ON A SUNNY MORNING IN LONDON, WHERE THOUSANDS OF ATHLETES AND SPECTATORS TURNED OUT FOR THE VIRGIN LONDON MARATHON 2013, DEFIANT AFTER THE SAD AND SHOCKING EVENTS AT THE BOSTON MARATHON IN WHICH 3 PEOPLE DIED, AND OVER 170 PEOPLE WERE INJURED, WE ONCE AGAIN WITNESSED THE TRUE TRIUMPH OF HUMAN SPIRIT
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DRAFTED IN OVER 800 EXTRA POLICE FOR THE EVENT, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SECURITY.
A PERIOD OF 30 SECONDS SILENCE WAS UNDERTAKEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY TO PAY RESPECTS TO THE DEAD & INJURED OF THE BOSTON MARATHON (AND THEIR FAMILIES).
A COLLISION BETWEEN WOMEN’S FAVOURITE TIKI GELANA AND WHEELCHAIR ATHLETE JOSH CASSIDY AT THE WATER FEEDING STATION, DURING WHICH TIKI TOOK A TUMBLE, SEEMINGLY PREVENTED TIKI FROM TAKING THE TITLE IN THE WOMEN’S RACE, WITH THE TITLE BEING SCOOPED BY KENYAN RUNNER PRISCAH JEPTOO IN A TIME OF 2.20.15 (EDNA KIPLAGAT CAME SECOND WITH 2.21.32) HOWEVER, TIKI STILL RACED HOME IN AN ADMIRABLE TIME OF 2.30.53
TSEGAYE KEBEDE WON THE MEN’S RACE, IN A SUPER FAST TIME OF 2.06.04, BEATING EMMANUELE MUTAI (2.06.33) AND AYELE ABSHERO (2.06.57)
KURT FEARNLEY WON THE MEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACE IN 1.31.29, (DAVID WEIR CAME FIFTH, BUT BY SPLIT SECONDS, WITH A SUPERB TIME OF 1.31.31)
AMERICAN TATYANA McFADDEN ONCE AGAIN STORMED TO VICTORY IN THE WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACE IN 1.46.02 (SHE ALSO WON IN BOSTON)
BRITISH RUNNER DEREK HAWKINS WAS THE FIRST BRITISH RUNNER HOME IN A FANTASTIC TIME OF 2.16.50!!