Where London
When May 26, 2008
First Man Micah Kogo 28:08
First Woman Irina Mikitenko 32:02
Last Finisher 1:53
No. of Finishers 6,078
If you take the view that running is
really sightseeing for those in a hurry, then the BUPA London 10,000 is your kind of race. It packs Big Ben, the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Horse Guards Parade, Buckingham Palace and much more, all inside 10K.
There was also the promise of a high-class elite field to keep spectators entertained.
Well, that was the theory anyway. Torrential rain and a cold, biting wind put paid to any thoughts of a leisurely sightseeing jaunt through the capital.
Finish, and finish quickly seemed to be the only thought on the minds of the thousands who took on the challenge, although probably just as many entrants decided it was not a day to be running, and stayed indoors, although there were plenty of hardy supporters en-route.
Despite the challenging conditions,
fair-weather runners missed a treat. Even in this, its first year, it was clear this was an initiative with the trappings of a big-city race, hardly surprising bearing in mind it’s the first joint venture between the organisers of the London Marathon and Great North Run.
In years to come, the race will surely double or triple in size, particularly if the route is confirmed as that of the 2012 London Olympic Marathon.
