The 1981 Gillette London Marathon

At 9 o'clock this morning over 7,000 men and women set off from Greenwich Park along a 26 mile 385 yard route to Buckingham Palace, in the biggest athletics event the capital has staged since the Olympic Games 33 years ago. The route passes some of London's most historic landmarks: the Tower, St Paul 's and The runners range from top international athletes out to win, to Sunday morning joggers with the less ambitious target of completing the course, that in itself a fine achievement.