London Marathon: Why it brought out the best in people

Yesterday I completed my first marathon. It was a truly amazing experience, packed with positive emotions, and an incredible testament to everyone running, volunteering and supporting. At 24 C / 75 F and under blazing sunshine for the duration, it was the hottest London Marathon on record. So I was just delighted to have completed it, in 4 hrs 48 mins, even if it was way off my target. Thank you to all those who have supported me, and if anyone would like to donate to help me beat the £2K target, it would be amazing. All donations go to the incredible UK charity, Action for Children. I’m really close to the target now, and you can donate here

The power of positivity in people

I would like to think that almost everyone on the planet has experienced moments of joy generated by the people around them, at some point in their lives. Those golden moments are the stuff of positive memories that endure a lifetime. I would include the London Marathon in that category...

The day started with a 6.30 am train from Reading into London. Most people on the train were either running the marathon or accompanying the runners. But, unlike most train journeys into London, the whole train was buzzing with excitement and there were countless conversations between complete strangers about the day ahead. This trend continued all the way down to Greenwich station (the race started in Greenwich Park). People wanted to share their personal stories about their reasons for running; their chosen charities and why they were important to them; even about their growing up in London and why the Marathon route was special to them. On the DLR to Greenwich, I spoke to one chap whose father was a postman on the Isle of Dogs in the fifties. Apparently, it was a very rough area back then, a far cry from the yuppiedom of today.

Arriving at the race start, it was clear that the stewards and volunteers were doing an amazing job. Everyone was helpful, positive and encouraging; congratulating runners for taking part; guiding people to the correct baggage drop-off areas and starting zones, handing out water etc. Given the 40000+ runners (and over 1 million spectators), it was an incredibly well-run event. During the race, there were thousands of people manning the official water stations, as well as the race marshals and St. John's ambulance volunteers etc. All going out of their way to support those running and doing an outstanding job.

As the race started, the magic really began. The entire length of the race was packed with spectators, all cheering on the runners with gusto. The crowd noise was relentless and almost deafening, yet motivational and empowering. I had my name on my running vest and it was encouraging to hear shouts of 'Come on Chris!' along the entire race. People of all backgrounds were out in force enjoying the amazing spectacle – steel drum bands, rock groups, singers, pop music blaring out through loudspeakers, people outside pubs, community centres and churches, people handing out sweets, fruit and drinks. It was as much an advert for incredible diversity and richness of London as it was a celebration of the race itself.

Perhaps the single biggest positive takeaway for me though was the amazing involvement by the charities and their supporters. At Mile 19 (Canary Wharf), the entire length of one (very long!) road was lined with charity stands, with their employees and volunteers all cheering on the runners and showcasing the incredible fundraising event the London Marathon truly is. The race is now raising almost £1 billion every year for charity! As I ran the race, I realised why my fitness goals paled into insignificance: The most significant reason for me for taking part in the marathon was now, by far, to play some small part in the overall contribution to charitable causes.

 I ran for Action for Children, a UK Charity that works against the causes and effects of youth homelessness. I recently visited a local Action for Children project in Berkshire (Here 4 Me) and heard about the amazing mentoring and advocacy work they're doing with children in (or at risk of going into) care. Action for Children helps restore the faith and confidence of those children in other people - hopefully providing them more of the golden moments I spoke of earlier. Having raised money for Action for Children in the past and taken part in the annual charity sleep-out (Byte Night), it was great to hear first-hand how the money raised is being used for these critical projects.

At the end of the race, I was greeted by the Action for Children team members and was escorted to the post-race reception where we enjoyed a hot shower, massage and celebratory meal. It was a real joy to meet up with my wife, kids and parents and for them to share in the occasion. As each Action for Children runner arrived at the reception, a bell was rung followed by rapturous applause as they entered the room. A fittingly positive end to an amazing day. A day which brought out the very best in people, a celebration of life and a supreme example of how a collective of people, united around a positive goal, can do amazing things together.

If you’ve never attended or taken part in a marathon, I would highly recommend it. And if you’d like to play your part in this event, please consider a donation to Action for Children. Sponsor page is here.