Virgin London Marathon – Half way classic to greet the masses at Tower Bridge

For most runners in Sunday's Virgin Money London Marathon, just getting to the end is enough to do their chosen charities proud, but for Laura Wright, one of the UK's leading classical artists, running the distance is only part of the challenge.

"I'm going to stop on Tower Bridge just before half way and sing ‘Jerusalem', announced Wright, the England Rugby team's official anthem singer.

"It's probably the song I'm best known for and I'm hoping to inspire and motivate the people running past me. It's my third marathon so I wanted a new challenge. It's also a good link to Nordoff Robbins, the musical therapy charity I'm running for."

The hymn may be one of the England's best-loved, but a mid-marathon rendition will be a bit more of a test than Wright's usual performances on stage at Twickenham.

"Breathing control is the main thing," she admitted. "I'll probably have to stop and take a few minutes to get my breath back before starting to sing. I've also been told to be careful when I start running again – I don't want to hear my knees or hamstrings 'ping'."

Her fellow runners in today's 'celebrities' press conference also suggested her competitive spirit might come into play, claiming she won't find it easy to watch thousands of runners racing past her.

 Laura Wright

For British model and reality TV star Amy Willerton, the runners are less of a concern. She's more worried about the giant animals.

"I did an eight mile race a few weeks ago and wasn't sure what time I'd run, but I saw a rhino at the start and I thought I'd be happy if I could beat it," she said. "I didn't. I had to stop for the toilet and I couldn't catch it, it beat me. This time I just don't want to be beaten by a giant animal."

She did consider dressing up herself, however, and running as a giant chicken to represent her charity Chickenshed, an inclusive theatre company for all ages.

"I've really enjoyed training, but this is all brand new for me," she said. "My dad is running with me and will be my secret weapon; he'll get me to the finish.

"I like keeping fit but I'm more of a gym bunny. I don't have a clue what ‘the wall' is like. I've never hit it."

The One Show's Joe Crowley absolutely doesn't want to run in fancy dress. "It's that bit in the marathon guide that says you've got to train in your costume that puts me off," he said.

His focus is raising money for Anthony Nolan, the UK's blood cancer charity and bone marrow register, and also the official charity for the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon.

"Hopefully this will be a really big year for Anthony Nolan and a pioneering one for research," said Crowley. "I've heard there are 500 of us running [for the charity] and we're hoping to raise £1m."

Unlike Laura Wright, he's planning to listen to other people's music rather than singing his own.

Also involved in today's press conference were Hollyoaks actor Nick Pickard who is raising money for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and aiming to "shake a few minutes off" his 4:18 time from last year; Amy Guy, aka ‘Siren' from the TV hit show Gladiators, raising money for World Horse Welfare, and ‘The Voice' finalist Matt Henry who is running for Macmillan in memory of a close friend.

 

Source: Virgin London Marathon