Where better to start a new blog series but with perhaps the most popular of UK marathon events? I’m sure everyone would immediately know which one I’m talking about, but let’s introduce it all the same:
The London Marathon
What is it? Well, the clue is in the name! It’s a marathon conducted in London. However, despite being an annual event, being televised & discussed on major news channels, few people outside of the participants know much about it or how it started.
How did it start?
London has a long history of distance running events but The London Marathon didn’t start until 1981. Inspired by their participation in the world famous New York Marathon, former Olympic champion Chris Brasher and athlete John Disley decided that London should also hold such an event. Their wish was to create an urban marathon, one that would invite the world to spectate, support and participate just as the New York City Marathon did (and still does). Brasher’s notorious article in The Observer in 1979 posed the question of whether London could do the same, whether it could host what he referred to as the “human race”.
The Marathon Today
Since its inception, the London Marathon has been completed by over one million runners. The event routinely attracts runners from across the planet and also a great number of celebrity runners including professional athletes and actors and actresses. It runs right through the centre of the city and is the world’s biggest annual, one-day fundraising event.
Contrary to Brasher’s early concern as to whether London could host a world class marathon, The London Marathon is now well known for its ability to bring people together in support of one another, for the kind and selfless acts of charitable fundraising and for welcoming others from all over the world. The marathon represents the spirit of London, a truly international city, and is a treasured annual event for the United Kingdom.
Fit4Change and the marathon
Reading about the marathon is interesting and inspiring, but how does it relate to Fit4Change? With the unique nature of our fundraising app, the amount of money raised can be even greater. A runner completing the marathon can raise significant funds for their chosen charity either through sponsorship on JustGiving or by other means. Using our app, the runner can not only raise extra funds whilst actually running the marathon but, more importantly, they can raise money whilst training! This is why we want to promote even greater use of the fundraising app: to increase the amount of money raised and to contribute to the fantastic legacy of an event such as The London Marathon.
Getting involved
If you want to get involved in The London Marathon, then have a look at The Virgin Money London Marathon website here.. It’s too late to enter for this year’s marathon (after all, it’s only 4 weeks away now) but applications for next year’s marathon will be opening in May.
If you are interested in taking part and plan to use our fundraising app in conjunction, then please do contact us on our Home page. We’d love to hear about your marathon journeys and would like to support you as much as we can.
Whether you run, walk or cycle, fundraise for free with Fit4Change.
