4.5), Rotherhithe (mile 11), Canary Wharf (mile 18), Lower Thames Street (mile 23)
4 trains, 4 tubes, 1 dlr and 1 bus and 14,000 steps. A good warm down for the hips after the Upbeats Walk yesterday!
Finished in 4 hours 6 mins. Was gutted to not break 4 hours but it was brutal out there. So many competitors and it was really difficult to find a rhythm. In saying that, it was my fifth marathon and the one I enjoyed the most. Saw a couple of addicks I knew en route in Charlton and near cannon st and had a brief exchange with a fella wearing a pair of Charlton shorts after the finish line. The crowds were on another level and the noise going through Canary Wharf really lifted me.
The Rose of Denmark was heaving at 11am, and good fun.
Always a good place to see the marathon, and it got some good shots on TV.
I've got a marathon day routine now - up to Shooters Hill Road to see the wheelchair racers and the elite women, down to Charlton Road to see the first mass runners (they're a lot more spread out than they used to be), down the hill to the flyover for the drummers and the elite men, then back to the Rose of Denmark. Always a great morning.
London Marathon was much Better in the early days of the event. Use to watch the start in the park then down to Cutty Sark and then through foot tunnel.
Now appears to be all advertising hoardings.
The 1981 marathon - see how chaotic the start is, and the race car careering through Southwark Park! (Unfortunately contains Savile at the Cutty Sark, though.)
Son in law managed 4:48 but delayed himself to help a stricken older runner in one of the tunnels. Had to get him out of the tunnel to a first aider before he could continue
I volunteered on a baggage lorry yesterday. Was damned tiring and a long day but was great. Spoke to runners from all round the world with a huge range of stories about how they got to the finish line.
Well done to all here who ran it or helped or were part of building the atmosphere round the course by watching clapping and cheering.
Managed to drag myself around in 5hrs 39mins
6secs (age 66), around the length of a football match slower than I achieved
last time, in 2019, but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since
then. And between us, lead by the inspirational Sue Strachan, Sue's
Crew has raised over £70,000 to date on behalf of Alzheimer's Research
UK, Keith #COYR
Comments
p.s. Why were playing on a Sunday in 1983?
Did it work? No.
4 trains, 4 tubes, 1 dlr and 1 bus and 14,000 steps. A good warm down for the hips after the Upbeats Walk yesterday!
Always a good place to see the marathon, and it got some good shots on TV.
The 1981 marathon - see how chaotic the start is, and the race car careering through Southwark Park! (Unfortunately contains Savile at the Cutty Sark, though.)