Passing under the Eye and the Needle at London 2012 Marathon

(The London Eye to the left of the lamppost - Cleopatra's Needle piercing through the trees)
16 minutes into the London 2012  Olympic Games -Women's marathon

For those of us unable to get any tickets for the London 2012 Olympics there are a few ' free events'.

One such event I witnessed in order to get a flavour of the games and the positive atmosphere in London was the Women's marathon.

Even in a torrential downpour the spectators cheered on these ladies doing the business of running 26  odd miles.

Video Clip of 3 mile point of Women's Marathon London 2012 Olympics

Drink Stations at Cleopatra's needle on Embankment
 for Women's Marathon London 2012

Well it would not be a British summer without rain!

The loneliness of the long distance runner ?
A  London 2012 marathon competitor
 running through the deluge
 on London's embankment cheered on by spectators

A steward accepts the shelter of a spectator's umbrella
during a downpour before the start of the women's marathon London 2012

The runners are coming