NOW THAT’S A MARATHON DOWNPOUR!
As Storm Alex continues to batter the country, 45,000 brave the deluge to run a ‘virtual’ race
It’s an event that would usually bring the world to the capital. But there were few runners and spectators on the streets for the London Marathon yesterday.
However, the pandemic – and torrential rain – couldn’t stop 45,000 people, including the Countess of Wessex, running, jogging and walking their own marathon wherever they happened to be.
Elite runners did compete in the official event, but were confined to loops of st James’ Park – with spectators banned. Elsewhere across the country and the wider world, men, women and children kept the spirit of the event going by running marathons along personal routes they had plotted themselves.
Runners from 109 countries were due to take part in yesterday’s ‘virtual’ event. In Britain, many braved galeforce winds and rain as storm Alex lashed the country yesterday morning.
Fears were growing of another autumn flood season after more than a month’s rain fell in 48 hours in some parts of the
‘Five inches of rain in 48 hours’
country. torrential rain over the weekend caused some flooding and travel disruption and last night 45 flood warnings were in place across Britain.
More wet weather is forecast this week, with fears of further torrential rain for thursday.
A dry september has limited the damage caused by the weekend storm, but with river levels rising across the country the Environment Agency continues to monitor the situation closely.
the Met Office said five inches of rain fell at Blackpitts Gate in somerset in the 48 hours to midday yesterday – the highest in the country. the average for the whole of October is 4¼ inches.
Among the sodden runners was the Countess of Wessex, who gamely donned her exercise gear to join tomas CardilloZallo, a member of Mencap’s Learning Disability Running team, for the first 1½ miles of his virtual race.
sophie, wife of Prince Edward, has been patron of the charity since 2004 and said she decided to join the 29-yearold, from sutton in surrey, as a show of support for Mencap and its work to change attitudes towards those with learning disabilities. she ran that distance to reflect the fact that 1.5million people in the UK are living with a learning disability – facing challenges on a daily basis and often requiring support with everyday tasks. she joined Mr Cardillo- Zallo– one of 312 people running in support of Mencap – on the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park, for the first section of his 26-mile route.
sophie said afterwards: ‘It was an honour to join tomas even just for a small part of his triumph today, as he completes the London Marathon in support of Mencap.
‘tomas has shown what people with a learning disability can achieve with the right support. He is an inspiration.’