And here’s Sean Ingle’s report…
Righto mates, that is us. Thanks all for your company – and stick with us for the rest of the afternoon’s action. Peace and love.
Apparently there’s a football match kicking off in an hour.
Oh hello! Adele Roberts, of the classic Big Brother 3, is playing a set. “This whole day restored my faith in humanity,” she says. “Everyone’s here for someone else.” Aw! “I’ve had a pretty rough year with cancer,” she continues, “but it’s my absolute honour to be here today.” Lovely stuff.
David Weir says the last bit of his race was the toughest he’s ever experienced. His fitness is the best it’s ever been, he says, but at 43 he can’t quite keep up anymore – though he hoped to get closer than he did, and felt better than in Berlin last week. He reckons he’ll be back next year because he loves the race and like Kipchoge, is happy it’s back in spring.
And here they are now, on the road. “The pain’s getting real,” says Mum. I’ll bet.
Much earlier, I mentioned parents who’re pushing their non-verbal son in his wheelchair – he’s had a liver transplant, from his dad. In the aftermath, once the euphoria of survival died down, his mum struggled mentally, so they took up running and this is now their 50th marathon. Oh my days, I’m in absolute awe, and as I type that, he leans over to hug his old fella. What people, people.
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Richard Whitehead, double Olympic champ in the T42 200m has, I think, eight miles to go. He holds the world record at both marathon and half for those who’ve had double amputation.
The ability to find joy and celebration in unimaginable tragedy is special. I’m an absolute mess, and there’s not a chance I’m alone.
Also going on, as we speak:
Tracey is running for Children With Cancer UK in memory of Polly, who died of Bloom syndrome, aged four. She struggles to hold it down talking about her little pal, and I’m not surprised – if that story touches you, you know what to do – she’s only got 20 miles to go, she laughs.
The human spirit: P:infinity W:infinity D:0 L0.
“Just reading in Germany your London marathon live report,” confesses Wicky Schmidt. “What does ‘have a net’ mean (the lad who tragically collapsed)?”
It’s cricket practice – you bat in a long, narrow booth thing, encased by netting, while a bowler or bowlers send down balls.
There are so many people doing so many amazing things. First, we hear from a woman running in memory of her nephew who died aged four, and a chap who’s 76 and getting it done. I’ll level with you: my eyeballs are sweating.
The Beeb are now advertising the couch to 5km app. My wife did that and loved it – hard recommend for improved physical and mental health.
We’re learning about the British Heart Foundation and Gabby notes that her own brother, Daniel, died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy when only 15.
We’re now watching VT of the family of a lad called Josh Downie, who collapsed and died out of nowhere while having a net. They’re raising money for heart disease, and I’m in bits, as I imagine everyone else watching is too. If you can toss money in, do it.
Oh man, the drone shots of London are sensational.
At the moment, he’s focused on his recovery, having won Berlin last weekend and he prefers the springtime marathon, which he thinks is better for quick times.
Eliud Kipchoge is with Gabby Logan, and reckons he can go under two hours. You need, he reckons, “all the pieces in your mind together” – sounds pretty simple – and extends his congratulations to today’s winners.
The best-placed Brits are Weynay Ghebresilasie and Philip Sesemann, both of whom recorded PBs – 2:11.57 and 2:12.10 respectively – in coming ninth and tenth. Decent effort, lads.
Elite men's top seven finishers
Amos Kipruto 2:04.39
Leul Gebresilase 2:05.12
Bashir Abdi 2:05.19
Kinde Atanaw 2:05.27
Kenenisa Bekele 2:05.53
Birhanu Legese 2:06.11
Sisay Lemma 2:07.26
Hi again. Time to enjoy some sights and sounds.
I’m going to take a quick break – I’ll be back with you shortly to chat more about what we’ve seen and to meet some of the heroes running slightly less quickly.
Amos Kipruto, though. He and Yehualaw read their races so well, striking when their competitors were unable to come back at them.
