Chris Brasher: The Man Who Made the London Marathon

by John Bryant

One of the most remarkable – and controversial – figures sporting figures in British history, Chris Brasher piled unique achievement on unique achievement. It was Chris Brasher who, along with Chris Chataway, paced Roger Bannister to break the 4-minute mile. Then he won his own Olympic Gold Medal in the steeplechase at the 1956 Olympics. Probably best known now for founding the London Marathon, Chris went on to become one of the founders of the modern sports of fell-running and orienteering. At the Observer, he also effectively invented modern sports feature writing. Plus, he also invented the now-ubiquitous Brasher walking boot, with the revolutionary aim of making heavy boots as comfortable as training shoes. Along the way he built up a highly successful sportswear chain, and even, in later life a stable of racehorses. But Chris Brasher was also a highly controversial irascible, domineering – a good friend but a bad enemy – and above all a hugely competitive man who had to win in everything he did. Now, John Bryant, who knew Brasher well as a friend, has written the extraordinary story of this impossible and amazing man’s life. Whether you’re a sports journalist, a Lakeland fell-runner, a weekend rambler or one of the 50,000 competitors in the London Marathon, Chris Brasher changed your life.

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

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Reviews

[Steve Chilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Brasher had many parts that made up his persona that many will know,from his role in pacing the sub-four minute mile, to the creation The London Marathon, but there were lots of other aspects to this complicated man. The author manages to also show the full range of this difficult individual's achievements. He seems a man who must have been hard to work with at times. A good and interesting read about someone whom I know admire even more and like perhaps even less than I did.