THE GROWTH OF ROAD RUNNING
by UK Athletics coach for endurance Bud Baldaro (2007)
May 1981 was the staging of the first London Marathon.
20,000 applicants saw 7,000 starters begin a journey that was to become not only the world’s best marathon but also a world brand within 20 years and universally acknowledged as the place to be in Spring’s road running festival.
Roll the clock forward and each year almost 100,000 enthusiasts apply for one of the precious places limited to a little over 40.000 entries.
As with all great things the idea was essentially very simple. Journalist Chris Brasher had taken part in the New York Marathon in 1979, flown home and then wrote in his Observer piece:
“Last Sunday in one of the world’s most troubled cities 11,532 men and women from over 40 countries assisted by over 1 million black, white and yellow people laughed, cheered and suffered during the greatest folk festival the world has seen”.
He determined to bring the New York idea to London creating an event to rival the American counterpart. And how he succeeded. Within months of the inaugural London event, rugby clubs, soccer sides et al were organising their own fund-raising events. Indeed hardly a weekend passed without a 26 mile event taking place in the British Isles.
Inevitably the first burst of enthusiasm waned as people realised just how taxing the distance was and what was needed to efficiently organise a good event.
Unsurprisingly attention focussed on the more acceptable distance the half marathon. And so was born the Great North Run. Now established as a truly iconic event in Geordie land the GNR sees 50,000 runners making the trek from Newcastle to South Shields. Former European Champion and GB ‘s sole 1976 Olympic track and field medallist, Brendan Foster mirrored Brasher in borrowing internationally. His source of supply was New Zealand.
Yet even the charismatic Foster must at times have had to pinch himself at the rate of development of the road running scene. His company Nova is now established as the leading organiser of road races in the UK – their events embracing the Great South (Portsmouth), the Great Manchester, the Great Irish (Dublin) – two of which are televised – and with masterly political timing they now enjoy the governments backing to stage the Great Activity series, essentially to help improve the health of the nation.
Effectively road running is now centred round several good events that cater for literally thousands of enthusiasts. There are 3 main televised events: The Flora London Marathon, the Great North Run and the BUPA Great Manchester 10k.
In terms of numbers the Bristol Half Marathon comes next and is clearly a trendsetter with its emphasis on involving the community and its Reebok Workshop program. Allied to its desire to help develop the quality of British road running it is very much a pioneer in its own right. Bath, Windsor, Nottingham, and Stroud all feature as good halves.
One of the wonderful side products to road running’s development has been the enormous benefit to charities.
Millions of pounds have been raised for so many worthwhile causes. Indeed there is a waiting list to be accepted as a charity for London. And many race organisers now operate a selling policy of Charity Gold Bond numbers.
Television celebrities do their share, best encapsulated by the “banana army” of leukaemia runners
Enormous acts of courage have been demonstrated. Perhaps none more so than the incredible walk to complete London undertaken by former great boxer Michael Watson now tragically brain damaged.
The achievements of cancer victim Jane Tomlinson have proved legendary. Indeed to commemorate her courage there is now a Jane Tomlinson 10k run in her native city of Leeds.
Jane also embodies another of the great traits in the development of British road running – namely the ever increasing number of women who make up the fields. Indisputably women now make up almost half the number of entries from a former single figure percentage.
Road running has also enhanced the quality of life for numerous wheel chair competitors. The wheelies always provide tremendous competition and both inspire and humble spectators around the UK. The iconic figure of Dame Tanni-Grey Thompson has done so much to advance the cause of Disabled athletics and athletes. And as the sport of road running continues to grow, organisers look to be ever more creative to move on road running in the UK.
