The 2019 London Marathon was held on Sunday, April 13th. The weather was perfect, with temperatures hovered around the 50 degree mark and light winds making for a perfect training run for those who took the plunge or were considering it. With the marathon done and dusted, the question remains: is Speedway now marathon? Has the game changed, or is the traditional endurance sport growing in popularity?
The 2019 London Marathon was the 66th edition of this iconic annual sporting event and, for the first time in history, there were fewer participants than in previous years. The 2019 race drew a whopping total of only 16,936 runners taking part, with 15,183 of those (or 86%) finishing the race. According to reports, last year’s event drew a turnout of 170,000 participants and over 400,000 spectators, making it the biggest sporting event in the country. It wasn’t just about racing either as there were also a number of fun runs, walks and cycle routes linked to the main event.
The 2019 London Marathon was the culmination of months of hard training and motivation, and for many, it was a real trial by fire. For those who made it to the finish line, it was a moment of relief followed by an overwhelming sense of achievement.
Sadly, for those looking to make this year’s event their own personal challenge, it wasn’t meant to be. Only around 2,400 people (or 14%) registered for the race, a decline of 13% compared to the 2018 edition. While the weather was perfect for a training run, it certainly wasn’t ideal for a race.
The 2019 London Marathon was a grim reminder that not everything in life can be measured by a number. The world of sport has changed, with many runners switching to mountain biking, inline skating and paddleboarding as alternatives. And while more people are getting involved in longer-distance walking events like the The London Marathon and The Marine Corps Marathon, many others are looking for ways to beat the heat. The outdoor sports industry is thriving as a result, with more people wanting to be out on the terrace or patio enjoying themselves rather than cooped up in an air-conditioned office.
It seems that while the conditions were perfect for a training run, the motivation just wasn’t there. This is a real shame for those who made it their goal to take part in the 2019 London Marathon, as well as for those considering it as a sporting challenge. While it’s great that more people are getting involved in sport and physical activity, it’s essential that we don’t lose sight of the point of these events: to provide enjoyment and inspiration to those who take part and are a genuine inspiration to those who follow.
Is Mountain Biking Now a Marathon Sport?
The 2019 London Marathon wasn’t the first time that mountain biking had played a role in a major sporting event. Back in 2014, the Great Britain team took part in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and, in order to train for the event, had to hit the trails as often as possible. As a result of this, mountain biking became an official part of the Commonwealth Games sports programme. Since then, it’s been added to the Olympic Games as well.
While it’s great that mountain biking has become such a popular and main sport at these events, it’s important to remember that it’s still a form of cycling. The main difference is that instead of pedalling a regular bike, you’re rocking a full-suspension bike and letting the whole thing do the work for you. While this might feel like an advantage, it also means you’re carrying more weight as you go up the mountain. Another important point to make is that this isn’t a leisurely bike ride either. You’re usually rocking a full suspension bike with all the gears you could want and need in order to tackle the various terrains ahead. So while you might feel like you’re having a bit of a laugh, this is actually a form of extreme physical activity that can bring on feelings of guilt if you’re not careful.
Has Inline Skating or Roller-blading Become a Marathon Sport?
Inline skating has been around for a while, with the first half of the 20th century seeing the sport take off as a way for people to get around faster than walking. It wasn’t until the 1970s that things really started to take off with the invention of the rollerblade. These days, you’ll see inline skaters take part in all kinds of sporting events from figure skating to cycling and running. They’re not quite at the level of a full-blown mountain biker yet, but they’re getting close.
Like the other sports mentioned so far, inline skating also became an official part of the Olympic sports programme in 2018. This was thanks to the efforts of one person in particular; Tara Stiles, who in 2016 became the first ever roller-skating champion at the Olympic Winter Games in Russia. Since then, she’s continued her success at the international level, winning gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea and taking home the silver in 2019. Inline skating is now a fully fledged member of the Winter Olympic family, with the next major event set to be held in 2022 in Beijing.
Has Stand Up Paddling Become a Marathon Sport?
The 2019 London Marathon wasn’t the only major sporting event that involved kayaking. On June 21st, the world’s best kayakers came together for the third consecutive year in Paris for the Paris Marathon. The event, one of the most prestigious in the world, has been held every year since 2012 and draws paddlers from around the world. While the main event is a marathon, there are also other races, such as the half-marathon and the 10km walk.
This year, the Paris Marathon was even bigger and better than ever before. The last two years have seen participation rise by 15% and 18%, and this year is set to be the biggest yet. More people are getting involved and seeing the fun and recreation that comes with kayaking. The London Marathon proved that if someone is passionate enough about the activity, they can find a way to participate even if it’s not on dry land.
Is Triathlon Now a Marathon Sport?
After completing his first Ironman in 2017, Justin Medves became an iconoclast within the endurance community. The 44-year-old is a three-time Ironman finisher and, since then, has been knocking on the sport’s door, trying to get in. This was made easier with his performance at the London Marathon. The former Formula One driver took the challenge in stride and set a new marathon world record, running 2:05:13, an incredible time for someone of his fitness level.
Medves ran with an injury towards the end of last year and missed out on a place in this year’s Olympics. While he doesn’t mind competing in marathons, he would have preferred to wait until his body was fully recovered before doing so. It seems that others see things differently; in 2019 he became the first Canadian to win the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in a time of 2:08:21, and also represented Canada at the European Championships, performing well to finish 10th overall. Medves has shown just how fast he is by taking on the London Marathon and has firmly planted his flag in the sand, proving that a 42.195km distance isn’t as daunting as it seems, especially not for someone who is used to driving at high speeds in a fast car.
Will More People Join the Marathon?
The last few years have seen the rise of e-biking and e-walking; the use of electric bikes and gear to power a conventional bike or walking, respectively. These activities are gaining in popularity as the number of people involved in traditional sports continues to decline, and are often seen as a means of being eco-friendly as well. While they might not yet be a full-fledged member of the marathon family, these alternative forms of exercise are helping to keep the tradition alive.
As we’ve established, there are countless ways to exercise now that might not have existed just a few years ago. Thanks to the invention of the smartphone and the internet of things, people can track their progress and keep motivated with the help of apps and websites like Strava. With the ability to customise goals, users have the opportunity to set their own targets for everything from running times to the number of miles they want to cover.
With the advent of TikTok, the world of memes and internet humour, people can share their experiences and engage with audiences through video content. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given its primary audience, TikTok already has a number of running-related memes, with users sharing their training schedules, milestones and experiences from the perspective of a runner. This content might not yet be inspiring, but it at least provides a platform for people to share their experiences, which could prove invaluable to someone looking for guidance or wanting to get involved in a sport they’d never tried before.