I heard a rumour (unfounded) that the organisers are looking at a new route.
Why not?
Don't get me wrong...I love the start and the finish and the crowd are fantastic at many points on the course but there are huge chunks (both sides of the river) that are fairly boring. Perhaps a new route would freshen the thing up a bit.
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For the purists, well the downhill stretch to Woolwich could be flattened out. Perhaps concrete over the cobbles as well. But, just leave it alone.
Click here for hills
But then again after some reflection, I have to agree with Cougie, cut out the Isle of Dogs and head around the City instead. Much more interesting.
Cheers!
Malt Loaf
Er FF - I missed the London Eye and Buck House on the first one. Second one - I was a bit more leisurely and so had time to sight see !!
I'm with MM in changing the route from 13 to 21 miles, the greatest marathon in the world could be made even greater by including Trafalgar Square, Soho, Hyde Park etc. - can't see it happening though. Mind you, even if it did I don't know whether many of us runners would give a damn at the time, after 17 or 18 miles I don't care what I'm running past and who the hell is on top of the column!
It finished on Westminster Bridge, went down the mall and up birdcage walk the opposite way,the 3 mile part of the route leading up to the Tower hotel was different and the part at half way never used to pass runners in the opposite direction. There has also been slight adjustments around Surrey Queys and arounf Canary Wharf due to building construction etc.
I'm sure if they changed the course it would still be as good if not better. When they first changed the finish I thought "oh know how can they" but I'm pretty pleased that you don't have that climb to the finish line on Westminster bridge and the awful chaos at the finish and the steps don on to the southbank were horrendous.
If it does change I'm sure it will keep the best bits.
As Laura said, it's the tremendous crowd support makes the difference, not the scenery.
Oh yeah, my son at mile 18
My husband and brother in law at mile 20
my son again at mile 22
My husband and brother inlaw again at mile 25
How did they get to all those places quicker than a blink of an eye?
The finish past buckingham palace was brilliant, although I could have sworn that when I ran the last bit there was not another person in sight. When the photos came back, they showed people running all around me, one chap practically breathing down my neck! I think my head was playing tricks on me!