London Marathon Support
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actual and virtual race runners
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actual and virtual race
runners
Link to stories from the club's 2020 virtual race
runners
Link to stories from the club's 2017
runners
Link to race day stories from the
club's 2015 runners
Link to training stories from the club's 2014 runners
Link to training stories from the club's 2013 runners
Link to event stories from the club's 2012 runners
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The British Airways Athletics Club (BAAC) has a long history of supporting
the London Marathon (LM), dating back to the inaugural running of the event in
1981 through to the present day. The London Marathon is one of the biggest
running events in the World, averaging over 35,000 finishers each year and
raising an enormous amount of money for worthy charities. The course is divided
into seven sectors and BAAC supply sector managers for both sectors 6 & 7 and
over 140 volunteer marshals to support 5 pedestrian shuttle crossings within the
last 2 miles of the course. The shuttles were developed with one of the founders
of the London Marathon, John Disley and allow large numbers of pedestrians to
cross the course safely without impeding the competitors. It’s a long, hard day
but the marshals are rewarded with unrivalled views of the race and the
satisfaction that they’ve contributed to the delivery of a World-class event.
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The LM also organise several other events throughout the year, which are less
onerous and time consuming for the marshals than the London Marathon itself but
provide the Club with much needed funds which help keep subs low. The events are
enormous fun and volunteer marshals usually come away with at least a good
quality T-shirt from the event. |
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For many years the LM organised the Chase Corporate Challenge in Battersea
Park over 3.5 miles, supported by BAAC. In 2005 the LM switched to organising
their own evening City Race over 5km for the first time, the Standard Chartered
Great City Race. Originally planned to take place in the heart of the City, a
last minute change to Hyde Park due to the terrorist incidents was rapidly
planned but the event went off without a hitch. Since 2006 the event has taken
place in the London Financial District’s Square Mile, with the race HQ based at
the prestigious Honourable Artillery Company grounds. The race regularly
attracts over 6,500 competitors from circa. 400 companies. |
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The Adidas (formerly Flora Light) Women’s 5km Challenge is a fun run for
women of all ages, which takes place in Hyde Park. BAAC have supported since the
inaugural race in 1999. Because of the number of competitors, circa. 20,000,
there are wave starts and BAAC provides marshals for the first 3km of the course
up to Speakers Corner. |
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Originally conceived to support the London Marathon’s bid to organise the
2012 Olympic Marathons, the inaugural BUPA London 10,000 was staged in 2008 and
has been marketed as an opportunity to run the course likely to be used for the
Olympic marathons. Normally held on the last Bank Holiday Monday in May, BAAC
support in the vicinity of both the start and finish on Birdcage Walk and the
Mall. |
Simon Turton January 2012 (updated May 2015)
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