In this environment, shorter and faster versions of sporting disciplines have become far more prevalent. How will young people be able to concentrate throughout the duration of a five-day cricket test match, for instance? The shorter form of the game, Twenty20 is naturally viewed as having been aimed at youth and has proved widely popular.

While these short formats are welcomed, there is a certain attraction to the drama of a longer, more drawn out saga. One which can equally hold the public’s attention.

The marathon has to be considered one of these events, with the longest running event of the Olympic programme having consistently provided drama and entertainment. Today’s London Marathon was another clear example, with enthralling stories for those in attendance and watching on television to follow.

Understandably Mary Keitany’s women’s only world record today will garner the focus of the attention, rightfully so. Right from the early stages the race would have had many people sat in their seats, glued to the screen. The vast majority would have had the same reaction, that Keitany had started at an unsustainable, crazy pace.

The attraction, though, was finding out whether you were right in your assumption that she would blow up towards the finish. With the Kenyan having been over a minute ahead of Paula Radcliffe’s absolute world record at the halfway mark, it would certainly seem to have been the case. As it proved, Keitany’s pace slowed, running the second half of the race in 1 hour 10min 07sec, compared to her halfway split of 1:06:54.

Watching the outstanding performance, which saw Keitany achieve the women’s only mark of 2:17.01 and achieve the second fastest time in history, was gripping. The will she, won’t she story for much of the race ensured you watched on and ultimately held attentions over two hours of running.

The men’s race provided a completely different race in many ways. Without a sole leader for so long and no world record in sight. Yet, equally interesting.

The sight of Kenenisa Bekele, arguably the biggest draw in the men’s race, slipping off the back of the leading group early on raised eyebrows. Again, the thought from the viewer would likely have been that the triple Olympic champion on the track and the world 5,000 and 10,000 metres record holder stood no chance of victory.

Instead, the Ethiopian great found himself heading into the closing stages of the race edging closer and closer to the leader Daniel Wanjiru. For sporting fans, it would have been hard not to have had your attention piqued by the situation.

Watching Bekele’s frame in the back of the television shot, like a shadow following Wanjiru, added to the intrigue.

While Bekele would ultimately fall short of winning the London Marathon for the first time, his efforts enlivened the event.

Sport thrives on its will they, won’t they stories. Arguably the marathon distance provides one of the best examples of this. People still tune into watch on television in their thousands in Britain, whenever the London Marathon comes around. Fans will still tune in to watch cycling’s Milan – San Remo, despite the likelihood that it will end with a sprint finish after hundreds of kilometres.

With more and more sports having become focused on providing shorter formats to entice viewers, it perhaps makes the appeal of a more drawn out affair even greater.

Granted, endurance competitions have faced problems with their integrity in recent years, with doping cases and concerns having never been too far away. Despite all this there remains an appetite for people to continue to watch, even if many are die-hard fans of the sport rather than the occasional viewer.

In some ways, both athletics and cycling also benefit from being able to get the public involved with mass start events taking place. The vast majority of people attending today’s race, will have turned up to either compete or support friends and family members who are among the 40,000 people taking part. Watching or running at the same time as the elite athletes will act as a bonus.

There will undoubtedly be reaction to the scene broadcast on television of club runner Matthew Rees drawing to a halt in finishing straight to support a fellow runner, who was staggering, painfully towards the finish.

Sacrificing his own time to put his arm around a stranger and providing aid was a touching gesture, with a press centre colleague dubbing it as amateur version of Alistair Brownlee helping his brother Jonathan at the World Series Triathlon last year.

While sport has increasingly attracted the wrong headlines at elite level, there are countless positive stories lurking in the amateur level. Whether this comes in terms of raising money for charity, which many thousands of runners will have done today, to simply raising awareness for good causes it is clear that events like the London Marathon are hugely worthwhile.

For instance, this year’s event has seen the organisers support the Heads Together charity to raise awareness around mental health. I struggle to think of a week where I have seen the issue have so much public prominence and that is due to the marathon.

It is another case in which sport can be a power for good.