14/04/2008 02:01:00
The 28th London Marathon was completed with typical aplomb by a mixture of athletes, celebrities and citizen fundraisers.
The weather was mixed for the marathon but the 35,000 participants ran valiantly on through bursts of chilly rain. The cool weather was in stark contrast to last year's marathon, when temperatures reaching 23 degrees Celsius forced hundreds of runners to pull out.
The Independent reports that professional runners set a number of records this weekend; the top three in the men's race broke the course record and the first six finished with personal bests. However, it was not only the professional athletes and celebrities that chalked up achievements.
According to the Guardian, a select group of 24 individuals started the race together and wore specially printed t-shirts in celebration of the fact that they are the only people to have competed in every single London Marathon since its inception in 1981. Jeff Aston from Cardiff is one of the founding members of the group and estimates that he has already raised around £25,000 for charity over the years.
Additionally, officials ruled at the 11th hour that Stratford-on-Avon residents Mick Curry and his son Phil, who suffers from cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair, were allowed to compete. Wheeled vehicles were previously disallowed for health and safety reasons. Mr. Curry told the Independent:
"I don't know how many more marathons I have got in me and I wanted to take Phil round the London Marathon, the biggest marathon carnival in the world."
The first London Marathon saw around 7,000 entries and has grown in popularity as a fundraising event since. The 2008 marathon was the third biggest in the 28 years of the event.