THE THREE GREATEST BRITISH RUNS

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If you want to win something, run 100 metres. If you want to experience something, run a marathon.

Emil Zatopek winner of three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics

Are you looking for a run that actually gets you somewhere? With our guide, you've found it. Health-on-Line discusses three runs that make you a part of something special, show you sights you'll never forget, and really put your endurance to the test.

Covering the London Marathon, the Great North Run and the North Wales Half Marathon in enough detail to start the adrenaline pumping, this is more than just a run-through…

THE LONDON MARATHON

THIS RUN AND YOU

  • 26.2 MILES

    Length of course

  • 4 HRS 30 MINS

    Average finish time

  • Takes place in spring.

  • The course is largely flat, begins at three separate starting points around Blackheath and takes you around the River Thames

  • The finish line is in St. James's Park

  • Perfect for: the ultimate challenge, and the atmosphere

POTENTIAL CALORIES BURNED

Experts estimate the ratio of your weight to calories burned is as follows:

130 LB

Your weight

2,224

Calories burnt

165 LB

Your weight

2,822

Calories burnt

210 LB

Your weight

3,593

Calories burnt

The greats and the London Marathon

Wilson Kipsang from Kenya set a new record in 2014 - finishing the course in just 2 hours 4 minutes 29 seconds - beating the 2011 record set by Emmanuel Mutai by 11 seconds.

As of 2014, Paula Radcliffe is currently the women's world record holder, having run the course in 2 hours 15 minutes 25 seconds - a record she set in 2003.

THE ROUTE

The London Marathon provides a fantastic (if sweaty) tour around London's top attractions. Here are just some of the sights you'll see:

The Royal Artillery Barracks - the longest Georgian facade in Britain

The Prime Meridian in front of the National Maritime Museum - this was the starting line for the Tour de France in July 2007

Tower Bridge - an iconic symbol of London made an even more welcome sight by being (almost) the half-way mark

Cutty Sark - a British clipper ship that has travelled the world visiting every major port

Cleopatra's Needle - an Ancient Egyptian obelisk that's one of a pair; the other stands in New York's Central Park

London Eye - the giant Ferris wheel is primed to be the inspiration you need to finish the course

The Palace of Westminster - the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords

Parliament Square - a refreshing splash of green among London's sea of buildings

Buckingham Palace - the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns, and a spectacle to behold - even if you can barely look up by this point! It has 775 rooms, is 108 metres long and attracts over 50,000 visitors a year

FUNDS AND RUNS

The London Marathon is the largest annual fundraising event in the world and has raised more than £500m for various charities since 1981. For 2014, Health-on-Line will be supporting Julia's House - a children's hospice that has raised £3,200 as a result of the London Marathon.

Past charities have ranged from Oxfam to Antony Nolan Trust and Cancer Research UK.

But it's not just the monies raised that make the London Marathon such an incredible event:

Take everything that you have ever heard about the marathon experience, double it and you are somewhere near the true sense of achievement

Peter Roberts National Autistic Society runner

I thought, yes I want to do that. I want to be part of this wonderful group of people that run around London and be cheered on.

Michel Roux Jr on first considering the London Marathon

The feeling of unity and sense of overcoming the odds has lifted the marathon from a fund-raiser to something closer to a festival and it's no wonder. One of the founders of the London Marathon, Olympic champion and journalist Chris Brasher, started the event in the afterglow of another truly remarkable event - the New York Marathon.

THE HISTORY

Founder Chris Brasher described the New York Marathon in an article in November 1979's The Observer newspaper, explaining how it became his inspiration to set up the London Marathon:

"To believe this story you must believe that the human race be one joyous family, working together, laughing together, achieving the impossible.

Last Sunday, in one of the most trouble-stricken cities in the world, 11,532 men and women from 40 countries in the world, assisted by over a million black, white and yellow people, laughed, cheered and suffered during the greatest folk festival the world has seen.

I wonder whether London could stage such a festival? We have the course, a magnificent course…but do we have the heart and hospitality to welcome the world?"

Less than two years later, on 29th March 1981, London showed Chris - and the world - that it most certainly did.

6,700 participants faced the London drizzle to finish the first ever London Marathon, and the city has continued to show us what it's capable of every spring since then , with the London Marathon becoming the third largest running event in the UK, not to mention the Holy Grail of achievements for many runners (and dreamers) worldwide.

As if the feel-good factor wasn't high enough right now, we thought we'd just add that that first ever London Marathon was won by American Dick Beardsley, 24, and Norwegian Inge Simonsen, 25, who crossed the finishing line hand-in-hand for a deliberately united win.

Can you handle another? British runner Joyce Smith won the first London Marathon in 2 hours, 29 minutes and 57 seconds - becoming the first British woman and the first woman over 40 to complete the distance in less than two and a half hours. How close was that?

Dick Beardsley and Inge Simonsen cross the finish line together

EVEN MORE FUN...

In 2002, Lloyd Scott completed the London Marathon in a deep-sea diving suit. It took him five days.

