This is my journal on the traveling around the world I have been doing in March and April for the sport. Copenhagen, Paris, London, then Boston. Today, it is London and London Marathon time.
Biwott and Kipsang, courtesy of Virgin London Marathon
Race Day is a whole different bird.
On many race days, RunBlogRun covers events live, providing our viewers with up to five feeds, including Instagram photos, twitter, Facebook and even TV web casts. It is a lot of fun and provides for great commentary and almost instant response from consumers. As we can archive the content, our readers can relive the events as well.
London was a lot to cover. In the media room, we have the BBC broadcast with Brendan Foster, Steve Cram, Paula Radcliffe, Jonathan Edwards and Colin Jackson. A great crew, covering both the elite and the citizen runners.
Mile updates, of pace and overall time are done for each race, and there are times that it resembles a three ring circus.
This year, I had my brother Brian and his partner, Cherri helping out. Cherri was providing us photos from pre events and caught Mo Farah in some fun shots before the event. Brian worked with me live, as he does most times from five thousand miles away. This time, it was next to each other and after fifty years, we play well together.
The marathon is a honest competition. Times and finishes show how you do. Good days, bad days, in between days.
All of Great Britain was focused on Mo Farah, and try as they might, Mo was debuting in the marathon and all kinds of things can go wrong. Mo had a few hiccups and ran 2:08:21, not what he wanted, but not a bad first performance.
Brendan Foster, BBC commentator, 1976 bronze medalist at 10,000 meters, founder of NOVA, the team that puts on BUPA Great Races in UK, implored Mo to go back to the track and forget about the marathon for a bit.
And, upon consideration, perhaps Mo Farah should. He could defend in 2015 and 2016 over 5000m and 10000m. My guess is, that is what he will do, and put the marathon off until another day.
Edna Kiplagat won the battle of the Kiplagats (not related), and took off for her win, after four tries, with 300 meters to go.
Wilson Kipsang dropped Stanley Biwott about 40 kilometers and the WR holder showed his stuff.
We covered the event live until five pm, at which time, I went upstairs, took a nap and then walked around St. Katherine’s Way, and had some curry.
Seeing David Bedford that night, I wondered if he ever got to enjoy how much pleasure he has given so many people with his fields and this event. I was able to congratulate Hugh Brasher, the new race director on a job well done.
A proper end to a proper marathon day.
