#3 London Marathon
London Marathon was first initiated by former Olympic champion and journalist Chris Brasher and athlete John Disley. It is conducted in spring of every year. The first London Marathon which was held on 29 March 1981 witnessed more than 20,000 entrants of which only 6,747 were accepted and 6,255 succeeded in crossing the finish line.
However, the London marathon was not the first running event held in the city. The Polytechnic Marathon was the first road race to be held in 1909. For many years both the road races were conducted together until, in 1996, when London marathon overpowered the former due to its increasing popularity.
The course circles River Thames, as it begins at three separate points around Blackheath and finishes in The Mall alongside St. James’s Park. Since the induction, the marathon course has also undergone a few route changes. The finishing post was first moved in 1982, from Constitution Hill to Westminster Bridge due to construction works. The finish line prevailed there for twelve years before moving to its present location at The Mall.
The event also holds the Guinness world record as the largest annual fundraising event in the world. The marathon has raised over £450 million for charity since 1981. In 2009, participants raised over £47.2 million.
