10 TALKBACK MARATHON
BackCare runners line up for FROM the legendary hand-inhand finish of joint winners Dick Beardsley and Inge Simonsen in the very first London Marathon to countless world records; from one million finishers to £1 billion raised for charity; from crazy costumes to the incredible and inspiring examples of spirit and courage, the 40th Race – the name of this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon campaign – will celebrate them all. BackCare’s runners taking on the 26.2-mile challenge will be cheered on by the 750,000 spectators expected to line the streets. As ever, they can expect to be running alongside other charity fundraisers, plus many familiar faces from television and sport. Many of the participants in this, the 40th London Marathon, have their own personal goals and inspirational stories. These include: l The Ever Presents, a group of 10 men who have run every London Marathon since 1981,
alongside Louise Blizzard, who will be running her 26th London Marathon since first taking part in 1994. l In the men’s elite race, the two fastest marathon runners of all time, world record holder Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) and Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) go head-to-head while women’s world record holder and defending champion Brigid Kosgei (KEN) leads the greatest female marathon field ever assembled, as she takes
on 2018 champion Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) and world champion Ruth Chepngetich (KEN). l In the wheelchair races, defending champions Manuela Schar (SUI) and Daniel Romanchuk (USA) will look to continue their dominance while British athletes will be looking to secure a place at the Tokyo Olympic Games as the 2020 Marathon is the official British Athletics qualifying race.
Join us on the day! The BackCare team will be stationed at the mile 16 marker from 10:30 on race day and would welcome any members and supporters to join us in cheering the runners on. Any help or support you can give to our runners will be gratefully received. https://issuu.com/ backcare/docs/runners_profile_page_booklet Every little helps!
Image: courtesy of Virgin Money London Marathon
On Sunday 26 April, the world’s greatest marathon celebrates another landmark moment in its extraordinary history – the 40th race.
Runners in the 2018 London Marathon
TALKBACK l SPRING 2020
