Running ahead
Hugh Brasher , event director , London Marathon Events tells Access of his determination the Virgin Money London Marathon would go ahead this year as a physical event in some shape or form , and how his father , the event ’ s co-founder , would have loved the fact a growing number of runners from around the world are getting involved virtually .
A hugely important event not only for the role it plays in encouraging improved mental and physical health but the massive impact it has on the economy and fundraising , the London Marathon ’ s return this year as a massparticipation event was a huge relief for all involved , not least its many suppliers .
On 3 October , more than 37,000 runners completed the 26.2 miles route from Blackheath to The Mall that takes in some of London ’ s most famous landmarks including Buckingham Palace , The Cutty Sark , Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf . Meanwhile , 40,000 runners took part remotely , logging their distance via a tracking app .
At a time of so much uncertainty , race director Hugh Brasher ’ s apparent commitment to staging the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon in whatever way possible offered the supply chain some much needed certainty .
While taking into account the changing Covid mitigation measures mandated by Government throughout this year , Brasher and his team developed a series of contingency measures to ensure they could react with agility to whatever scenario was thrust upon them .
The team had already staged a Covid-safe version of the event on 4 October last year , which consisted of elite-only races in a biosecure bubble around St James ’ s Park . Simultaneously , it staged the first virtual edition of the marathon that saw 37,966 finishers .
London Marathon Events was also involved in the Government ’ s Events
Research Programme . Its Reunion 5K pilot races on 15 May at Kempton Park in Surrey , each involving 3,000 runners , tested different scenarios including social distancing . It also staged the Vitality London with 10,000 runners at Hatfield Park on 11 July .
Brasher says : “ We had proven by putting an elite event on in St James ’ Park in the middle of the pandemic in 2020 , when nobody else was doing it , that we would be able to safely stage the London Marathon this year .
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