London Marathon

[codswallop]

I believe that if there weren't any professional runners in the marathon the crowds would be the same,but if there weren't any "fun runners" the numbers would decrease drastically.So why pay the pro's? Just let all the monies go to the charities,and let the tv coverage go to those wonderful,generous, "crazy",people with big hearts!!!!

[greylad]

I had no idea that anyone received payment for taking part in a charity event.
I am totally with codswallop on this.

[EvianBaby]

I didn't realise the pro's were paid either. Who pays them?

From being there yesterday, most of the spectators seemed to be there supporting someone they knew who was running so I reckon you're right. It was interesting seeing the elite athletes but was much more fun the normal people.

[ichkeria]

The London Marathon is NOT a charity event. It's a major international city marathon and also incorporates several marathon championships. It's great that people run for charity too of course but don't forget it's also a competitive sport first and foremost

[rodders123]

Totally disagree with Ichkeria. Was unaware athletes were making money out of what I believed to be an excellent charity event. The race should be strictly for fund raisers, if professionals want to race in it; they too should be raising funds for charity instead of being selfishly greedy.

[ichkeria]

You can disagree if you like but the fact is that the London Marathon is a sporting event in which people take the opportunity to raise money for charity. It's not a charity event gatecrashed by money-grubbing professionals. In any case, leaving aside the handful of paid runners and the many charity runners there are also club runners competing who are not raising money for charity but neither are they receiving a penny from anyone.
I wonder what people would say if the FA Cup Final was suddenly declared out of bounds to professional or even amateur players in favour of people having a kickabout to raise money? Ok not exactly the same thing but the point is athletics is also a competitive sport like football and the marvellous charity raising aspects of some runners should not blind us to that fact

[johnk]

The elite runners ensure exposure to the marathon in many more countries and so are worth their payments.

[ichkeria]

I can understand people questioning whether the elite runners are worth the money. There are certainly questions to be asked about that. But it's only a tiny number who are paid to run. Some elite runners, who are not world record contenders but nonetheless have, or are likely, to run fast times, are paid their hotel expenses. As as AAA championship runner in the past even I benefitted from free coffee(!).
What is wrong is the idea that only people raising money for charity should be there.
The saddest aspect of all for me is that the 4th British male athlete finished in 2 hours 21, 18 minutes slower than the world record, and that GB/NI are likely only to bother to enter one male athlete for the Olympic marathon in London. Added to that the fact that all the marvellous British female athletes are approaching 40!

[emmie]

Of course the Pro's get paid, you don't expect them to do it for nothing. They are professional athletes.
I also don't think the figures watching would decrease, it's a spectacular event, with millions watching on tv, and hundreds of thousands lining the route.

[Davethedog]

The proffesional runners bring a world wide audience and with it sponsership, this year Virgin money, without the sponsership no race.

This isn't a fun run for the pro's it is a full on competitive r one of a series across the planet and they make money because its their living.

You could stop them competing and there would be no prestige, no sponsership and no race.

[codswallop]

Going back to my original post that I believe that the LONDON Marathon is an outstanding success because of the fun runners and any organisation would be pleased to sponsor the event.I didn't say race because as stated in other replies each person has his/her own agenda for running whether it's for charity or just to test themselves!Thanks for all your very interesting replies!!!