My Reason to Run London Marathon

We have seen in London today what is destined to become one of the great

events in British sport. Jo Pavey, debut marathon.

One of the greatest pieces of running that we have ever seen.

Shoulders burning, fingertips pushing!

Eliud Kipchoge, one of the fastest marathons of all time.

A sight to behold, every single year.

Hello and welcome to this year's coverage of the Virgin London

Marathon, in less than 24 hours' time thousands of runners will take

to the streets of London to run the 26 point two miles behind me over

there. From great elite athletes to good club runners and the ordinary

folk who have decided they want a challenge. They are all going

through last-minute preparations, and each and every one of them have

a very different reason for running. But before the runners can take to

the streets on Sunday, they have to come here, to the Expo, to pick up

race numbers in some last-minute tips if they need them. Over the

next half are so we're going to hear some inspirational stories, of some

of those taking part at the weekend. And there is one very special

non-running guest coming along to open the 2017 London Marathon

ex-beau. Every year, the London Marathon has

an official charity, and this time it is the Heads Together campaign

spearheaded by the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. It is to

spearheaded by the Duchess of encourage people to open up the

conversation around mental illness, and this time everyone in the

marathon is encouraged to wear a blue headband to think about mental

illness. It is a campaign really close to the young royals' parts,

and this is way. A lot of people with mental health

issues hide it so well. You wear a mask day-to-day.

People assume the depression is all about being sad, but it is not, it

is mostly feeling absolutely nothing, feeling completely hollow.

For ten runners lining up in Greenwich tomorrow, being on the

start line is a huge achievement. Earlier this year, they were set a

challenge by the Heads Together campaign, led by the Duke and

Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Good to see you again, how are you? They started training to run London

Marathon despite suffering from a range of mental health issues. It is

estimated that one in four people will seek professional help for

their mental health at some point in their lives, it is a huge and

growing problem. Talking about mental health is best

for everybody, it doesn't matter who you are.

None of the group had run before and the aim was to show how exercise can

be a healthy part of treatment. One of the ten runners is Rhiannon

Burke, her mental health issues began five years ago when her son

George tragically died from pneumonia. Then five days later, her

husband committed suicide. When I heard that he had also passed

away, my life as I knew it was over. Me, as a person, changed forever.

The effect it has on you as a person, I used to be very bubbly and

confident, but actually inside I feel dead myself.

For Rhiannon and the other runners, taking part has given her a well

needed focus, and there has been plenty of support from the charity's

founders. This is an important and personal calls.

I think you're very strong and how you're managing to do this, it's

incredible. When your mum passed away, you're

older than my children, but I obviously worry about them. They

will be OK, won't they? They will be absolutely fine. You

never get over it, such an unbelievably big moment in your

life. It never leaves you. You just have to deal with that. You will

provide a blanket of stability and understanding that they need. And I

can tell you enough, you doing this is an incredibly big positive step.

Harry, tell us a little bit about Heads Together, and your aims for

the charity? The aim is for the charity, well, I

think last year the aims were very different to what they are now,

because this campaign is literally blowing up in the conversation

around mental health. Every year, the momentum has built and built,

and now we have realised that not only is there a more appetite, but

the appetite is enormous, especially over this last week. It has really

picked up, the momentum, and we all believe and know because of the

statistics, that the country is at a tipping point, and the conversation

has brought us to this tipping point where change needs to happen. The

stigma needs to be removed, and we need to set the foundations for

every generation, especially the younger generation, to be able to

talk about their mental fitness. You, your brother and the Duchess of

Cambridge, when you got together and decided this was a cause worth

having a conversation about, were putting on this huge stage, the

London Marathon in particular, there must have been something that

resonated with the three of you. Was there a conversation you had where

you realise the importance? Yes, it's the first time the three

of us have come together for one cause, one campaign. Mental health

was popping up in the news all over the place, and the topics at -- of

conversation across the UK in certain areas was really aware IIs,

this was something that needed to be talk to about. The London Marathon

was an end goal something to aim towards to bring people together.

