First viewed : 29 March 1981
I remember coming in from a walk and finding my mum watching this on the telly. I couldn't really grasp what was going on ; it looked more like It's A Knockout than a mass sporting event with the number of people running in silly costumes like the berk dressed as a waiter with his props ( apparently he is called Roger Bourban and was / is a serious runner ).
It was actually the first one, organised by Chris Brasher after competing in the New York City Marathon eighteen months earlier. This being Britain it lashed it down but of course the race still went ahead. BBC One only gave it a 45 minute highlights programme before Match of the Day but ever since then they've broadcast it live. It's always had corporate sponsorship with Virgin Money currently in the chair and unfortunately still attracts self-publicists.
Talking of which , he we no longer speak of was also there in 1981. At some point we are going to have to come to terms with the fact that he did an awful lot of good and those delinquent girls currently prising his estate away from lawful charities don't really change that.
I recall Tony Blackburn mentioning the race during the Top 40 rundown, a remark I caught on tape as I was recording some of the many great records in that chart on to my reel to reel recorder. For the record they were Ceremony , Mind of a Toy, Vienna, Einstein A Go-Go, Planet Earth and Reward. Oh for a chart like that again !
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