Gebresilasie takes second, Abdi third, Atanaw fourth, Bekele fifth and Legese sixth.
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Amos Kipruto of Kenya wins the elite men's race in 2:04.39!
The second he crosses the line, he looks a little tired, but at this point, who cares?
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Here comes Kipruto down Birdcage Walk and past Buckingham Palace! He waves to the crowd; he’s floating!
Behind Kipruto, Gebresilase is fighting to get back at Abdi as they chase a podium finish. But this is Amos Kipruto’s day, and like Yehualaw, he was born for this moment. It’s a beautiful one.
This has been a gorgeously-plotted race by Kipruto. He felt weakness and pounced, late enough so that the others knew they’d lost if they couldn’t respond, and none of them could.
Kipruto has run 2:03.13 this year, third-fastest in the world. But more importantly, whatever time he runs today will be the fastest in the world, and he’s extending his lead along Embankment, each stride a work of art.
Kipruto asked the question – he must back himself to maintain this pace until the line – and the others, forced to decide if they think they can or if they can only hang on and hope he can’t, all pick the latter option. Kipruto is going to bring it home for Kenya!
Talking of which, I’d love to know what these lads eat afterwards. But have a look! Kipruto stamps onto the gas! He means to win this here and now, while behind him, Abdi and Gebresilase can’t live with the pace!
Atanaw leads, but nominally so. With 5km to go, this could come down to a last 200m sprint; tasty!
Phil Sesemann is the best-placed Brit – he’s ninth, I think – while Lemma has been dropped! The winner will be one of Legese, Atanaw, Kipruto, Abdi and Gebresilase. Which of them, I’ve not a clue.
Earlier today I said that Lemma, the defending champ, looked like he was labouring. Well, he’s now in front.
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Er, Bekele seems to be closing a little.
Top eight women finishers
Yalemzerf Yehualaw 2:17:26
Joyciline Jepkosgei 2:18:07
Alemu Megertu 2:18:32
Judith Korir 2:18:43
Joan Chelimo Melly 2:19:27
Ashete Bekere 2:19:30
Mary Ngugi 2:20:22
Sutume Asefa Kebede 2:20:44
Otherwise, Abdi leads, but Lemma, Legese, Kipruto and Atanaw are there with him.
Back with the men, there’s one missing! And it’s Kenenisa Bekele! Act, I can’t say that’s not a shame, but he’s had a decent run.
Ah that’s nice: the sun’s out. Might take my top off. Not really.
Jepkosgei takes second place, Megertu third. I can’t wait to see these compete against each other over the next few years.
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Yalemzerf Yehualaw of Ethiopia wins the elite women's race!
She misses her PB but that was a spectacularly good performance, and promises extremely scary hours for the restore the next few years.
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Yehualaw – a name that, quite beautifully, means “Edge of the World” – passes Buckingham Palace and will turn onto the Mall. She’s going to win the London marathon!
Yehualaw won’t be setting a women-only world record, but her PB, 2:17.23 – set in her first marathon – is in trouble. Go on Yalemzerf!
Yeah, the move. Gebresilase has had enough of the slowing pace so hits the front as the final pacemaker bins off. His mates stick with him, but he’ll be hoping at least a couple decide they can’t take any more.
Yehualaw continues her vigil, but has slowed a little, so though she’s on for a PB, she’ll not be breaking any records. She looks so focused, no doubt focused on the next breath and the next step in a way that is totally beyond the likes of me.
The men are through 30km now, having run their slowest section so far. That tells us, I think think, that some serious moves are imminent. Left are Gebresilase, Legese, Atanaw, Kipruto, Abdi and Bekele, nary a blue Rizla between them.
The leading men are still bunched, Abdi and Kipruto leading the way behind two pacemakers. But the four men behind are only just behind and – amazingly – one of them is the absurd Kenenisa Bekele.
