London Marathon 2017
I’ve been asked a few times since returning form the UK what the London Marathon was like, if anything interesting happened and where the Facebook updates had gotten to. So a little late but here’s a few highlights.
Speedo Documentary
Using all the tricks and technology available to us to get runners to the London Marathon start line including physio, massage, strapping, podiatry and the alter-g anti-gravity treadmill we have runners of all levels coming to us to get their final preparation right. This year that included a visit from Runners World and a film crew from Speedo, filming a documentary looking at the effect of substituting swimming for running in preparation for the marathon. The whole experiment will air on Eurosport in 3 15minute episodes detailing the testing, training and results. I’ll post links if these episode become available online.
Marathon Day
The London Marathon was especially good this year with perfect conditions, a fast field and thousands upon thousands of runners, supporters and volunteers. I was again lucky to be working with a small team of top physio’s taking care of the elite athletes and celebrities, tucked in behind the finish, in the walled garden of a house next door to Prince Charles’s house. Unlike the early days out on the course we had air conditioning, treatment tables and catering while we watched events unfold on TV with the coaches, managers and families, getting live results of split times as the race unfolded. The highlight for me personally was meeting Keninesa Bekele, 3x Olympic gold medalist, 5000m and 10000m world record holder and 2nd fastest all time over the marathon along with working with Vivian Cheruiyot, 5x Olympic medalist and 5x world champion over 5000m, 1000m and Cross Country. Legends!!!!
Then there was meeting some normal runners that have done exceptional things to raise awareness and money for charity like Ben Smith, running 401 marathons in 401 days to raise awareness of bullying. Excellent stuff.
Scott Mitchell – Physiotherapist
