The London Marathon

Oct 4, 2024 5:31 AM

Author:John Bryant

The London Marathon

'If you want to win something, run 100 metres. If you want to experience something, run a marathon' - Emil Zatopek

The London Marathon salutes 25 years of the London Marathon by exploring the incredible physical and mental challenge that lies at the very heart of marathon running. It begins with the author standing on the start line at Blackheath for the very first London Marathon in March 1981. And it ends 26 miles and 25 years later, as the author emerges, still running, past Buckingham Palace and on through the miles and memories to the finish.

From the legend of Pheidippides and the mystery of Spiridon Louis - who won the first modern Olympic marathon in 1896 - to the agony of Paula Radcliffe, reduced to tears on the long road to Athens more than a century later, this is a story of dreams, pain, struggle and achievement. The courage and the craziness of the characters who for 25 years have run the streets of London, have turned this race into the greatest marathon in the world.

The London Marathon is a testament to their endeavour, and to the spirit that leads them each spring to tackle their own suburban Everest. This is their story.

Reviews

The best of many books on the subject I have ever read

—— Daily Mail

Hugely readable and occasionally hilarious ... Bryant is also very good at capturing the essential motivations of the marathon runner ... My guess is that this book will inspire countless others to seek out that marathon entry form themselves

—— Daily Telegraph

Every marathon runner is touched by a peculiar madness, and Bryant's empathy with their affliction comes from the heart

—— Sunday Times

Thrilling, insightful and often humourous . . . [Kimball] captures the contests, the fighters and the period with a wonderful perception

—— The Independent

An intoxicating, captivating tale of great boxers in a fatally flawed environment

—— The Herald

A flawless and singular account of fights that remain potent and important decades after the final bell . . . Four Kings will, unquestionably, be ranked as a classic boxing book that will take future generations back to those smoky, raucous ringside nights in Vegas

—— Irish Times

Fight fans wanting a good read on their summer holidays should grab a copy

—— Colin Hart , The Sun

Certainly the best value of any book out there at the minute as well as being comfortably among the best . . . probably the best boxing book since Kevin Mitchell's War, Baby

—— Sunday Tribune

A born storyteller, [Kimball] throws in enough yarns and anecdotes to fill three or four books

—— Sunday Business Post

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