Stuart Weir covered the London Marathon on 26 April 2026. Stewart has covered Olympic events, the World Indoor and Outdoor Athletics Championships, the European Championships and Diamond League matches. Every meeting and every media setup is different.
Stuart Weir wanted to give you, dear readers, an idea of his working environment.
London Marathon (almost)
I will be able to tell the world that I was there when the sub-2 hour marathon was first run. I was there, but was I?
I’m covering London Marathon. I am in London. I’m at the event, but not really. At the Paris Olympics, I watched the 100m final from a front-row media seat, equidistant from the start and finish. In the marathon, the written press is in a tent about 400 meters from the finish line, without access to the field, watching on a TV screen.
London Marathon (almost)
After the finish, we have interview opportunities with the athletes, but the race is televised. Obviously, the middle of the finish line is the perfect place to watch the 100m race, but where is the best vantage point for a marathon? Actually, is there one? London’s media center used to be on Tower Bridge, about half way, and in those days you could go out and see the leaders go by and feel like you were actually there.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, early on, I met someone who knew Gerry Lough (Paula Radcliffe’s husband) and we zigzagged on the subway through Beijing to see Paula at various points in the race. The fact that the 2008 marathon finished at the stadium also meant we could see the finish. As interesting as that is, it’s irrelevant because I’m stuck in a tent all day.
In the media center we have live coverage of the race on BBC TV. However, the BBC sees the London Marathon as entertainment and caters to a general audience rather than a sports audience. Right now, rather than an elite women’s race, I’m watching an interview with someone dressed as a daddy pig. And to be fair, for many, the London Marathon is as close to 50,000 people as it is to the elite. And about those who run in costume.
As well as not seeing any of the race, I also stood in the mixed zone waiting for the athletes to go through for interviews. The only one I really wanted to talk to was that Elish McColgan. First of all, I waited. Then I waited again. He finished at 11.30. Other athletes I didn’t want to talk to were quickly passing by. “Eilish is at the awards and will be soon,” we were told. Then “Eilish will be here at 12.30”. Then “1 is the winners’ press conference, after which Elish will be.” Then “The winners’ press conference has been postponed.” Elish arrives at 1.10. He had a bad blister and needed medical attention. All is forgiven.
The interview is done; go home!
Some sporting events are a privilege. Others just seem like hard work. Both are true for the London Marathon.
