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last Sunday morning around 35 Carlo Pinsoglio Jersey ,000 pairs of trainers prepared to pound the capital's streets in the Flora London Marathon.

At the same time, millions of people across 150 countries turned on their televisions, settled back with a cup of coffee and remain glued to the screen for the next three or four hours.

Why do so many people choose to put themselves through 26 miles 385 yards of physical and mental hell? And why do we want to watch them do it?

The first London Marathon took place in 1981, the result of a pub conversation over a few pints of bitter and the experience of the late Chris Brasher who had just run the New York City Marathon.

Brasher, an athlete and sports journalist, asked himself if London could host such a race: "We have the course . . . but do we have the heart and hospitality to welcome the world?"

Today the scale and success of one of the country's most anticipated annual sporting events would give Brasher his answer. The London Marathon is a winning combination of spectacular setting and human drama.

The bobbing Blaise Matuidi Jersey , multi-coloured ribbon of people weaves its way through some of London's most iconic sites and outstanding architecture. Greenwich, Canary Wharf and Docklands, the City, the River Thames, Tower Bridge, the Embankment Benedikt Howedes Jersey , Parliament Square, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and The Mall provide a suitably dramatic and beautiful backdrop to the stories of the thousands of individuals involved.

This year, 92,000 hopefuls applied for a starting place on Blackheath. We're all impressed by the elite runners and wheelchair athletes with their two hour sprints along the course, but let's face it Andrea Barzagli Jersey , we're much more interested in the real people.

These are the people who've spent months abstaining from booze and cakes, fundraising for their special charity and punishing themselves in training - all whilst holding down their normal job and home life. Applicants this year included 83 taxi drivers, 2,148 teachers, 383 secretaries, 95 pharmacists Alex Sandro Jersey , 97 film makers, 586 builders and 405 accountants.

The youngest individuals who took part in this year's race were Jonathan Smith and Siobhan Besford, both 18 years. The oldest were Buster Martin, aged 101 and Iva Barr, aged 80. Buster gained notoriety last year as a senior hero, for both refusing to take his 100th birthday off work and fending off a group of young attackers. He has since joined a band Cheap Juventus Jerseys , The Zimmers, and become an agony uncle for lads' mag, FHM.