Yehualaw is out on her own now, using that 10,000m kick to set a pace Jepkosgei just can’t match. The question now is what time she can set– and at 23, she’s only just getting started
Back with the men, Bashir Abdi, the Somalian-born Belgian, is up with Gebresilase and Kepruto. Behind them, Bekele, Lemma and Legese are still in touch.
This is going to sound really odd so please excuse me, but Yehualaw looks at her watch with such casual disregard that I just can’t see anyone beating her. And shonuff, Jepkosgei is dropping off as I type that; this race looks over!
After a quiet 10km save her fall, Yehualaw punishes away and only Jepkosgei has the legs and head to go with her. We’re 3.1m from home, and the is going to be some finish … but Yehualaw looks easily the comfier of the two for the now.
Bekele isn’t running as well as earlier; Gebresilase still leads, but don’t rule out a late charge from Guardian Sport’s James Dart, running for Children’s Hospice South West.
Pete Aves sends in this lovely action shot.
I should note, Jepkosgei and Korir are Kenyan; Megertu and Yehualaw are Ethiopian.
Korir and Jepkosgei lead from Megertu and Yehualaw. The winner will come from these four.
The men went through halfway in 62.14, so they’re down on the speed they were expecting. But it’s Gebresilase in front as the women’s lead group drops Melly … oh and Bekere! The race is on! Kebede is in the lead group too, and Yehualaw has worked her way back.
This is Daniel back now – just in time to see Yehualaw take a trip. I don’t think anyone asks her if she enjoyed it, but it’s Jepkosgeiand Korir dictating now.
Updated
The elite men pelt across Tower Bridge, passing the 20km mark in 59:12. And with 6.1 miles to go in the elite women’s race, Joyciline Jepkosge makes her way to the front. One hour 45 gone for them – game faces affixed.
Catherine Debrunner and Marcel Hug catch their breath after making it a clean sweep for the Swiss:
Righto, I’m going to nip for a quick break – Alex Hess will chat you through the next few minutes.
Updated
London looks amazing, it really does – but it’s hard, and actually wrong to forget that the incredible buildings also reflect social cleansing.
Gebresilase now leads the men’s race and the pace, for now at least, is sub-2.05. Bekele, Legese, Abdi and Atenaw are still right there though, and this is brewing into a very serious contest.
Susannah Scaroni, who’d have wanted to get a bit closer to Debrunner, takes second in the women’s wheelchair.
Catherine Debrunner of Switzerland wins the women's wheelchair race in a new course record time!
What an effort! 1:38.25 is, I think, what she managed, and though it’s a shame that Rozario and Schar had to pull out ill, her performance was still dominant and anyone trying to keep up would’ve had a situation.
Debrunner’s been out on her own for so long, but that course record of 1:39.52 is within her grasp. Come on Catherine!
Yehualaw has also stepped up the pace; Korir, Melly, Jepkosgei, Bekere and, I think, Asefa are those still with her.
Ah, Yehualaw is now in front at 10.1m and looking like she fancies the job, while Ngugi has dropped off and is trying to fight her way back.
The men still have three pacemakers and Sisay still looks weary, while Bekele, Legese, and Gebresilase lead the group of five completed, I think, by Abdi.
The elite women are just over halfway, and there’s a group of 10 bunched up: Bekere, Asefa, Korir, Yehualaw, Melly, Jepkosgei, Megertu, Gebrekidan, Ngugi, Hosoda.
Yup, Weir finds that bit of extra gas he needs on a course he knows better than anyone else, leading Suzuki and Platt home before punching the air to celebrate his second third place in two weeks.
In the women’s race, Debrunner continues punishing the clock. She’ll win by a distance while, back to theme, the Weirwolf is in a group of three fighting for third place.
Hug will also feel he won the moral victory, doing the hard work out in front as Romanchuk took a joyride on his back wheels. A decent morning’s work, all told.
Yeah, looking again, Romanchuk was aggressive but couldn’t quite cash his chips, and Hug stuck to his line. Cram reckons his time was a course record, but we’ll wait for confirmation of that.