And the three of us, whether it be that rings, young people are

homeless people, the conversation is always linked back to mental health.

We were getting frustrated that people were suffering in silence. It

did not seem to make any sense to us, so if the three of us can come

together and put our heads together and start this conversation and

encourage the rest of the UK to talk about and have a conversation, then

that was an easy do for us. It was a team effort.

What would you hope to see in three years' time? What is the endgame,

the result? For all of us, the result is to be

removing the stigma. I would like to think that we have removed the

stigma with the London Marathon. The next steps have to happen. All we

can do is create the environment where the whole of the UK is saying,

right, something needs to be done, so let's do it. That is our job, our

role. I think it has been proven that the appetite is there, so let's

do it, let's unite the whole country and bring in the right changes,

where changes are needed, and make it easier for people to receive

help. The point we're trying to make is not everybody will need that

help, because if you can remove the stigma, the conversation that

happened earlier on in that process will mean you will not need help

necessarily down the line. You catch it early. Talk about something when

it is a small issue before it snowballs. Of course, there are

other hereditary issues, but for a lot of these issues if we can

encourage the younger generation to talk about their issues more, when

they grow up those issues will not be there, and they will be a happier

and better person for it. The whole country has come together and will

come together, and we need to drive the rest of the way until everything

is good. Good, see you on Sunday. Not

running, of course. Not running, but we will be there

for many hours standing in the freezing cold.

for many hours standing in the You look like you have got a

marathon in you, you could do a three error?

Maybe five errors in a costume. The marathon is not from me. -- five

Alice. People have got their reasons for

doing it, and crossing that line is going to be really emotional for

people. The London Marathon is also an elite

race, and from any of the British athletes that means trying to secure

qualification for the World Championships in London in August.

And hoping to get a place there is former European champion Jo Pavey.

Come on, Jo Pavey! Way she goes! A glorious run! It is gold for Jo

Pavey. We have not seen you for a little

while, how have you been? Just putting in the training,

keeping it going and having this focus of the London Marathon has

kept me motivated, wanting to put in the miles. I have really enjoyed the

change in emphasis and really looking forward to it.

When did you make the decision? I presume the World Championships was

something you did not want to miss. Exactly, I would love to compete in

London 2017 on home soil, such an amazing opportunity, and fond

memories of London 2012, that home crowd, I know what that feels like.

Definitely that is motivating. The marathon felt like a new challenge,

something that would really keep my motivation going, such fond memories

of competing in it before. Really wanted to give it another go.

Jo Pavey could, another marathon. I definitely learned the hard way,

you have got to pace yourself, so important. I thought I was

listening, but as soon as the gun went off, I went for it, I wanted to

try to be competitive and was not ready to be put those top girls. It

felt like the last 40 minutes of the race, I felt delirious. Pushing

myself to that finishing line, thinking I had run this really

badly. Last year's winner has failed a

test. What does that do to the credibility of the field?

I think it's a shame that you have got a winner testing positive,

because they are just ruining the sport. We are glad that she has been

caught, but it is a shame for the sport that there are still people

out there are cheating the system and ruining the name of the sport,

because you want to believe a good performance, you want be looking at

athletes winning Olympics and big events and admire their performance,

and people like her are ruining the sport because every time you see a

good performance you're wondering, is that for real or not?

A brave, brave run from Jo Pavey which should have been rewarded with

a medal. What a performance from Joel!

You mentioned retrospective testing, are you expecting a medal in London?

I hope I am going to be awarded the are you expecting a medal in London?

Bronze medal from Sachar, it is a bit bittersweet to get a medal ten

minutes late. When I think back to the big disappointment, it should

have been a moment where I got to stand on the podium being probed to

get a medal for my country, and that moment was gone. But instead I am

thrilled to finally get a medal. How do you approach the marathon?

