Gravesend choir performs at London Marathon
A Kent choir has performed running-themed songs at the London Marathon.
The Singing Striders, from Gravesend, sang their own take on popular songs including "Race it Off", based on Taylor Swift's Shake it Off, on Sunday.
They were at stationed at the third mile of the course in Woolwich, south-east London, as part of a "cheer squad" for the disability charity Scope.
The Singing Striders founder Janet Murray, who has completed the marathon three times, said the group didn't take breaks throughout an 80-minute set because runners "seemed to be enjoying it so much".
The choir's set list includes covers of 500 Miles by The Proclaimers and Don't Stop Me Now by Queen.
But lyrics are changed "so it's all about Garmins and PBs and Strava," said Ms Murray.
"I feel more exhausted than the times I ran it," she added. "We didn't have any power so we we had to play music and mic ourselves up on a street corner in Woolwich, so it was quite challenging technically."
But she said the atmosphere had been "infectious" because everyone was so excited at the event.
"It's just so much fun encouraging other people," said Ms Murray, who is also an England Athletics qualified run leader.
The idea sprang up after she decided to organise Christmas songs at a local Parkrun event.
"It just kind of snowballed from there and I thought wouldn't it be great [to] sing about running and races," she said.
While the race is not quite over, the choir is already thinking about next year's event.
"We enjoyed it so much we'd absolutely love to [do it again]," added Ms Murray.
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