Dr Karageorghis with celebrities
Seven thousand heroes battled lashing rain to run in London's first ever half-marathon on Sunday, 5 October 2008. In spite of the weather, thousands of spectators turned up in Greenwich to cheer on the runners and to celebrate this year's Car Free Day.
Among the thousands who took part in this groundbreaking event were familiar personalities such as:
- Harriet Scott from Heart FM
- GMTV newsreader Priya Kaur-Jones
- 5ive newsreader and journalist Lara Lewington
- Jo Jackson, the Olympic speed-walker.
Thank you for taking part
charity runners
Councillor John Fahy, Cabinet Member for Culture and Olympics, said, "Many congratulations to all those runners who completed the course in such challenging conditions. Thanks are also due to the spectators who turned out to encourage them despite the pouring rain.
"Through their efforts, a large amount has been raised for many charities, including Greenwich Starting Blocks, which supports local young athletes with their sights set on competing in London 2012."
Motivated by music
runners
The event started and finished at The O2, London’s Premier music venue. Strategically placed music stations around the course served to motivate the runners through the wind and rain.
"I have taken part in half-marathons and long distance runs before but having the music to help spur me on when I was starting to feel the burn really helped. Even though the weather wasn’t the best the atmosphere created by the bands, performers and crowds was really inspirational," commented GMTV presenter Priya Kaur-Jones.
The live music acts were selected by Sony Ericsson Run To The Beat’s music partner City Showcase.
female winners
The bands played tracks to a strict tempo determined by Dr Costas Karageorghis, a Brunel University academic with over 20 years' experience researching the link between sport and music.
Great success
The organisations involved were unanimous in calling the event a success.
- Nick Rusling, Race Organiser and Managing Director of IMG Mass Participation Sports, described it as a "fantastic first year for the event".
- David Hilton, Marketing Director of Sony Ericsson UK and Ireland, said it was a "phenomenally successful event that involved fun, innovation and of course, music”.
- Philip Beard, Chairman of Sponsorship & Sports, AEG Europe (owners and operators of The O2), was "thrilled to have been a part of the inaugural Run to the Beat event".
- Nanette Rigg, Director of City Showcase, commented, "Wet yet wonderful Sony Ericsson Run To The Beat really enjoyed stunning music with a smile."
Further information
The inaugural event saw an elite field from all over the world compete for a share of a £5,000 prize fund.
To find out more about how the event went, see stories and images from the day and to listen to the bands signed-up and find out how to enter for 2009, visit the Run to the Beat website.
There is also lots of information from Dr Costas Karageorghis about the science behind Sony Ericsson Run To The Beat as well as access to training programmes from Trainsmart.