marathon

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54374114

message from Aaron “You can achieve anything”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAhITRB0mCM

Last Sunday 45,000 participants ran the London marathon, but most weren’t in London. Why not? This year Covid delayed the marathon for 6 months but runners were determined to find a way to take part and the run went ahead with people joining in around the country while socially distanced, at a time and place of their choosing. Participants used an app to log their progress and make their time official. This meant people around ther UK could make their front door the start and finish line.

The photos show Gill Silverthorne running in a rhino costume to raise money for ‘Save the rhino’. She practised by doing 2000 laps of her patio while wearing the costume. On the day her husband ran with her to help her avoid obstacles as seeing out of the costume is difficult.

Ken Jones is the oldest runner this year, aged 87. He is one of 10 people who have run every London marathon since the first one in 1981 so this will be his 40^th race. Heavy rain made the run challenging for Ken on Sunday and he said the weather made this year the hardest; he had to change clothes three times. Ken said he was very happy to finish, “My neighbours had balloons up and signs out, we had a tremendous crowd, really.”

Eileen Noble was the oldest woman to particpate this year; she is 85 years old and this was her 20^th run. Eileen ran in London and joked that she hoped she wouldn’t get lost on the way round. She said she couldn’t wait to have a hot shower when she got home.

Aaron Plummer ran the marathon in  his local park to raise money for Mencap and raise awarenss about people with disabilities. Aaron has cerebal palsey and learning disabilities which means his body works in a different way. Aaron says, “We all have dreams and we want to achieve the same things as you.” Aaron has a message to peoplw with learning disabilities: “You can achieve anything!”

-        What is the London marathon? How far is it? Does anyone know anyone who has run a marathon?

-        How can your front door be the starting line and the finish line?

-        The photos show four very different people running in  very differnt ways and in different places; what does this show about the London marathon?

-        Why do you think Gill Silverthorne chose to run in a rhino costume? How do you think she felt if people laughed at her as she ran past?

-        Both Ken and Eileen both struggled in the rain; why didn’t they just stop at 10 miles or 20 miles? After all, they’ve finished the race loads of times; do they need to do it again?

-        How do you think Ken and Eileen wold respond if someone said they were too old to run marathons?

-        Why do you think Aaron wants people to know about the way he is different?

-        “We can achieve anything!” Why is Aaron saying this?

-        What do these people have in common?

-        Why are these stories of hope?

-        Why didn’t the organisers of the marathon just cancel the race this year? What does this show about how people are adapting because of Covid?

-        What can we learn from the London Marathon this year?

- why is this about No Outsiders?