The weekend programme: Friday - Walking Tour of Greenwich and the Start of the Marathon
People often say that the biggest cause of fear or nerves is “the unknown”…. in other words ignorance of what will happen to you in a new situation or experience. It can become so overwhelming that for some thoughts of “escape” or “avoidance” can emerge.
In such circumstances logic suggests that having someone take you to that place, explain and show to you what will happen, can quickly transform that fear and dread into genuine excitement.
If this is your first London Marathon – or your first ever marathon, it is important that you appreciate that 95% of those on the start line will have some degree of nerves or apprehension… and so they should!
You are going to do something that 50 years ago was thought to be possible only if you were super-human; now tens of millions of people around the world have successfully completed conquered the marathon.
It’s good – even essential, to feel apprehensive and hold the distance in respect – but not fear it!
“As first time marathon runners, the tours of both the Start and the Finish were fantastic and they gave us great insight into what to expect on marathon morning.” “We all had a wonderful time thanks to your excellent organisation and the friendly service of all those involved. A special thanks for the Friday afternoon tour – it was brilliant.” The Hull, Dundee and Durham contingent “I don’t know London so your tour of the start was extremely useful and it was great to chat with others. Thanks for a memorable weekend! RS “Many thanks to all the staff who took part in the Greenwich Walk on Friday. I first joined this tour in 2005 but there’s always something new to learn and John’s anecdotes were excellent. I never heard the one about climbing a 20 mile mountain and then thinking of the last six miles as downhill. Sounded unusual but I used the advice and can report that it was the fastest section of the race for me. And how many did I overtake during those last six miles – I gave up counting when I got to 180! John, a great idea." PT (Coeliac UK) |
Each of the WRP group leaders on the walking tours has done the marathon distance on many occasions. Many are themselves coaches and/or event organisers. One huge advantage for you of a tour lasting 1½ hours is that there is always plenty of opportunity for you to have one-to-one discussions to ease YOUR mind of YOUR anxieties.
More than one “first time” runner has said that they slept so much better on Friday and Saturday night as they had now seen where key things were going to happen, understood them and become far more confident from having met and talked to people in their own situation. “If she/he can do it – then so to can I” was their new mantra!
Our plan on Friday is simple:
- we will see the start area when it is all but finished - but with virtually nobody there to obstruct our view
- as a result, when your coach arrives on Sunday you will know exactly where everything is going to be, what to do, in what order…and most importantly, what not to do!
Our route also allows us to see a lot of the early part of the course and from the top of the hill we get a superb view over the course as it winds its way through historic Greenwich – now a World Heritage site and later through the Isle of Dogs area. As they say, if you have been there, seen it, talked it all through then what can one fear?
Time: 15.00 hrs
Meet: Gates of Greenwich Park. Estimated duration – 1½ hrs
Capacity: 250 persons – i.e. 10 groups of approximately 25 each one led by WRP staff – all of
whom have run this event
Leaders: John Joyner together with, amongst others,
Nigel Barker, Mike Bull – both based at Novotel London West
Malcolm Gammon, Rob Morgan, Steve Baxter – all based at Novotel Waterloo
Neale Jarrett – based at Novotel City South
Jim Stewart – based at Novotel Tower Bridge
Gordon Robbins – based at Novotel Paddington
Sara Marsh - based at Novotel ExCeL
We will begin by walking up through Greenwich Park (London’s oldest Royal park).
We shall briefly stop at the Royal Observatory – the home of the world’s Prime Meridian/Longitude 0°/ Greenwich Meridian; did you know that the London is the only marathon in the world where you run in both hemispheres during the race?
Once up the incline we look in detail at the 3 starting areas of the marathon on Greenwich (Red start) and Blackheath Commons (Blue and Green starts), see where the WRP coaches will bring you on Sunday morning and from where WRP Spectator Service will operate.
Most importantly, we explain the sequence of what happens on Sunday from the moment you arrive until the moment the race starts… and the pitfalls to avoid!
This optional part of the weekend package is complimentary, popular and last year over-subscribed!
Although final details (with details of how to get there) will be issued until about 6 weeks before the marathon then if you definitely want to go then it makes sense to reserve places when you first book! Either attach a note to your booking form and/or send a reservation request via an e-mail.
Children are very welcome but please indicate how many of the places requested are for younger children.
There is no problem for wheelchair access – though there is one short, steep hill. Last year there were so many volunteers to help push one wheelchair up that hill that it got to the top first!
At the conclusion of the tour (about 16.30 hrs) you have two options:
- either, to join the WRP staff as they go across to the ExCeL Centre and Marathon Expo – i.e. you can complete
your marathon registration without any fear of getting lost!
- or, do as you please – maybe stay and see some more of Greenwich – a World Heritage site of historic importance. Alternatively you may head back to your hotel or possibly head off to a show. The choice is yours.