Marcel Hug of Switzerland wins the men's wheelchair race!
Daniel Romanchuk of USA comes second.
Hello! Romanchuk has a go, loses momentum, and Hug says no! Does he close the gap, or was there no gap?
Bekere chats to the pacemaker who, I think, has called it quits. And back with the men, Bekele leads at 10km and Legese is next, followed by Kipruto and Atanaw. Sisay Lemma, though, the defending champ, looks to be labouring a little. By his standards, I should add, not by mine.
At 20km, Kebede leads the women, followed by Bekere, Yehualaw, Megertu, Jepkosgei and Korir – but there’s nothing between them and the five behind them. The pace, though, is slowing; Paula wondered if, perhaps, Yehualaw has binned her bid for a time and is now focused solely on crossing the line first.
Updated
In the women’s, Debrunner looks for a second like she’s a puncture, but Grey-Thompson assures us that isn’t so, diagnosing a poor corner. The course record is still in jeopardy too.
Hug, the defending champ, and Romanchuk, the Paralympic champ, still lead the way in the men’s wheelchair after 30km. Romanchuk is right on Hug's wheel, which isn’t really etiquette – if you’re that close, you’re meant to attack – but sport is nails and so are these lads.
The great Bekele still leads the elite men, of course he does. Behind him sit Gebresilase and Legese, but we’re only at 7km or so, so let’s see how it proceeds from here. Kenenisa Bekele, though.
The bobbing of heads is properly hypnotic, and we cut to a mum and dad who’ve done 50-odd marathons but never London, pushing their lad in a wheelchair – the first time that’s been allowed on the circuit. I’m gone again. People are amazing, people.
Debrunner now leads the women’s wheelchair by a minute or so. She’s at course record pace too, so that’s one to keep an eye on; likewise the battle between Hug and Romanchuk, who are close together and miles in front of everyone else, the gap in the region of three minutes.
Updated
Yehualaw hands her pacemaker a bevvy, because she wants her to stick around for as long as possible. Her stride is just so easy, and I’d not be surprised were she to make a break at some point in the not too distant future.
Yehualaw still leads the elite women’s race at roughy 15km – Bekere is second – and looks extremely relaxed. Her pacemaker is the only one left.
I do love the pacemakers’ gear this term, a pink vest with a thick yellow diagonal. Currently, they’re warning those behind them of speed humps coming up.
There are just so many stories in amongst all the colours and faces bobbing up and down. In the elite men’s there are three pacemakers getting things going – one of whom was there to work specifically with the absent Mo Farah. Ah well. But, in the meantime, Bekele is the only runner looking interested in sticking with the lads up front.
In the men’s wheelchair race, Hug still leads Yaremchuk, while in the women’s elite, Yehualaw now leads Bekere at 10km. But we’re just window dressing at this point – there’s much, much more suffering to be done before we get a strong idea of who’s going to do what.
The swarms of people having at it is actually quite moving. Gwan the human race!
Righto, and off we go!
Anthem time…
Oh, it’s so good to see Scott, Williamson and White involved. They’ll be starting the elite men’s race – and the main bundle – in a few minutes.
Pete Aves has sent us a video of the first two athletes at Cutty Sark – thanks Pete – which I’ve spent the last few minutes trying to upload, following the crashing of my computer. Without success. More news as I get it.
Yehualaw and Joan Chelimo Melly lead the women’s race – well, behind the two principal pacemakers.
Hug continues working Romanchuk, 18.50 through 10km. That’s swift, that is, is that, but the chasing pack aren’t too far behind and Weir is ensconced there.
In the women’s race, there’s a cluster out in front with the three requested pacesetters in amongst them.
Hug is doing his best to shake Daniel Romanchuk – without any luck so far – while, in the women’s wheelchair race, Catherine Debrunner is away from the field.
