It makes the people happy

Finally, SPIKES has been sent some fresh scientific (ish) evidence to suggest that athletics makes the world go round.

According to the Upbeat Barometer, a tool that measures the mood of the nation, the UK was one-third happier on the day of Sunday's 2014 London Marathon.

As the world’s best ever marathon runners were beaten by the best marathon runner ever ever Wilson Kipsang; Tirunesh Dibaba was denied a perfect day by a slippy water bottle (and the Kiplagats) – the ‘twitter happiness index’ reached 73, compared to the national average of 55.

Proof, possibly, that running makes people happy. Or that people like it when runners dress up as Freddie Mercury. 

UK-based fans can relive the magic by watching an hour-long HD highlights package on BBC iPlayer.

Happier than a Pharrell song: London Marathon fan.