HEADLINES
The people, campaigns, research and updates making an impact in our running community this month
© LONDON MARATHON EVENTS
VIRTUAL LONDON MARATHON A SUCCESS
The wind blew and the rain came down but that was not what united the UK on 4thOctober 2020. Thousands of runners took part virtually and the elites had the track to themselves. What a day!
After a quiet summer, with endless cancelled events and deferred places, the nation pondered how significant a virtual 40thLondon Marathon could really be. Not able to travel to the iconic course that weaves its way from Greenwich to The Mall, over 40,000 runners chose to pin on their London Marathon numbers and take to the streets – their streets – and still run, many to ensure the charities they were supporting received vital funds in such a challenging year.
Anyone who was out and about on Sunday 4thOctober couldn’t miss these runners – many were running solo in dire conditions, battling torrential rain and wind. A beep of a horn, supporters and family popping up to shout encouragement; it may not have been what the event organisers had wanted, but it created ripples of support, inspiration and motivations across the UK. The virtual London Marathon was a beacon of light, and it managed to bring people together even though they were running apart, and showed how ingenious we can be, when unforeseen circumstances demand resourcefulness and grit.