Product Description

'If you want to win something, run 100 metres. If you want to experience something, run a marathon' - Emil Zatopek. "The London Marathon" salutes 25 years of the London Marathon by exploring the incredible physical and mental challenge that lies at the very heart of marathon running. It begins with the author standing on the start line at Blackheath for the very first London Marathon in March 1981. And it ends 26 miles and 25 years later, as the author emerges, still running, past Buckingham Palace and on through the miles and memories to the finish. From the legend of Pheidippides and the mystery of Spiridon Louis - who won the first modern Olympic marathon in 1896 - to the agony of Paula Radcliffe, reduced to tears on the long road to Athens more than a century later, this is a story of dreams, pain, struggle and achievement. The courage and the craziness of the characters that for 25 years have run the streets of London have turned this race into the greatest marathon in the world. "The London Marathon" is a testament to their endeavour, and to the spirit that leads them each spring to tackle their own suburban Everest. This is their story.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41584 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
"'If you want to win something, run 100 metres. If you want to experience something, run a marathon' - Emil Zatopek * 'The best of many books on the subject I have ever read.' - Daily Mail * 'Hugely readable and occasionally hilarious.... Bryant is also very good at capturing the essential motivations of the marathon runner...My guess is that this book will inspire countless others to seek out that marathon entry form themselves' - Daily Telegraph * Praise for 3:59.4: 'It conveys well the momentousness of the achievement - It captures the power of the amateur spirit' Alastair Campbell, The Times"

From the Publisher
A history of the London Marathon from the author of the critically acclaimed 3:59.4: The Quest to Break the Four Minute Mile. Published to coincide with the 2006 London Marathon.

From the Back Cover
‘If you want to win something, run 100 metres.
If you want to experience something, run a marathon’ – Emil Zatopek

The London Marathon begins with the author standing on the start line at Blackheath for the very first London Marathon in March 1981. And it ends 26 miles and 25 years later, as the author emerges, still running, past Buckingham Palace and on through the miles and memories to the finish.

The marathon is at once the greatest trial and the greatest motivation for millions of runners. This is the story not just of the world’s greatest runners, but also of those thousands of ordinary men and women who make up the mass fields of the great city marathons. From the legend of Pheidippides and the mystery of Spiridon Louis – who won the first modern Olympic marathon in 1896 – to the agony of Paula Radcliffe, reduced to tears on the long road to Athens more than a century later, this is a story of dreams, pain, struggle and achievement.

'A gem ... It really will inspire you to run again next year.' Daily telegraph

‘His route is littered with a host of entertaining anecdotes regarding the heroes and villains of the event. Every marathon runner is touched by a peculiar madness, and Bryant’s empathy with their affliction comes from the heart’ Sunday Times, Book of the Week

'Hugely readable and hilarious history of the event' Daily Telegraph

Customer Reviews

everyone's personal everest
I can't speak for everyone out there who has read the book, so I'll start with my own experience. I bought the book in 2005, as one of the lucky runners who went through the ballot and got a place to run my very first marathon, at my very first attempt to apply for such an enormous and popular event. Marathon is an event that requires no romanticising as it is in itself romantic, with enough weight of mythology and history. The writer, John Bryant, strikes the balance between sentiment and historical facts wonderfully, the book flows comfortably, with laught-out-loud moments as well as pages that would have a grown adult teary-eyed, as one reads about the atmosphere in the marathon, the unconditional support from the onlookers and the unstinting generosity of all those who hand out endless supply of sweets and fresh fruits, as well as encouragement, there is no jeering and sneering when a runner stops to stretch or to take a break but sincere, genuine pats on the shoulders and backs to urge them on to the finishing line. One reads about the incredible but magnificent obsession of various personalities throughout the history of marathon running, the dogged determinations of people inflicted with life-threatening illnesses and hilarious anecdotes that make the London Marathon not only one of the greatest races in the world, but the greatest show in town. For people who might never consider Marathon running, this book will be an entertaining and well-written read, for those who ran, are still running or are going to run a marathon, this book will be sheer inspiration.

The London Marathon
This book is brilliant, I couldn't put it down once I started and loved every minute of it. It focuses on The London Marathon and how it developed into the great race it is today, as well as looking at the start of the marathon as an event and other aspects of marathon running in general. It was immensely readable and had some great photo plates as well. This is highly recommended indeed.