With that in mind, Corporate Events Managing Director Andrew Ashley will be running in the Virgin London Marathon on April 21st. A keen runner and member of the Aldbourne Running Club, this will be Andy’s first London marathon.
Andy comments: “As Corporate Events work in London all the time, producing great events I’m always in and out of here by car, on the train or in a cab, so pounding the streets and running past all the great venues we work in will be a real change and challenge.”
The London Marathon course is flat and fast. It starts in Blackheath, heads east through Charlton and Woolwich for three miles, turns west and passes the Cutty Sark in Greenwich after six to seven miles. It crosses the River Thames at Tower Bridge and then loops around the east end of London, past Canary Wharf in Docklands, before heading west again along the Highway and the Embankment to Parliament Square, Birdcage Walk and the final corner in front of Buckingham Palace.
The first London Marathon, held on 29 March 1981, finished on Constitution Hill between Green Park and Buckingham Palace. From 1982 until 1993 the race finished on Westminster Bridge with the Houses of Parliament in the background. But in 1994 repair work to the bridge meant the finish line was moved to The Mall where it has been ever since.
Andy concludes: “I’m sure that it will be a great experience and I’m really pleased to have the opportunity to run in this amazing event. I’ve got my eye on a time and we’ll see how I get on - training is going well.”
