Posted on January 11, 2010.
Designed Marathon - Or mental and physical hell? At 9.00 am last Sunday nearly 35,000 pairs of trainers prepared to pound the streets of the capital in the Flora London Marathon.
At the same time, millions of people in 150 countries turned their televisions, settled back with a cup of coffee and remain glued to the screen for three or four hours.
Why so many people choose to make 26 miles 385 yards of the physical and mental hell? And why do we want to watch them?
The first London Marathon took place in 1981, the result of a conversation pub on a few pints of bitter experience of the late Chris Brasher, who had just run a marathon in New York.
Brasher, an athlete and sports journalist, wondered if London could host such a race: "We have the course ... But we have the heart and hospitality to welcome the world? "
Today, the extent and success of one of the most anticipated events of the country's annual sports Brasher give his answer. The London Marathon is a winning combination of spectacular setting and human drama.
Pumping a colorful ribbon of people weaves its way through some of the most famous landmarks in London and exceptional architecture. Greenwich, Canary Wharf and Docklands, the City, the River Thames, Tower Bridge, the embankment, Parliament Square, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and The Mall provide a context appropriate to the dramatic and beautiful story of thousands of people involved.
This year, 92,000 hopefuls applied for a starting point for Blackheath. We are all impressed with the elite runners and wheelchair athletes with their two hour sprints along the course, but let's face it, we're much more interested in real people.
These are people who have spent months to refrain from alcoholic beverages and cakes, collecting funds for their special charity and punish himself in training - all while taking their normal work and family life. The candidates this year consisted of 83 taxi drivers, 2148 teachers, 383 secretaries, 95 pharmacists, 97 film makers, 586 builders and 405 accountants.
The youngest of those who took part in the race this year was Jonathan Smith and Siobhan Besford, both 18. The oldest was Buster Martin, aged 101 and Iva Barr, aged 80 years. Buster has gained notoriety last year as a hero, both for failing to take off its 100th anniversary and to repel a group of young offenders. Since he joined a group called The Zimmers, and become an agony uncle for lads magazine, FHM.
Riders of Great Britain and Northern Ireland still form the majority of participants in the London Marathon, with about 50 other countries represented.
Many runners hope to break records and other than their personal bests. Guinness World Records for running the marathon dressed as Elvis, on stilts, while knitting a scarf or carrying a bag of coal have to win every Sunday.
The marathon is all about the strength of the human spirit and our ability to triumph over adversity. That is why we are so touched by the stories of those running in honor of family or friends and charities that have supported them.
We also love the men and women for whom a marathon just is not enough: those who are five consecutive races or running a marathon backwards in the early hours of the morning, then start with everyone to get it running again before the second time and the 25 metropolitan police who run together in a chain.
Another highlight of the London Marathon is the sight of some of our celebrities is digging in the streets of the city. Floella Benjamin OBE and world-renowned Chef Michel Roux have both routes 10 marathons in London, James Cracknell, Olympic rower and famous.
