TV COVERAGE of the marathon is an odd thing. To watch thousands of increasingly knackered people run 26 miles through the empty streets of London on a Sunday morning does not sound like a recipe for compelling TV, but the remarkable thing is that it works, and it is great to watch.

Part of this is because of the endurance nature of the event. I find driving 26 miles quite tiring these days, so even the idea of running from Liverpool to Preston, and doing it in under a few hours, leaves me feeling bewildered and in need of a long rest.

Like most non-marathon runners, I start with deep feelings of admiration for all the runners, and that is surely part of the marathon’s strange fascination.

The other feature of the London marathon – and most other big ticket marathons – which gives it a special flavour, is the mingling of professional runners with ordinary club athletes and the huge army of have-a-go enthusiasts.

It is a rare thing to have the chance to watch really top class sports people fight it out in the same arena as fun competitors, some dressed in bizarre costumes, and all facing the same challenge – to run for 26 miles.

It is the straightforward challenge of just doing the distance that makes the marathon so tough. I cannot think of another sporting challenge which is such a combination of physical endeavour and mental torment.

The temptation to stop when the going gets tough is the same whether you are a dazzlingly fit Kenyan professional, or just a ordinary competitor, dressed like Batman, and trying to raise money for their favourite charity.

Overcoming that temptation and battling on, mile after mile, is what makes the marathon and its’ participants so special.

If there is any merit left in the idea that sport is not about money and fame, but about just competing, then the marathon is its greatest manifestation.

To any of you who took part, or are in training for a future event, I doff my hat in salutation.