Freedom of the city
Phoebe Luckhurst says there’s a host of treats on offer for marathon runners
THERE are many reasons why people run marathons and, while some motives are altruistic (charity) or admirable (fitness), others are self-serving.
You feel pretty superior when you’ve stretched the limits of human endurance while your mates sat in Green Park eating olives and waiting for you to hobble to the picnic. Also, you can — and must — eat thousands of calories afterwards. Luckily, for one day, the capital agrees, so look out for restaurants and hotels offering sweet deals to runners.
Dim sum, with its fleshy parcels of sticky meats doused in sauces, is mouthwateringly sinful. It’s a good starter for a marathoner done good.
Royal China (rcguk.co.uk), which has six restaurants across the city, is offering all finishers a free dim sum dish — just flash your medal at a member of staff.
Rocket in Holborn (36-38 Kingsway WC2, rocketrestaurants.co.uk) is dishing out a free pizza. You can have anything you want, though the restaurant advises booking ahead.
At Smollensky’s central London branch (105 The Strand WC2, smollenskys.com), runners are offered a free meal. Just bring along a pal who is paying full price.
Bubbles will go straight to your head after 26.2 miles — all the more reason to down your flute in one.
Roast in Borough Market (Floral Hall, Stoney Street, SE1, roastrestaurant.com) is offering a free glass of champers when you buy a roast after the race. And One Canada Square (Canary Wharf, E14, onecanadasquarerestaurant.com) is throwing on a “bottomless brunch”, which equates to three courses for £25, two for £20 and an extra £20 for bottomless red and white vino.
There are other perks. TfL offers free transport to anyone with a medal. Or, if you want to take a premarathon holiday, St James’s Hotel and Club (7-8 Park Place SW1, stjameshotelandclub.com) has a package for runners that includes a stay on April 25, and breakfast at the hotel on race day itself.