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Friday, March 29, 2024

London Marathon still looking to hold race on Oct. 4: race director

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London Marathon still looking to hold race on Oct. 4: race director
London Marathon still looking to hold race on Oct. 4: race director
Organisers of London Marathon hoping race can go ahead

VIDEO SHOWS: FILE FOOTAGE OF 2019 LONDON MARATHON WINNERS / STILL PICTURES OF THE RACE / PEOPLE RUNNING IN 2019 LONDON MARATHON SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - APRIL 29, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.

2019 LONDON MARATHON MEN'S AND WOMEN'S WINNERS ELIUD KIPCHOGE AND BRIGID KOSGEI WITH TROPHY 2.

KIPCHOGE LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - APRIL 20, 2017) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 3.

ETHIOPIAN RUNNER KENENISA BEKELE POSING FOR PHOTOS AHEAD OF THE 2017 LONDON MARATHON LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - APRIL 28, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE) 4.

STILL PHOTO SHOWING 2019 LONDON MARATHON MEN'S ELITE RACE IN PROGRESS 5.

STILL PHOTO SHOWING 2019 LONDON MARATHON IN PROGRESS 6.

STILL PHOTO SHOWING END OF 2019 MARATHON LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (APRIL 28, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 7.

VARIOUS OF PEOPLE RUNNING THE LONDON MARATHON STORY: London Marathon race director Hugh Brasher said on Friday (June 19) that organisers are working to ensure the rescheduled race is held on Oct.

4 despite the cancellation of September's Great North Run due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cancellation of the annual half marathon had raised doubts about the London Marathon going ahead due to the challenges faced by organisers in implementing social distancing protocols.

Brasher added that they would be providing a further update on the status of the race on July 28.

The marathon was initially postponed from its original April 26 date due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

"There has been much speculation that this means the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon will also be cancelled.

However, it doesn't," Brasher said in an open letter to runners.

"The team at London Marathon Events has been looking at the logistics... and coming up with innovative ways to socially distance the event.

"We have also been working with other mass participation event organisers in the UK, including the Great Run Company and Human Race, to make recommendations to the UK government on how mass participation events can return." Brasher also urged runners to maintain their fitness goals ahead of the event with 15 weeks to go before the race.

"There is still plenty of time to train and there is neither a need, nor should there be a desire, to be at your peak fitness yet," he added.

"I assure you that whatever decision we take... it will be taken in line with our values and with the responsibility we have to you, our runners, our charities, our sponsors, our volunteers, our medics, our communities and our city." (Production: Andy Ragg)

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