London’s Marathon

Post author:east15.london.uk
Post published:April 25, 2023
Post category:Uncategorized
Post comments:10 Comments

Mo Farah, running his last Marathon, regularly talks of the support of Londoners pushing him forward on the streets and the track, naming it as one of the things he will miss most about the events. Like most sports, it’s the people who make it what it is. And the people came in their droves. They defied the miserable grey sky and driving rain, and shouted their arses off knowing they were in the presence of greatness. The pain etched on the faces of those at roughly the 18 mile mark was clear. This is the most difficult thing I’ve done in my life. But I’m too close to stop. I want to give up but I can’t. Help, I need somebody. At that point, take the crowd away and I’d guess 50% of runners would stop immediately, say the’d done their best, go home for a bath and a beer. Those on the sidelines wouldn’t have it. The runners were feeding off the crowd and vice versa. Such a beauty to behold.

I plotted up for a while on on a corner of the route where we had a great view, and close to what I thought was one of the on route commentators supplied by the organisers. His voice boomed out across the street, his encouragement clearly heard and appreciated by the runners, and after a volley of risqué comments, I took a closer look at the guy behind the microphone. He wasn’t part of the official organisation, he wasn’t paid by one of the sponsors, he was just a man with a portable speaker and mic who’d obviously been here since early doors to add his two pence to the day. I wonder how many runners he shoved through the wall that day.

I watched, listened, and smiled. Coor London aint too bad you know. Just as the runners have navigated their way through the ups and downs and climbs and bends of the Marathon course, we’ve navigated our way through change, upheaval, disappointment and loss. We’ve come out the other side, and I hope we’ve come out better. Cos we owe it to ourselves.

London hosts many of the worlds best events. Most of those ask you to choose a side, an allegiance, a political stance. What does the Marathon ask of you? To support fellow Londoners, to support fellow people. We are London, and we run together.

Carousel of Photos from the London 2023 Marathon below. If you would like to read our previous E-zine, ‘George Hillyard – Rising from the Ashes’, click here.

Mitch Panayis, Director East 15 Films

I don’t think so. After watching Mo Farah burn round the bend of the Tower of London, I made my way eastwards along The Highway towards Wapping and then Limehouse, dodging in and out of crowds and closures but always with the cheers ringing in my ears. The architecture of that part of the route might not be famous London, but the sense of community and banter and togetherness might just be real London. Portable speakers, megaphones and champagne toasts. Nans and Granddaughters, balconies and picnics, pisstakers and keepsakers, hipsters and shit stirrers and umbrellas and forevers. We might not be the worlds most glamorous city, but fuck me, we got a little something.

Carousel of Photos from the London 2023 Marathon below. If you would like to read our previous E-zine, ‘George Hillyard – Rising from the Ashes’, click here.

Mitch Panayis, Director East 15 Films

The Isle of Dogs in the late 80’s early 90’s, a colourful place with colourful people, and none more so than Marathon day. A real vibe to the place, sights and sounds and smells and people together, a street party that revolved around nothing more than people running. Or was it running the almost impossible, pushing yourself to the absolute limit, with thousands of other nutters, for free, for charity, for pride, for hope. I dunno, but London loved it.

So what am I trying to say? Well, I went to watch the Marathon properly this year after a 20 odd year hiatus (I had gone along a couple of times to the finish line to watch my sisters complete the Marathon but had stuck in one place and not soaked up the atmosphere of some of the less glamorous stretches of the course). I’m not sure what I expected. Would it be more regulated and less make your own fun? Would the post Covid fall out restrict the crowds? Would it be more about money and sponsors and less about people? Would it be sanitised, bland, boring? Would it be less London?

Carousel of Photos from the London 2023 Marathon below. If you would like to read our previous E-zine, ‘George Hillyard – Rising from the Ashes’, click here.

