Bonus: The Sweat Shop In Teddington

26 Apr

Written By Ross

In 1971, Chris Brasher, Olympic Gold medallist, 4 minute mile pacer and future co-founder of the London Marathon, was heavily involved in the developing sport of orienteering. Realising that British orienteers were finding it hard to get hold of the specialist equipment. Like off-road running shoes and compasses. Chris started sourcing, importing and selling the stuff out of his car boot at events. This is the birth of The Sweat Shop.

Later in the 1970s a brick and mortar store was established in Teddington. And other forms of running were catered for. Not just orienteering. The shop I started visiting in the mid-1980s was at 10 The Causeway, Teddington. In 1987 they moved into larger premises just 200m away at 33 Broad Street.

As a teenage runner, a trip to The Sweat Shop was always a special day out. With pocket, birthday and Christmas money saved up. And short and long lists of possible purchases carefully curated.

Join me the day before the 2025 London Marathon to learn more about The Sweatshop. With relevant and random tangents into my history with the shop and the London Marathon.