The London Marathon

On Sunday, the London Marathon turned 25. And it was a wonderful day to celebrate it. The sun came out to the delight of the crowds -I am sure the runners would not have minded a bit of cloud over London- and millions turned to the streets to support and encourage the 30 thousand or so runners.

This is the second time I see the marathon. I am slowly building up the courage to actually run it -but that might take a while. Both times, however, it has been an inspiring and humbling experience. It rained last year so the crowds were not as big as this year. But the runners were no less brave. These men and women, of all ages, turn up every year not to break a record, not to get there the fastest, not to gain glory or win bets (some do and its them, I think, who miss the London Marathon all together). They turn up to raise money for and the profile of charities and the causes they support in the UK and the world.

It is not runners at the marathon, its mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, uncles, aunts, grand parents, cousins and friends who endure 42km to help others. Make poverty history, spinal injuries, leukaemia, breast cancer, heart disease, education, HIV and human rights. These causes are only a few of the hundreds that they support.

But beyond the charity, it's also a party. It is just fun. "There goes another guy in a tutu". You don't hear this that often. The picture above is a panoramic of the crowds at the marathon. The other pictures are of the race. There is an Incredible Hulk and a man in a dress. And then, there are also the crowds, thousands of them, in London.