Bryant marks marathon man in London (From Kingston Guardian)

Bryant marks marathon man in London

11:28am Friday 27th April 2012 in Other Sport

Kingston resident John Bryant celebrated the release of his biography of Chris Brasher – the founder of the London marathon – by completing Sunday’s 32nd marathon in five hours, 58 minutes and 48 seconds.

Bryant’s book gives an insight into the life of the former Ranelagh Harrier, who helped Sir Roger Bannister break the four-minute mile in 1954 and unexpectedly won the Olympic steeplechase title in Melbourne two years later.

Brasher was also a sports journalist and in his later years a successful racehorse owner.

But his lasting legacy is the London marathon, dreamed up over a pint at Ranelagh’s headquarters in the Dysart Arms in Petersham.

Bryant, 67, has battled back from a broken leg to run 30 of the 32 races since its inception.

The book, with a foreward from Bannister, is published by Arum Press and costs £20.