I am getting older but I still think the marathon is an event where

potentially I could do well. The build-up I have had has been

consistent, I have trained really hard. I have had more illness than I

would have liked, but any busy parent can relate to that, the

little ones bringing home the bugs. Think it is just dealing with the

ups and downs of what you have to do, really.

Jo Pavey is one of many British women hoping to get a qualifying

time for London. It is a stack trace, but one name stands out. The

triple New York and London winner. In the men's elite race, if you're

going to win that, you're going to have to beat Olympic royalty.

In a world where the world -- word great can be overused, Kenenisa

Bekele is deserving of the tribute. great can be overused, Kenenisa

He is the stellar name in the men's elite field. On the track, the

Ethiopian long-distance runner was a dominant force. He went really big

titles, five world titles, and broke both the 5000 and 10,000 metre world

records. His 2014 transition brought him victory in his marathon debut in

Paris, in a course record time. Only just returning from injury, this

time last year, Kenenisa Bekele he still managed to finish third in his

London Marathon debut. He controversially missed selection for

Ethiopian's Olympic team, only to deliver the perfect response will

stop triumph in the Berlin Marathon in the second fastest time ever.

Today, he will have Eliud Kipchoge's course record in mind. And he may

even further cement his legend with a new world record under two hours,

two minutes and 57 seconds. Only true greats can afford themselves

such rarefied opportunity. Here at the Expo there are so many

great things to do, you can get nutritional tips or amass such, work

out your place, it may not be record pace but Barry Smith is here to tell

you how to get that feeling of that. We can get up to the average speed

for the men's. I meant the world record. What is the difference

between this and the normal treadmill? This has a flexible floor

so if you fall you won't hurt yourself. People have come through

the doors, have they all given it a go? Yes. Only if you haven't done

that. I will not make you do it. Martin yelling is a marathon expert,

he knows what it takes to run a Martin yelling is a marathon expert,

decent Marathon. Can we crank the pace up to world record? Let's do

it. You can tell us what it feels like. It's definitely getting fast.

This feels really quick. This is 12.7 miles an hour. I'm not sure how

this is possible for 26.2 miles. Don't forget you will be injecting

pace at various points, slowing down, this is just the average.

Reach out for a drink from the drinks station. It's amazing how

people achieve these kind of places for that distance. I did think

you're quite done a lot there. This is 400 metres. You're quite a

masochist putting people through this. But all very safe. Very safe,

yes. We're not sure if there will be a world record on Sunday but it will

not come from one of these famous faces.

Famous faces to spot include Match of the Day presenter Mark Chapman.

Four and a half hours is his aim, a similar target for Chris Evans, read

you to's now regular Marathon entrants. Four hours is the aim for

Quinton Fortune. Rowe Helen Glover is no duck out of water. Five and a

half hours would please I TV newsreader Nina Hussain. Pamela

Ralph has an eye on a time just over four hours. Baasit has his aim on

for hours. East End's Ian Beale is aiming for seven RS, sounds like a

stroll. Sian Williams thinks she is in for our 20 minute shape but to

finish it all is a feat whatever the time for runners today.

They are just some of the celebrities who will be pounding the

streets of London, raising so much money for charity. The London

streets of London, raising so much Marathon brings together people from

different backgrounds and one of those is Francesca from near Wigan.

She has lived her whole life with a visual impairment and training for

the Marathon has given her so many positives.

