The London Marathon is though the world's most valuable one-day charity event and likely so because from the start it has ~ like the Parkrun ~ been organised by volunteers largely without government involvement, which would kill it stone dead.
And if you don't believe that, France effectively banned the staging of park runs on health and safety grounds, and because it prevented Europeans from getting obese.
This man though has run five marathons dressed as a phone-box in aid of a brother with muscular dystrophy.
I have put in for the free ballot and ensuing draw, more in hope than expectation. I did so last year too, and escaped only narrowly when a further draw was made at a local running club for someone who'd made the cut but couldn't make the race.
It cut the odds to nearer Russian roulette ~ 'Oh dear' I said upon missing out again.
