Watching the London Marathon
Discussion
After some advice. Got a few friends running in the London Marathon at the end of April and a handful of us are heading up to watch and support. First time I have been so asking any advice on spots to head for to get a decent enough view, avoid some of the main crowds.
We are also going to drive up so will be heading in via M4 or M3 from Bracknell handy to either park up nearby and walk, or drive to a local tube station and use the tube for the remainder of the journey.
Any advice would be great.
Cheers
We are also going to drive up so will be heading in via M4 or M3 from Bracknell handy to either park up nearby and walk, or drive to a local tube station and use the tube for the remainder of the journey.
Any advice would be great.
Cheers
Your call but I would suggest that you aim for seeing them at the end rather than the start and get to the bottom of the Mall as early as you reasonably can. Nearest Tube - Green Park.
If you get there early enough you will be able to get a good spot and there are big screens about the place for you to be able to watch a lot of the action. You will aso be able to meet up with your friends after the race much more easily. At the end the runners go through the gate and then have to have their time tags and so on removed. Depending on their expected time I would plan to meet them 30 minutes to an hour after they expect to finish (depending on their condition this should be about right) in Green Park or somewhere near by - you will not get to them at the top of the Mall and will be in a throng of 1000's of family and well wishers all trying to find 'their' runner. There is lots of security and a number of places you would think you can get to you will not be able to get to. The whole of the Mall straight is taken up with Charity and Sponsor stands and the only place that you can cross is a bridge which is next to the gate on your left as you are looking at Buck House.
Will try to up load a photo later for your reference.
If you get there early enough you will be able to get a good spot and there are big screens about the place for you to be able to watch a lot of the action. You will aso be able to meet up with your friends after the race much more easily. At the end the runners go through the gate and then have to have their time tags and so on removed. Depending on their expected time I would plan to meet them 30 minutes to an hour after they expect to finish (depending on their condition this should be about right) in Green Park or somewhere near by - you will not get to them at the top of the Mall and will be in a throng of 1000's of family and well wishers all trying to find 'their' runner. There is lots of security and a number of places you would think you can get to you will not be able to get to. The whole of the Mall straight is taken up with Charity and Sponsor stands and the only place that you can cross is a bridge which is next to the gate on your left as you are looking at Buck House.
Will try to up load a photo later for your reference.
I've had friends and family cheer me on at Tower Bridge and then they made their way to the end with plenty of time. Avoid the Cutty Sark, which is rammed. What you ideally want is a long straight, so you can see your friend in the distance and make sure you all agree beforehand as to where you'll be standing to avoid disappointment on both parts. The runner tracker on race day is a god-send, where it gives you a rough estimate of their pace and likely finish time at every 5k checkpoint.
As Rude-boy says, you're far better off agreeing to meet somewhere away from the masses at the end. I arranged to meet up with my lot at Piccadilly Circus, which was a 10-15 minute walk (did my legs a world of good to keep them moving).
As Rude-boy says, you're far better off agreeing to meet somewhere away from the masses at the end. I arranged to meet up with my lot at Piccadilly Circus, which was a 10-15 minute walk (did my legs a world of good to keep them moving).
Because the route loops around docklands it's quite possible to see someone more than once and in some places walk 2 minutes to see them again or get the tube, check on the marathon map and you can see where.
It's quite hard work spotting people even if you know roughly what pace they're doing and they can be past you almost by the time you see them and shout.
Allow plenty of time to get around, there are LOADS of people everywhere, although last year we found in docklands (Commercial Road) there weren't queues for trains during the event.
It's quite hard work spotting people even if you know roughly what pace they're doing and they can be past you almost by the time you see them and shout.
Allow plenty of time to get around, there are LOADS of people everywhere, although last year we found in docklands (Commercial Road) there weren't queues for trains during the event.
Thanks for all the advice. I wasn't aware of the timing chips so you can see how they are progressing and what time they predict so that could be handy. I'll also take a look at the map and try and work out best place to access as there will be adults and kids going i think so will need something child friendly.
Spectator guide here with links to download the maps
https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/ev...
The VLM website will have a race tracker on the day, but I can't find any sign of a phone app, wich is a lot more convenient than a website when yo're trying to track several people, anyone know of one?
https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/ev...
The VLM website will have a race tracker on the day, but I can't find any sign of a phone app, wich is a lot more convenient than a website when yo're trying to track several people, anyone know of one?
They say there'll be a link on the main website on the day, it's not there yet.
This is last years, so it should look similar http://results-2014.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/...
This is last years, so it should look similar http://results-2014.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/...
Challo said:
Thanks for all the advice. I wasn't aware of the timing chips so you can see how they are progressing and what time they predict so that could be handy. I'll also take a look at the map and try and work out best place to access as there will be adults and kids going i think so will need something child friendly.
It can be pretty boring for kids (or the uninterested) so plan carefully. It might be worth getting to St James's Park early(ish) with a picnic and setting up camp there as the kids can play and you can support friends in the final mile.I've got a route I usually use that enables me to see the runners 4 or 5 times in the race, but it involves some running of it's own
eric twinge said:
just seen on facebook that they have now got a addidas page that will automatically update FB when you have started the race, when you have passed 13 miles (and what time) and when finished, again with time.
Looking at the comments there will be a tracker app released on the day.
I tried to use that and it said my DOB was incorrect Looking at the comments there will be a tracker app released on the day.
Watching this with interest as my wife is running for the first time. We will be down with the kids (12 & 5) so hoping to at least try and keep them entertained/interested for the duration.
There is a hospitality tent/stage thing at mile 5 by the charity she's running for which we will use. It's then a case of working out what's best to do after she's been through.
One question for locals. I have an oyster card for when I'm down in the big smoke for work, but how do you use it with kids? Just swipe then all squeeze through quickly before the gate closes?
There is a hospitality tent/stage thing at mile 5 by the charity she's running for which we will use. It's then a case of working out what's best to do after she's been through.
One question for locals. I have an oyster card for when I'm down in the big smoke for work, but how do you use it with kids? Just swipe then all squeeze through quickly before the gate closes?
They've finally put the live tracker on the website,
http://results-2015.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/...
http://results-2015.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/...
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Sunday 26th April 08:40
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