Bonus: The Sweat Shop In Teddington

·28 min·2 clips

Chris Brasher reveals how 93,000 applicants overwhelmed the London Marathon's capacity, forcing a last-minute expansion.

This bonus episode from The Streak Triathlon Podcast, hosted by Ross, is a nostalgic reflection on the London Marathon's history and a legendary running shop. Ross connects the 2025 race to his personal history with the event, beginning with the 1982 edition. The episode details the overwhelming 93,000 applications for the 1982 London Marathon, which was capped at 18,060 runners. It recounts host Ross's own marathon experience in 1996, where he ran in a modified Reading FC kit and finished in 3:01 despite severe blisters. The narrative then shifts to Chris Brasher, the London Marathon co-founder famous for pacing Roger Bannister's sub-four-minute mile. Brasher's career included winning an Olympic steeplechase gold in 1956 and working as a sports reporter, where covering the 1960 Rome Marathon inspired him. He and fellow athlete John Disley helped establish orienteering in Britain through events starting in 1964 and the founding of the British Orienteering Federation in 1967. Their 1979 trip to the New York Marathon, organized after hearing tales from the Ranelagh Harriers club, directly motivated them to create the London Marathon. A key insight is that Brasher's venture, The Sweatshop, originated in 1971 from selling orienteering gear out of his car boot before becoming a brick-and-mortar store in Teddington. The shop briefly rebranded as "Christopher Brasher's Sporting Emporium" in 1978 before reverting to its original name. For Ross, visiting the shop in the 1980s was a sensory experience of new shoe smells, specialist magazines, and books like the *Guinness Book of the Marathon*. The shop was also a hub where international runners like Zola Budd or Sonia O'Sullivan might be seen, and its manager, Grenville Tuck, famously paced Hugh Jones to win the 1982 London Marathon. Ross notes the shop's decline after expansion, a 2014 sale to Sports Direct, and its eventual closure, contrasting it with a cherished local shop, Apex Sports. The tone is personal and anecdotal, blending historical research with the host's vivid memories and affection for running culture. The style is educational yet conversational, weaving together biography, event history, and personal memoir. This episode will deeply appeal to running history enthusiasts and fans of the London Marathon's early days. Listeners nostalgic for 1980s running culture or specialist retail experiences will also find it engaging. Those seeking current triathlon analysis or strictly training-focused content might choose to skip it.

As heard by us

A marathon story that opens into British running history.

The episode opens with the 1982 Gillette London Marathon and its huge entry, then moves back through the running circle around John Disley and Chris Brasher.

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Why you'd press play

The 1982 London Marathon, where 93,000 people wanted in and 18,060 made the start.

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