Since then, the regulations have been changed to state that the race must be completed in one day.

In 2014 Alex Collins set a new record for the fastest marathon dressed in an animal costume, completing the course in 2 hours 48 minutes 29 seconds - dressed as a tiger.

Alex Collins set a new record for the fastest marathon dressed in an animal costume

Lloyd Scott at the 2002 London Marathon

THE GREAT NORTH RUN
THE WORLD'S GREATEST HALF-MARATHON

THIS RUN AND YOU

  • 13.1 MILES

    Length of course

  • 2 HRS 12 MINS

    Average finish time

  • Every September

  • The route is predominantly flat, being on major roads, but there are a few hills to conquer

  • The course takes you from Newcastle, across the iconic Tyne Bridge and on to the coast for a picturesque finish in South Shields

POTENTIAL CALORIES BURNED

Experts estimate the ratio of your weight to calories burned is as follows:

130 LB

Your weight

1,112

Calories burnt

165 LB

Your weight

1,411

Calories burnt

210 LB

Your weight

1,796

Calories burnt

From beginnings to record-breakers

This half-marathon has been blowing minds from the very outset. When it was set up back in 1981, the organisers expected under 5,000 runners to get involved, so they were flabbergasted when over 12,500 applied and over 10,000 of those went on to complete the run.

In 2014 the Great North Run saw 56,000 runners take on the challenge, and now men and women from over 40 different countries take part.

During the 34th Great North Run in 2014, the one millionth runner crossed the finish line, making the event the first of its kind in the world to reach its one millionth finish - something that was celebrated with the appropriate level of festivity.

Also in 2014, and for the first time in 29 years, a British man won the Great North Run. Mo Farah completed the race in exactly 1 hour - beating his personal best but not quite smashing the course record set by Kenyan Martin Mathathi in 2011 - 59 minutes and 27 seconds.

In the Great North Run's women's race, Kenya's Mary Keitany beat Paula Radcliffe's course record by 1 second - completing the run in 1 hour 5 minutes and 39 seconds.

Every year the Great North Run raises over £28 million for charities ranging from Cancer Research UK to the RNLI. Not only do the charities and the people they support benefit from this connection, but as a runner, you would too. Charities often send out useful information to the runners supporting them, covering things like fund-raising opportunities, nutrition and kit advice and motivational tips. Some even offer comprehensive training and online or phone support.

THE ROUTE

While the Great North Run is on major roads - so predominantly flat - it does include a few hills. The highest point is the approach to Black Bull Junction, but even there the supporters that invariably line the entire course will help you make it through. Here are some of the places of note that you'll pass:

Tyne Bridge - one of Newcastle's most popular iconic landmarks and a reminder of Tyneside's industrial history

Gateshead Stadium - opened in 1955 by marathon legend Jim Peters

South Shields - this coastal town provides the perfect seaside setting for the finish line

Aside from the local sights, there will be plenty to keep you motivated along the course, including live music, refreshments and, of course, the crowds! The Great North provides a fantastic start - the sound of thousands of running feet, chants and runner-to-runner motivation echoing all around as you make your way through the underpass just before the Tyne Bridge.

Oh, and if you need a little light entertainment during the tougher, hillier sections, the Great North Run attracts participants in all types of dress - and undress - with 2014's run seeing everything from men in just their pants to women dressed up as chickens - so just take a look around.

 

The NORTH WALES HALF MARATHON
A BEACH AND MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE

THIS RUN AND YOU

  • 13.1 MILES

    Length of course

  • 2 HRS 18 MINS

    Average finish time

  • August - dates and times change each year due to tide times

  • Mixed terrain - sand and mountains with 370m ascent and 369m descent

  • This run starts and finishes on the beach next to Mulberry marina and crosses into the Snowdonia National Park.

POTENTIAL CALORIES BURNED

Experts estimate the ratio of your weight to calories burned is as follows:

130 LB

Your weight

1,112

Calories burnt

165 LB

Your weight

1,411

Calories burnt

210 LB

Your weight

1,796

Calories burnt

Background to the beach run

The North Wales Half Marathon was set up by Run Wales, an organisation which aims to make the most of the area's beautiful landscape while encouraging running as a sport - and this event certainly does their cause justice.

Runners can choose the charity they want to raise money for, meaning taking on those mountains will do good beyond boosting your health and self-esteem!

THE ROUTE

The terrain may be tough but the scenery on this course is no less than stunning. Here are the fantastic locations you'll visit on your way to success:

Beacons beach in Morfa Conwy - (a large sandy bay) is the starting point, where the North Wales Half Marathon takes runners along hard sand and cycle paths towards…

Penmaenmawr - an idyllic welsh town where runners will make their way along the promenade to the sailing club before heading up along the viaduct into Penmaenmawr village centre.

The Sychnant Pass - is the northernmost pass in Snowdonia National Park. Runners will head up to the top of the pass before reaching…

Conwy Mountain - where they'll be greeted by the most picturesque views of all.

Sources