Apart from some key points along the route, having never looked on a map of the course, I had no real idea of where the London Marathon goes until I looked it up this week.
I was aware it started at Blackheath and that one of the best viewing points is the
Cutty Sark.
I knew the river crossing was Tower Bridge, roughly the half way point, and that from there it goes east to the Isle of Dogs, before heading back, somehow, via the City to Central London, The Embankment and The Mall.
Unless you’ve run the marathon, or taken a keen interest, I expect a lot of readers to this blog would have a similar knowledge of the route, or lack of, to me.
Since to write about the London Marathon course in a way that would vaguely do it justice would take thousands of words, I thought I’d pick just a few highlights, splitting this introduction to the 26.2 miles into north and south of the river.
The marathon begins at three different points on Blackheath in South East London. You’re allocated your spot depending on whether you’re one of those elite types or not, with runners converging before the 5K point.
A host of high profile events have used the Heath throughout its history, from Suffragette marches and rallies for political leaders; to fairs dating from the 1700s through to what is currently London’s largest free fireworks display, with over 40,000 attending.
With the main road from London to Dover crossing the Heath, it was a notorious playground for highwaymen, not least
Dick Turpin in the 1730s.
Sport is a major part of the history of this bit of South East London.
Blackheath is England’s oldest rugby club (founded 1858), and hosted the first international between England and Wales in 1881. Blackheath is also the oldest Hockey club in the country, formed in 1861.
The race goes north for a short distance to Charlton, before turning west, heading in the same direction as the Thames, although not following the exact course of the river, sticking to main roads instead.
Put Charlton into Google and as you might expect, the first set of results all relate to Charlton Athletic. Other significant locations in this part of London are the
Thames Barrier and, further up the river towards Greenwich,
the O2 Arena.
Once through Charlton, the marathon course heads towards Woolwich, past the Royal Artillery Barracks and Old Royal Naval College, before reaching the Cutty Sark at around 6 miles. I’m told this is one of the most atmospheric parts of the course, the noise being similar to that of a football ground.
Launched to the water in 1869, the Cutty Sark had been built with the ambition of being the fastest of its kind at sea and in doing so, it was hoped, winning the race to be the quickest to bring the new season’s tea back from China. This dream was never realised though, the closest her crew got to success came in 1872. Spotting another vessel bound for Britain loading in the same port, the cutty Sark was able to build a 400 mile lead early on its return journey. A large storm meant significant damage to the ship’s rudder had to be repaired at sea, with their advantage being overhauled. The Cutty Sark eventually arrived home one week after their rival.
Via wool trade voyages to Australia, time spent under Portuguese ownership and a number of years in Cornwall as a naval training ship, the Cutty Sark spent nearly seventy years at sea, arriving at her current Greenwich home in 1951 after many years based in Kent.
Another key point in the early stages of the London Marathon is the Prime Meridian at Greenwich. If you’ve ever wondered why Greenwich, I mean, what’s Greenwich got that Charlton or Deptford hasn’t, then
this link will tell you.
Continuing West, the route passes through Surrey Quays and Bermondsey, along Jamaica Road, before the crossing from South to north of the river via Tower Bridge, one of the iconic points of the race.
The area of Bermondsey has experienced significant highs and lows throughout its history. Following the Great Fire of London, better off folk relocated here, resulting in the area taking on a leafy suburb persona. By the 19th century parts of the area close to the river had declined into inner city slums, including the notorious Jacob’s Island which was immortalised by
Charles Dickens in ‘Oliver Twist’.
Being an area heavily reliant on river trade, Bermondsey, like much of the Docklands, experienced grim days post World War 2. Significant regeneration to the whole docklands area has seen another turn around in the fortunes of Bermondsey, with many a sort after residential and commercial property now in the locality.
Bermondsey is notable for being the location of the first railway in the Capital, the London to Greenwich line. And then there’s
Millwall FC.
The area of Millwall is north of the river on the Isle of Dogs, the marathon heads that way later in the route. Millwall Rovers was founded in 1885 by working class men, many of whom earned their living at Morton’s food factory. There was a large Scottish presence in the side, but it was not exclusively made up of players from north of the border.
The club occupied four different grounds during their time on the Isle of Dogs, but a lack of space limiting expansion plans meant The Lions sought a new home south of the river in 1910.
The London Marathon won’t be my first physical challenge incorporating Tower Bridge. The picture with this post shows me at the end of a three day bike ride from the Eiffel Tower to the Tower of London. On April 17 Tower Bridge will only be half of the job done. I’ll write about the course north of the Thames another day.
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