Runners retrace steps of 1908 Olympic marathon

BBC News

08-03-2025

Runners will retrace the route of London's first marathon event more than 100 years on, starting at Windsor Castle and ending in White City on Saturday. Original Marathon VIII replicates the route of the first 26.2-mile marathon, which set the global standard marathon distance.Created as part of the London 1908 Olympic Games, it started in the grounds of Windsor Castle, passed through Eton, Slough, Uxbridge, Ruislip, Pinner, Harrow, Wembley and Harlesden, before ending in front of the royal box at White City Stadium.Only men were allowed to take part in the original race but this year, on International Women's Day, the number of places has been doubled "to represent the women who should have been allowed to take part back in 1908", said the organisers.
Paralympics GB double gold medalist Richard Whitehead MBE will be among the 150 people taking part.Earlier this year, he announced that he would complete 20 marathons around the world in 2025 to bring his overall total to 100.He said: "The Original Marathon is extra special, with its historical meaning and being able to honour the 1908 Olympic Games in London."I'm looking forward to seeing the sign from the 1908 race still proudly displayed on Slough Road in Eton."
When London staged the games in 1908, there was still no official marathon length.The royal family requested that it start at Windsor Castle and end at the now-demolished Olympic Stadium's royal box. At 26.2 miles, it was the longest marathon since the modern games began.The 1908 race gained worldwide attention when Italian competitor, Dorando Pietri was disqualified.
Pietri entered the stadium in the lead, went the wrong way and fell five times. He crossed the line first but was subsequently disqualified after an appeal from the US team was upheld, as race officials had helped him to his feet. But sympathy for Pietri led to global outcry and Queen Alexandra, married to King Edward VII, awarded him a special cup as a sign of respect for his accomplishment. Original Marathon co-founder Diccon Loy said: "Last year, we had only 75 places to replicate the same number of entrants of the 1908 race." More than a century ago, only men were allowed to take part in Olympic marathons.This year, with the event falling on International Women's Day, Mr Loy said they had doubled the number of places available "to represent the women who should have been allowed to take part back in 1908 and all those who weren't able to until 76 years later". The race will start from Church Street Gardens at 11:30 GMT - the same time as the 1908 race, which was chosen to allow time for the changing of the guard at Windsor Castle to be completed.
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