London Marathon: How technology is making the race entirely different from its ancient beginnings

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. At the men’s press conference for this weekend’s running of the London Marathon, Olympian Chris Thompson was asked what advice he would give to those who are taking on the distance for the first time – which includes Emile Cairess, the young and up-and-coming runner who was sitting alongside him. And I think you’re part of a generation where almost what I learnt becomes irrelevant – because you can do so much more.” open image in gallery Thompson made his marathon debut in 2014. Diana is a futurist at Tata Consultancy Services – the London Marathon’s title sponsor – and says that the event his company helps put on is heading for even more profound changes. Nike’s new Alphafly shoes – which were used by Eliud Kipchoge to run his sub-two-hour marathon in 2019 – keep that same heel height but also add other helpful innovations, such as air pods in the front of the shoe to return even more energy.