Comments on: Is this the UK’s oldest kilometre sign?

By: Martin Vlietstra

Martin Vlietstra — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:11:49 +0000

Dan wrote “Iâ€™m surprised they are using a different route from that of the London Flora marathon. I just hope they donâ€™t use the Flora mile markers and instead sign each kilometre for all to see.”

This is not surprising – the Olympic rules require that the Olympic marathon terminates at the Olympic stadium (which is not yet built, so the Flora marathon cannot terminate there).

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:13:25 +0000

I’m surprised they are using a different routeÂ from that ofÂ the London Flora marathon. I just hope they don’t use the Flora mile markers and instead sign each kilometre for all to see.

I also found it interesting that in the history article provided by Phil, that the 1908 marathon was measured incorrectly and the length is 159 m shy of what was intended.

The London Flora web site shows the times for all the contestants in 5 km increments. They even have the measured time for 40 km. I’m sure every other marathon race also electronically times each runner at 40 km too. Thus if they ever decided to use 40 km again as the true marathon distance, they would have valid times to refer to.

By: philH

philH — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:44:10 +0000

There is a quite a detailed history of the marathon in this Times article:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article3723766.ece

Interesting how it was originally 40 km (or as near to that distance as host countries could make it so) before it was eventually “standardised” by the British Monarchy in 1908.

I think it’s time to put it back to that more sensible figure almost exactly one thousandth the distance around the world!

By: diamond geezer

diamond geezer — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:29:18 +0000

Yes, the route for 2012 has already been fixed, and can be seen here. The 2012 route goes round Central London then heads east, so it'll be miles away (sorry, kilometres away) from this splendid 1908 sign.

By: Martin Vlietstra

Martin Vlietstra — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:30:41 +0000

The route published in London’s bid document was to start at Tower Bridge, then make three circuits along the Embankment, around Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace, along the Mall (The Royal Kilometre), thence past the Bank of England, continue west for another kilometer and on the first two circuit swing South and back around the Tower. On the third lap continue Eastwards to the Olympic Stadium.

This will probably remain the route until a few months before the event.

By: Philip Bladon/ SI Metric-Matters

Philip Bladon/ SI Metric-Matters — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:57:21 +0000

Has the route for the 2012 Olympic Marathon been finalised yet?
Perhaps it’s far too early to plan that. Will the runners pass this sign in about four years time?