[ad_1]
aGet ready for a 40th London Marathon like no other! The race that should have taken place on April 26 is finally running just under six months later, and in a very different way due to the impact of the coronavirus. But more importantly, this pandemic has failed to completely stop the marathon!
Thanks to the perseverance and imagination of race organizers and racers everywhere, luckily there will be elite races and thankfully there will be massive races. So let’s start with the first one. A little over 19 loops of a closed loop around St James’s Park, starting at Horse Guards Road and ending as usual at the Mall. Unfortunately for those who often flock to the capital to watch, that’s a big no no this year, with social distancing and all that. In fact, the action will be completely blocked by screens to ensure that no one enters or leaves. So you better keep track of things here, or of course from the BBC, which also has things stitched with live coverage.
The first race is the elite women’s race that starts shortly and the favorite is defending champion Brigid Kosgei, competing for the first time since breaking Britain’s Paula Radcliffe’s world record in Chicago last year. World champion Ruth Chepngetich and 2018 London champion Vivian Cheruiyot will also put a lot of pressure on her.
Then comes the men’s race at 10:15 am with the superb turbocharged and record-breaking Eliud Kipchoge. Much of the preparation for the race was dominated by the long-awaited showdown with Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, who came within two seconds of Kipchoge’s world record of two hours one minute 39 seconds in Berlin last year. However, he sadly withdrew from the race on Friday with a calf injury, leaving Mosinet Geremew, who finished second behind Kipchoge in London last year, as the most likely challenger. Also keep your eyes peeled for one Sir Mo Farah who will act as a pacemaker.
Not forgetting the wheelchair race at 1:10 p.m. with 41-year-old Londoner David Weir looking to claim a record ninth victory in the event.
Of course, for some, the race has already started, as 45,000 people who cannot participate in the mass participation race run virtually and have 24 hours, with the clock starting at midnight, to run their 26.2 miles wherever they want (always not with elite runners or the traditional London Marathon route). By the way, it could have been myself, having participated in the April marathon. But my training, let’s say, slowed down. So instead, you have me offering my services on this blog live today …
[ad_2]
