On 29 March 1981, just over 7,000 – mostly male – runners set off on the 26.2-mile route from Greenwich Park to Constitution Hill. See how the Guardian reported events On 29 March 1981, just over 7,000 – mostly male – runners set off on the 26.2-mile route from Greenwich Park to Constitution Hill. See how the Guardian reported events By John Ezard 30 March 1981 Inge Simonsen, a 27-year-old Norwegian, “officially” won the first London marathon in 2 hours 11 minutes 48 seconds yesterday, the