FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A message from Hugh Brasher, Event Director
Virgin Money London Marathon
Dear Runners
The 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon
I hope all has been well with you over the past month and that you, your
families and loved ones are fit and healthy.
I am sure earlier this week you will have seen the news that the Great
North Run was sadly, but understandably, cancelled.
There has been much speculation that this means the 2020 Virgin Money
London Marathon will also be cancelled. However, it doesn't.
All road races have unique challenges. These might be transporting people
to the start; transporting them from the finish; the density of runners on
the course; the density and movement of spectators; providing runners with
appropriate medical care and facilities such as loos and drinks; dealing
with the logistics of road closures and reopenings – the challenges are
always different for every race.
The team at London Marathon Events has been looking at the logistics of the
Virgin Money London Marathon and coming up with innovative ways to socially
distance the event.
We have also been working with other mass participation event organisers in
the UK, including the Great Run Company and Human Race, to make
recommendations to the UK Government on how mass participation events can
return.
As I write, there are currently just over 15 weeks before the planned date
of our 40th Race on Sunday 4 October. Therefore, on the usual timescale for
our event, we are currently at the equivalent of the first week of January.
That means there is still plenty of time to train and there is neither a
need, nor should there be a desire, to be at your peak fitness yet.
We still don't know whether we will be able run together, walk together and
be together on that journey of 26.2 miles on 4 October. Almost every day we
hear hopeful news from other countries and we hear tales of despair.
However, what we do know is that we have hope, desire and ingenuity. Hope
that the world will have found a way through Covid-19 by October. Desire to
show the positive effects of running a marathon, running for communities
and good causes. Ingenuity of thought, technology and people.
So please, focus on your own health and the health of those around you.
Focus on running and exercise. It is great for you physically and mentally.
I assure you that whatever decision we take about 4 October, it will be
taken in line with our values and with the responsibility we have to you,
our runners, our charities, our sponsors, our volunteers, our medics, our
communities and our city.
Just over 40 years ago, on 26 October 1979, my father Chris Brasher, the
co-founder of the London Marathon, started his column in The Observer with
these words:
To believe this story, you must believe that the human race can be one
joyous family working together, laughing together, achieving the
impossible…
From those words, the first London Marathon was born.
While some may think what we are trying to do on Sunday 4 October is
impossible, we will not give up hope.
The 40th Race should be a day that shows the best of humanity. A
togetherness, a joy and a celebration of everything we treasure.
I look forward to that day.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. We will be in touch again on
28 July.
Take care.
Best wishes from all the team at London Marathon Events
Hugh Brasher
Our vision: Inspiring Activity
Our values: Inspiration, Excellence, Integrity, Together and Fun
Our aims:
- To have fun and provide some happiness and a sense of achievement in a
troubled world
- To show mankind that, on occasions, the 'family of man' can be united
- To inspire more people to take up sport
- To maximise revenue for charities
- To improve the overall standard and status of British distance running
- To raise money for the provision of recreational facilities in London and
the areas we organise events and across the UK
- To help London and Surrey tourism
- To prove when it comes to organising events, 'Britain is best'
- To inspire and deliver innovation in mass participation event
sustainability
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