The History of the London Marathon

In 1979, after former Olympic Champion Chris Brasher had competed in the New York Marathon, he decided to try and organise such an event in London. Brasher made several trips to America studying the organisation and the financing of such marathon events. He organised for the financing and on March 29th 1981, his vision was completed with the running of the first London Marathon.

It was an instant success. More than 20,000 people applied to run with 6,255 crossing the finish line and it has continued growing in stature since that time to become one of the premier marathon events in the world. The fact that Inge Simonsen and Dick Beardsley finished first in a dead heat in the first London marathon only increased its appeal.

To run in the London marathon, a runner must be over 18 and be fit and well on race day. It is the only race in the world that is run in two hemispheres, both east and west, as the course crosses the Prime Meridian in Greenwich. The marathon route is a great tourist attraction passing such landmarks as Tower Bridge, the Isle of Dogs, and the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament, St. James’s Park, Buckingham Palace and finishing at The Mall. This has led to increased tourism in London before and during the actual race.

The race has continued attracting some of the best marathoners in the world with runners like Antonio Pinto, Khalid Khannouchi and Martin Lel setting world best times on the course. The women are not to be left behind with runners like Derartu Tulu, Joyce Chepchumba, and Paula Radcliffe leading the premier women. The wheel chair race for both men and women is also a great crowd puller.

The prize money in the London Marathon attracts some of the premier athletes in the world. However, it is the club and fun runners who make the London marathon unique. Runners, sometimes with ludicrous fashions, often collecting money for charity from the hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the streets. It is people like Sir Steve Redgrave who set a Guinness World Record for money raised through a marathon by collecting 1.8 million pounds in sponsorship. The founder of the Oasis Trust, Steve Chalke reclaimed his record in 2007 by raising 1.85 million pounds for charity.

A national hero was made of boxer Michael Watson who finished the race in six days after he had been told that he would never walk again after a fight with Chris Eubank. As of 2007, there are only 24 runners who have competed in the London marathon since its inception with the oldest being 80 year old Reg Burbidge.

The London Marathon is an event to behold. Every year more premier runners are joining in the race as more charity funds are being raised. It is the charitable aspect of the marathon hat makes the London Marathon stand out amongst its peers with the whole country ready to support charitable causes linked to the event.

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