atemptrainer.JPG
2010 marathon trainers looking a bit knackered already
It may not feel like a year since the last ever Flora London Marathon ran through our streets, however, it must be - for this coming Sunday the Virgin London Marathon will take over the capital.

The course remains the same, so the best places to view will be around Bermondsey (but away from the Tube station); around the Isle of Dogs (again away from Canary Wharf Tube) or if you don't mind some crowdage then around Limehouse is good as you can catch 2 laps of the course. The masses start from Greenwich at 9.45am.

So what's different? Branding-wise, Flora's 'Lib Dem' yellow will be gone and replaced by Virgin's 'Hooker' red. We're also promised that a bouncy Richard Branson is running - we want El Bearded One to run the full distance, though, not just a few feet for the paps. Anyway, they'll need him if the volcanic ash keeps many of the top runners away.

So what don't you know about the marathon? Here are a few random facts, they may help at a pub quiz one day or perhaps if you want to impress your friends. See you on the course!

Oldest Runner (er, god-willing) - Jerzy Kolodziej, aged 86. 173 people running have their birthdays on race day.

Most Common Occupation - teacher/education (over 2,000). They'll share the course with 79 pilots; 114 librarians; 79 clergy; 48 economists; 72 film-makers; 429 fire-fighters; 54 politicians; 667 scientists and 1086 housewives.

Stuff needed - 1,250 portaloos; 6,000 volunteers; and 250lbs of vaseline for St John Ambulance to dole out

Pubs - On the course there are 81 public houses (woop!)

2010 Celebrity contests expected (in our mind) - Natalie Imbruglia vs Princess Beatrice; Lorraine Kelly vs Ben Shephard; Lee from Steps vs Lee Evans; ITN's Tim Ewart vs Steve Rider; Michele Heaton vs Kat Slater from 'Stenders; Dennis Wise against Dom (half of Dick and Dom); Gordon Ramsay against himself; and the Red Arrows (who will start in formation - no, really).

Image and the 2010-marathon-running trainers portrayed within it are the author's own

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