Mitch Panayis, Director East 15 Films

No matter how many times I went, and it was yearly from the age of six to around 12, I wasn’t sure exactly what was happening. All I knew was that suddenly some people would come running up the now empty street. The pavement would be packed, yet somehow the bodies would part, allowing me access to the front, hands on shoulders helping me navigate forwards. I’d spot my siblings, cousins and Mum in the crowd, but generally I’d be on my own for the next 8 hours. And as the runners approached, those on the pavement would whoop and cheer, shout their number or their name, tell them they’ve got this, you’re past the half way point, Daddy we love you. Sometimes a voice in the crowd would shout about the way someone looked, or ran, what parts of their body were bouncing more than others, how long their legs or nose were. Those around them would laugh, the runner often raising a thumb in the air and grinning as they overheard the encouragement fuelled insult or compliment hurled their way. It was all love.

Carousel of Photos from the London 2023 Marathon below. If you would like to read our previous E-zine, ‘George Hillyard – Rising from the Ashes’, click here.

Mitch Panayis, Director East 15 Films

The Score E-Zine Issue 04 April 2023

London's Marathon

Back in the late 80’s early 90’s, Uncle Lew worked for the Gas Board, actually British Gas but the name had stuck around, and Marathon day meant piling in a convoy of cars with brothers sisters and cousins, and driving the 20 minutes or so to one of the Gas Board showrooms on the Isle of Dogs. We’d only traveled from one end of East London to the other, but cruising along the derelict streets, limbs intertwined with Bagels, Pies, sausage rolls, crisps and cokes and crackling radio commentary from the start line, it felt like we were travelling into another dimension. To be fair, the last few streets into the industrial estate opposite the Billingsgate Fish Market kinda were.

Once inside, Mums and Aunties ferried the never ending supplies of food into the showroom, while we were free to roam this surreal room full of mock up brand spanking kitchens and bathrooms, the gleaming white and steel and spotlights a world away from our kitchen and bathroom at home. A quick feed, and then it was time.To head off into the streets. People squeezed along the route. A band starting up outside a pub nearby. Geezers with cans and dolly birds with mini wines. Four generations camped around fold up chairs and flasks and foil wrapped treats. The sun always seemed to have its hat on. Old boys in pristine white vests chain smoking roll ups. Bodies packed on balconies overlooking the streets below, blazing knees up tunes. Strangers chatting freely. Were they strangers? Neighbours? Nah, simply professional Marathon watchers. Oggy oggy oggy and that old game.

Carousel of Photos from the London 2023 Marathon below. If you would like to read our previous E-zine, ‘George Hillyard – Rising from the Ashes’, click here.

Mitch Panayis, Director East 15 Films

Tags: Athletics, London, London Marathon, Londoners, sport

This Post Has 10 Comments

Nina Panayis 25 Apr 2023 Reply

Reading this as one of those mummas ferrying kids n food n chairs to the course and somehow ferrying home thousands of filthy wet sponges that sat in the bath for weeks on end before being thrown out actually brought a tear or seven to my eye but that’s maybe because I’m a Londoner!!!!
Loved this piece, so moving but real. Life is all about change but thank gawd not everything does.
1. east15.london.uk 27 Apr 2023 Reply
  
  Yes you were Nina!! Made it what it was xx
Amy Panayis 25 Apr 2023 Reply

such a good article!!
uncle lew forever in our hearts < 3
1. east15.london.uk 27 Apr 2023 Reply
  
  Always Amo!!
Bamvos 25 Apr 2023 Reply

Fantastic article. It brings back a lot of good memories. Well done Mitch
1. east15.london.uk 27 Apr 2023 Reply
  
  Cheers Bambos!! thanks for the feedback.
Tyson 25 Apr 2023 Reply

Loved every word. Felt like I was there soaking up the day, the runners, the atmosphere and the London spirit. Very well written and the photos really sum up the London Marathon and the runners will power. Xxx
1. east15.london.uk 27 Apr 2023 Reply
  
  It really was a great scene! Get down there next year and cheer em on
Lainey Edwards 25 Apr 2023 Reply

This was an amazing read. I haven’t been to watch the London marathon for around 20 years, but after reading this I know I will be there next year, being a part of the London support network and community, cheering our athletes / mums / dads / daughters / sons / grandparents / co-workers to the finish line. This was a really nostalgic piece for me, thank you for reminding me what and why the London marathon is all about!
1. east15.london.uk 27 Apr 2023 Reply
  
  That’s lovely to hear, thanks so much! It really is a proper celebration of London. See you down there next year!

London’s Marathon

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