London, what a city. When I was a kid, my mum used to bang on about this a lot, but I wasn’t arsed because though I was from there, it didn’t feel part of my identity because my football team were from Manchester. As a teen, though, I revised that opinion once I started bowling about on my bill, and as an adult I absolutely love it. There are few better places in the world to enjoy doing nowt.
The forecast rain is holding off, for now at least. It looks a pretty decent day for sport.
Off go the elite women!
Paula Radcliffe fancies Bashir Abdi and Sisay Lemma in the men’s race. I wonder who the latter’s favourite poet is.
"How do you do it?" said night
— lemn sissay OBE FRSL (@lemnsissay) April 21, 2019
"How do you wake and shine?"
"I keep it simple." said light
"One day at a time" pic.twitter.com/9gAgFVvg0S
Men and women are on opposite sides of the road to avoid them getting in each other’s way, while in the men’s race, Marcel Hug, whom you may recall from various Paralympics and marathon successes – Berlin, (2011, 2012, 2021), New York City (2013, 2016, 2017, 2021), London (2014, 2016), Chicago (2016), and Boston (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021) – strikes out in front.
In comms, Steve Cram and Tanni Grey-Thompson discuss the much-improved prize money on offer, now close to that being received by able-bodied athletes. Great stuff
Jill Scott, Leah Williamson and Ellen White get our wheelchair athletes away!
Sake.
Charlotte Purdue has withdrawn from today's TCS London Marathon due to illness. The 31-year-old was No.1 British hope in the women's elite race but has felt sick since Friday night.
— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 2, 2022
Madison de Rozario and Manuela Schär also out of the wheelchair race. #LondonMarathon pic.twitter.com/7kBmQHee5z
Updated
Ah, BBC are showing us VT of the Weirwolf. What an inspiration he is. Oh, and I’ve just learnt he’s 43, which I may or may not also be. For avoidance of doubt, I have neither run 23 straight races nor won eight of them.
Updated
So we’re six minutes away from the start and in that first group will be David Weir, competing in his 23rd consecutive London Marathon. That is astounding behaviour, and has yielded eight victories – more than anyone else – and I’m certain he’ll be gunning to make it nine today.
Timings
Men and women elite wheelchair races: 8.50am
Elite women’s race: 9am
Elite men’s race and mass start: 9.40am
Gabby Logan has just interviewed a chap by the name of Andy Farrer, whose girlfriend killed herself six years ago. He took up extreme ironing and now runs with a board to inspire questions and get people talking about mental health; he also has the teddy she was holding when she died, noting that he’d die for it. I am gone.
No doubt loads of you have run the marathon before – do send in your anecdotes to share with the group. I went to see someone once, he was injured, in agony, and in his headphones and sunglasses had not a clue we were there. Apologies, the film rights have already been optioned.
A bit more on Bekele.
My outside bet to win: my editor and Guardian Sport legend, James Dart. Should circumstances conspire against him, though, he’ll still be raising money for Children’s Hospice South West. You know what to do.
Preamble
Morning all! Anyone for 26 miles 385 yards? No? Good. Luckily for us, though, some hardy folk are into precisely that, prostrating their pain for our entertainment lest we pass an hour or two of weekend with no live sport. Off they go, so off we go.
Sadly, any preview of the men’s competition begins with who’s not here: well, sort of. Eliud Kipchoge, who broke the world record last week in Berlin, isn’t racing, which isn’t ideal, but is handing out mini-marathon medals, which is great. And maybe his lack of running will turn out to be a good thing, because this might just be the last time we see the great Kenenisa Bekele run. It seems unlikely he’ll trouble the podium, but with a genius of his aspect, well, who knows.
Meantime, the women’s marathon will be a belter. We’ve seven competitors with lifetime bests under 2 hours and 19 minutes, and Joyciline Jepkosgei, last term’s champion is favourite. But Yalemzerf Yehualaw, Ashete Bekere and Judith Korir can also do absolutely ludicrous stuff beyond all of our comprehensions, so let’s see how that one goes too.
Start: 8.30am BST
