London Marathon runners are breathing a sigh of relief as they started to cross the finishing line after completing the gruelling 26.2-mile race today.
Participants pounded through the streets of the capital this morning, with athletes and celebrities among the record 50,000 runners taking part in the world famous event.
Olympian James Cracknell and ‘Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook, who earlier this month became the first person to run the entire length of Africa, joined 20 MPs and peers – the most in the event’s history – including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan was seen embracing his daughter at the finish line, while McFly’s Harry Judd told the BBC he struggled his way to the finishing line but ‘I cannot recommend it enough, it is the most amazing experience ever’.
Kenyan Alexander Munyao, 27, won the men’s race ahead of rival and track great Kenenisa Bekele with a time of two hours and four minutes.
While in the women’s race Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchi smashed the women’s world record by 45 seconds, finishing in two hours, 16 minutes, and 16 seconds.
Miles of road closures were in place across the city with security railings lining the 26.2 mile route, with police along the roads amid the the threat of disruption from protesters.
London Marathon runners stretch out as they recover from taking part in the world famous event
Runners wrapped in foil collapse to the ground after completing the gruelling London Marathon
Runners recover at the finish line after completing the marathon
Marcus Mumford, 45, from Worcester, has run the fastest marathon while dressed as a tap, adding to his accolade of fastest marathon dressed as a toilet in 2014
People wrapped up in coats and foil blankets as they relaxed on the grass after the race
As is the annual tradition, many completed the gruelling race in costume – Pictured here is one person dressed as a telephone as he took part to raise money for Samaritans
Joel Dommett completes the London Marathon while dressed in a Masked Singer costume
London Mayor Sadiq Khan embraces his daughter at the finishing line after she completes the race
McFly’s Harry Judd said it was a struggle towards the end but ‘I cannot recommend it enough, it is the most amazing experience ever’
Chris Evans kisses wife Natasha Shishmanian after finishing the TCS London Marathon in four hours, 30 minutes and 39 seconds
Marcus Mumford, 45, from Worcester, has run the fastest marathon while dressed as a tap, adding to his accolade of fastest marathon dressed as a toilet in 2014.
‘I’m working my way around the bathroom items’, he said, adding: ‘People didn’t really know what I was. I was called a weather vane, radio station. It’s all in aid of Water Aid – a fantastic charity.’
Jono Astle, 31, from Battersea has secured the fastest marathon for someone with Multiple Sclerosis, raising more than £20,000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Mr Astle thanked the ‘amazing’ crowds and said he was buoyed by notifications coming through on his phone while running.
‘I had lots of notifications coming in throughout the race which I think is fundraising’, he said, adding: ‘My friends and family were all around the course – it was really cool, quite emotional.’
Lee Baynton, 39, from Essex, clocked the fastest ever marathon in an inflatable costume while raising money for a local hospice.
Mr Baynton has run six marathons but said this was his favourite. ‘All the kids, as soon as they see you, are smiling, high-fiving. Everyone’s cheering and chanting, it’s incredible – I should do this every year.’
Sam Hull, 44, from Bromham, ran in memory of his father, who died in August last year, raising funds for Sue Ryder in recognition of all the support his family received.
Mr Hull, who previously broke the Guinness world record for fastest marathon dressed in school uniform, this time secured the world record for fastest marathon dressed as a tennis player.
On the finish line, he told the PA news agency: ‘Sue Ryder provide care towards people’s lives, and the carers were just absolutely amazing with my dad and my family really appreciates their support.’
Mr Hull chose the tennis player record as he is a tennis coach, saying: ‘The kids are going to go mental. It’s been a lot of hard work, I’ve had so much support from the players that I work with, my friends and family – it’s been an amazing experience.’
Crowds queue at Canary Wharf station waiting to leave after the London Marathon
An exhausted looking Olympian James Cracknell holds up his medal after finishing the TCS London Marathon
Singer Tom Grennan can not contain his delight at completing the marathon as he proudly holds up his medal
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock reacts after finishing the race in three hours, 55 minutes, and 37 seconds
Elite men’s winner Alexander Mutiso Munyao of Kenya (left) and elite women’s winner Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya pose with The Chris Brasher Sporting Life Trophy
Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchi smashed the women’s world record by 45 seconds, to win in two hours, 16 minutes, and 16 seconds
Kenyan Alexander Munyao, 27, won the men’s race ahead of rival and track great Kenenisa Bekele with a time of two hours and four minutes.
A record number of runners are expected to stomp through the streets of the capital this morning as they take part in the London Marathon
Manchester United’s co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, 71, was taking part in his eighth London Marathon – just hours before the Red Devils take on Coventry City at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final
Former health secretary Matt Hancock is among those to take part in London Marathon today
The start of the men’s elite race. Pictured: Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola, Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, Ireland’s Stephen Scullion, Ethiopia’s Leul Gebresilase and Brian Shrader of the U.S.
A record 50,000 runners have taken part in the London Marathon – with celebrities and MPs joining athletes in the race across the capital
Amongst the 50,000 participants will be the ‘Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook, who earlier this month became the first person to run the entire length of Africa
Runners in fancy costumes arrive in Greenwich Park ahead of the start of the marathon
A competitor dressed as a Minion as runners leave the start of the TCS London Marathon
Those taking part will be treated to balmy weather of 12C on a dry and bright day as they take on the mammoth task
Participants arrive at Blackheath before the start of the Marathon this morning
Participants in this year’s London Marathon queue as they arrive at Blackheath Common before the race
People wave Palestinian flags as they gather at the side of the London Marathon course today
A Palestinian flag on the London Marathon route this morning
Miles of road closures were in place across the city with security railings lining the 26.2 mile route, with police along the roads amid the the threat of disruption from protesters
There was 30 seconds of applause held before the race begins in memory of last year’s elite men’s race winner Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a car accident in February at the age of 24.
He set a new London Marathon record of two hours, one minute and 25 seconds last year with his third win, and set a new world record of two hours and 35 seconds in Chicago in October.
Those taking part will be treated to balmy weather of 12C on a dry and bright day as they take on the mammoth task.
Police are on standby amid a threat of potential protests from pro-Palestine and Israel demonstrators – with bosses of the event urging them not to disrupt the Marathon and focus on ‘coexistence and togetherness’.
Previously the marathon – which is one of the largest in the world – has been threatened with protests in the past, with Just Stop Oil saying last year it would ‘never rule out anything’.
Bosses at the event say measures are in place to protect participants and prevent potential protests.
Last week London Marathon Director, Hugh Brasher, said: ‘What we’ve always tried to do is bring people together. Coexistence and togetherness is what the London Marathon is all about.
‘And we hope that message will resonate with anyone who thinks it is a good thing to disrupt the race, because it isn’t.’
All four winners of the elite races will receive £44,000, with the runner-up receiving £24,000 and third place £18,000.
David Weir, who will be racing his 25th consecutive London Marathon on Sunday and has won eight times, said he had not expected the change to happen in his lifetime.
Event director Hugh Brasher said the event will be ‘more inclusive than before’ with support for more than 200 disabled participants as well as a faith space and a quiet space for neurodivergent participants in the finish area.
There are female urinals, sanitary products available for anyone who needs them, and a family support area which includes a private breastfeeding area.
Jasmin Paris, the first woman to complete the ultra-endurance Barkley Marathons, will start the elite women’s race at 9.25am on Sunday before Dame Kelly Holmes, who won two gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, starts the elite men’s race and mass event at 10am.
