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Standard readers invited to redesign Marathon route
Jonathan Prynn, Consumer Business Editor23.06.09
Sir Richard Branson today challenged Evening Standard readers to design a new route for the London Marathon to help make the race more "glamorous".
The billionaire boss of Virgin, which takes over sponsorship from next year, said he was looking for suggestions for radical changes to a course that has remained essentially unaltered since 1981.
Speaking exclusively to the Standard, Sir Richard, who plans to run the Marathon for the first time next year, acknowledged that the current 26-mile, 385-yard route does not showcase London at its best. He said: "I would like readers of the Standard to come up with a better route. We're very open to ideas." The change is one of a package of measures being considered to make next year's race on 25 April "more fun and glamorous".
Sir Richard said: "We are looking at lots of ideas to bring it to life. It's a fantastic institution and the best marathon in the world. What we want to do is put the icing on the cake rather than reinvent the wheel." The marathon begins in Blackheath and ends in The Mall, but for 24 miles runners are forced to pound the streets of east London where crowds are often thin and "sights" few and far between.
Only small sections of the course are by the river or in parks and apart from Buckingham Palace, little of "tourist London" is seen by the runners.
Reader views (11)
I ran London for 1st time last year. I too would not be keen to see route changes. The first few miles are indeed great for crowd support and the final miles along the Embankment are great as you can run in a straight line without direction changes for most of the last few miles - very important in the latter stages when legs are tired. Surely a route around central London would have to be more winding and therefore less suitable for fast times ergo less appealing to the top elites? Greenwich is a lovely part of London. Mr Branson - run London once before trying to reinvent the wheel. As the saying goes - if it aint broke don't fix it!
- Wendy, Uk, UK
Maybe Mr. Branson has never been to Woolwich and viewed some of the fine architecture. By the way, why do the cameras always avoid that superb Georgian façade at the end of Woolwich Common (am I even allowed to mention it?)?
- Dave, Woolwich, UK
How can he say this? There were more spectators at the first three miles than there were at the rest combined whan I ran it this year and the year before. And they were the most enthousiastic as well. This made the first bit the most enjoyable for me. For who is this event anyway, for the runners and spectators or for the cameras and and the sponsors?
- Leon Dekker, uk, london
It's not the London landmarks that make it special, it's the London people. I ran it this year and the highlight wasn't The Mall or Parliament Square, it was miles 3 to 5 (through Woolwich). Mr Branson, at least experience it once as it is - and then see whether you still want to change it.
- Martin Kelly, Edinburgh
There's nothing wrong with the previous route, unless you simply can't stand to run among the Common People for a few miles in a four-hour race. And if you can't, maybe London life just isn't for you.
- Martin, London, UK
There is nothing wrong with it, it is all about running and I really enjoy the non-tourist parts of the city it visits. Don't make it a cheesy cliché of an event.
- Alex Davies, Swansea
Leave the route alone.
- John, London
like any big race - start and finish should be from same location...
suggest Hyde Park...
like some other big city marathons, when it started it had to use 'unglamorous routes' now it is a huge event, most competitors have to raise well over a £1000 just to run, they deserve to enjoy the best and most scenic parts of London...
- Martin_Clerkenwell, london
I like the existing marathon route. It was put in Grenwich and Docklands because it was a small event with no history and they couldn't get permission for a 'better' route.
Now it's the biggest event in London, and it's a showcase for some of the alternative parts of the city, particularly Grenwich. Anyway it does tick some big boxes: Tower Bridge, Parliament Square, Buckingham Palace. Besides the complex race logistics are already well established with the start at Grenwich.
- Charlie, London
hope i get my ballot place!!
- Bri, london
No problem
Start in middle of say Oxford and run 26.2 miles around the ring road.
Keeping London clear for vehicles.
- Ethan, UK