I have hereditary hasta Geac and glow coma bright lights are very

painful and it makes me Nightline. The glow coma is from that, it's the

detail. -- might blind. I felt really out of control and that is

when I developed my eating disorder bod year ten and the bullying

continued. It made me stronger, I am who I am and I wouldn't be here

without the experience. I like the thought of it for the last two or

three years, with my site deteriorating I wanted to do with

while I still had good site. Needing someone to guide me, they directed

me to the British Blind Sport database. I run with a tether with

her at the side of me and she indicates that there is an incline

coming up for any undulating ground ahead. It became a friendship within

weeks, we got to know each other and we chat most days now so it's

definitely a French shop. I get anxiety and it holds up but once you

start running it falls away and he feel free, and you are running with

someone you know you can trust. Once you get the running but, some people

do don't have it and some do and it's the feeling of doing something

you enjoy, it's painful but that achievement and the metal is

probably one of the best you can get. A lot are runners will say they

do it for the goody bags and the medals. Best of luck to Francesca,

do it for the goody bags and the I'm sure she'll have a fantastic

experience and for one lady last year it was a one in a million

experience, the lady who crossed the line as the millionth runner ever in

London Marathon history. Did you know immediately you were that one

in a million? It took weeks to find out and then a phone call when I was

at home. Did you remember the campaign? We got to tell you that

was you, and I wanted to scream and cry. Everybody had to cross the

line, you have that gorgeous picture. Not quite a! I was a broken

woman by the end of it so when they have done any promo pictures they

haven't shown me doing the marathon. And you're back for more punishment.

You'll also serving Metropolitan Police officer and in the light of

what happened with the attacks in Westminster, a margin for you and

colleagues that will be fantastic to see London back in full colour and

the streets alive. It's the best place to be an marathon day. Having

worked it in the past and run at last, the crowds were amazing. A

couple of weeks ago London was a horrible place to be working but a

couple of weeks later it's back to London again. Best of luck, I hope

you enjoy it. Remember to look up to the camera. If I finish it! So many

people will be out there, some of those veterans of the course but one

runner has not competed in London before. The sport is a lot to me,

really amazing. I never get tired when I running, I just want to keep

going. I don't want to stop the whole day. Five years ago I came to

London to participate for the Olympics. Since that time I haven't

been back to my country. I was born in Somalia, in 1991 in Mogadishu. I

started when I was five years old, playing football, then started

basketball and now ended up running. Where I live was unacceptable for

ladies to do sport. It was really difficult, especially for the

ladies. They knew I'm sporty so it wasn't safe.

It was my dream to go to Britain, Iran 400 metres. I was so happy. It

was, the whole nation was keeping an eye for the race so it was a clear

message showing the Somalian seen alive -- it was my dream to

represent my country. What happened to my family wasn't really good.

So... They knew that even if I go back to

Somalia, I wouldn't be saved, so it was good news for me and my family.

But Britain is different. It was another world to me so I ended up

becoming homeless. It was hard to find where to live. Who I go with.

Then I found the hostel. When I was in the hostel I met the running

charity because they were working for homeless. I got my motivation.

They treat me the way I wanted to be treated, they helped me the way I

wanted to be helped. Britain is my country right now, it changed my

life, it's where I feel safe. This marathon is the first time I run it.

The reason I've run it is to show the other women who live around the

world who don't get the chance that I'd get, to show them, do what you

want to do, follow your mind and your heart. A remarkable story. Best

of luck to her on Sunday. Another great athlete performing in 2012 was

David Wear, a legend of the London Marathon. Love meeting in the

massage area. How many marathons will this be? This will be my 18

year NRO computing in the London Marathon. Can you believe you've

been doing this for a this long at Marathon. Can you believe you've

this level? When they told me it was my 18th year in a row, I felt old, I

did think I'm getting slower so as long as I can compete with the guys

at the end I will be happy. Will this be the year to get that

magnificent seven? I'm just happy to be in good shape, I don't put that

pressure on my shoulders, I'm in pretty good shape and happy with my

performance. It's been an illustrious career with so many

victories. Is the end close? We'll see. I've enjoyed the trimming, I've

enjoyed being back in the park so we will see on Sunday. I hope you have

a fantastic race. Have a great race anyway. Thank you.

Best of luck to David and all the competitors across the elite races,

the good club runners and ordinary folk starting the marathon for the

first time. Coverage starts at 8:30am on BBC Two but we will leave

you with a look at what is coming up on this board platforms and it's

fair to say that it's a Marathon sporting weekend. It's a site that

never fails to inspire. Very neat! That's what it means to him. Adam

Peaty! That guy is unstoppable. Sure scores, the black and whites are