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| | Friday, 5 April, 2002, 12:41 GMT 13:41 UK Stars set to sweat Olympic hero Sir Steven Redgrave ran last year's race BBC Sport Online's Mike Burnett checks out the famous faces in this year's line-up for the Flora London Marathon. Star spotting at the London Marathon can be an eye-opening, if not disturbing, experience. Celebrities may seem to live in a showbiz world of TV award ceremonies and late night parties, but for one day of the year, they come frighteningly down to earth. The marathon is one of the great equalisers in life and the gruelling 26.2-mile slog through the winding streets of London soon shows that no-one is special. Hobbling along in the sweat-drenched shorts and blood-stained running shoes, it is hard to tell a famous face from thousands of ordinary people taking on the challenge.
Despite the almost certain promise of pain and blisters, the stars are once again out in force for the big event on 14 April. The rewards for their efforts will be the predictable after-marathon aches, the knowledge that they have completed one of the toughest endurance events in sport and, most importantly, a big fat cheque for charity. Among the famous faces donning the running shoes at this year's event is British actress Brenda Blethyn, who has starred in hit movies Little Voice and Saving Grace. Staff in the restaurant of top chef Gordon Ramsey will be breathing a sigh of relief as their tough task-master takes a day off to run in the big race. Charlie Dimmock, earthy presenter of TV show Ground Force, also joins the ranks, swapping her wellies for a sports bra. Elsewhere Pop Idol wannabes will have the pleasure of watching British DJ Dr Fox squirm for a change as the star-maker leaves the comfort of his studio for the streets of London. Fans of rock band Radiohead might be advised to keep an eye out for drummer Phil Selway doing his bit for The Samaritans. A runner familiar to watchers of American TV hospital drama ER is Grammy-winning actress Juliana Marguiles, doing the honours for the British Lung Foundation. Of course, there is no shortage of soap stars too, with all the main shows represented.
Boxing's Frank Bruno and Derby boss John Gregory return to the starting line-up. Former rugby union star Francois Pienaar, who lifted the World Cup with South Africa in 1995, takes on the challenge, along with Scotland international and British Lions hero Gavin Hastings. These sporting stars may have reached their tops of their own professions. But that is no guarantee of success in the marathon, as five-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Steven Redgrave found out last year when he crossed the finish line with wife Anne in just under five hours. Other former Olympians have fared better over the years - Steve Cram topping the list with a lightning 2:35:44, followed by Seb Coe and Roger Black. Whatever their final times though, this is one day that the celebrities are just one of the masses, producing the same sweat and tears as everyone else. | |
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