Tanni Grey-Thompson The London Marathon was a roaring success

I DO love the London marathon. It was a great day last Sunday with some great events across all the categories. In the women’s running event Peres Jepchirchir ran the fastest marathon for a women-only race in the time of 02:16:16. She was the gold medalist from Tokyo and must surely go in to the Paris Olympics as a strong favourite. The previous world record was held by Kenya’s Mary Keitany who ran 2:17:01 also in London in 2017. The gently rolling course of London make it ideal.

Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia crossed second in the women’s race in 2:16.23 and she holds the fastest time (not a world record) by running 2.11.53 in the Berlin marathon last September. In Berlin women are allowed to run in with the men and it shows the difference of having pace runners but also protection from the wind and ‘just’ having to follow someone. There is nothing easy about following. From my experience some athletes were good at being paced and some less so. There is definitely a skill that not everyone has.

I have only done a little bit of pacing and it is hard. You have to be aware of the consistency of what you do, measure yourself against the athlete you are trying to help, but also spot when someone is struggling or finding the pace a bit too easy. You might have different strengths and weaknesses which is your place to work through.

I always think of this when I watch visually impaired athletes run (or do any sport). The guide needs to not struggle themselves and be able to compete within themselves, but also be able to call out directions or perhaps obstacles. It was never easy for either men or women who are visually impaired to find someone who can or wants to run with them. In many cases there will be athletes who are competing in their own right and may not want step away from their own career. In running pace runners are in most cases paid and it can be seen as a job.

Back to the London wheelchair race. Swiss athletes Marcel Hug and Catherine de Brunner won both races. They were phenomenal and Catherine came close to a course record pushing on her own for the vast majority of the way. In conditions that were great for running but probably a little cold for the wheelchair athletes, she showed class.

There is nothing easy about following. There is definitely a skill that not everyone has.