After what seems to be a very successful, albeit hot, marathon, it is time to say goodbye.
Congratulations to all those who took part in the sweltering conditions!
Updated
It was very hot, as Nicola Slawson reports.
Our very own Owen Gibson ran the marathon.
What a brilliant event the London marathon is: the stories, the crowds, the personal feats. Brutally hot out there today but (mostly) great fun all the same. Thanks so much to everyone who sponsored me and helped raise almost £1,700 for a great cause in @centrepointuk
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) April 22, 2018
A marathon on stilts? Fair play.
With a great view down on the #LondonMarathon, @rainbowdave has just bettered the record for the fastest marathon on stilts for the second time. Michelle bounded over the #LondonMarathon finish line in 6:37:38 pic.twitter.com/Ehny0RD3Jf
— GuinnessWorldRecords (@GWR) April 22, 2018
On a hot day, it was no surprise that a number of people out on the course needed some help. Determined to get to the line, they required assistance to complete the marathon at the end.
The crowds have certainly done their bit to keep the runners going in tough conditions, that’s for sure. It was a lovely day for those walking around London to enjoy a few hours cheering on those going slightly quicker.
"It was tough, but the crowds were awesome!"
— London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 22, 2018
Ieuan loved his first #LondonMarathon experience.
👋😃🏅👍#SpiritofLondon pic.twitter.com/rxcuApo66S
Kathrine Switzer, who made global headlines after officials attempted to stop her running the then all-male Boston marathon in 1967, finished in under five hours, aged 71.
I feel like I’m 25, I feel no different when I’m running than I did then - I’m just slower.
There are thousands of women out there whose lives have been so enhanced and empowered from running.
Imagine what that could do to the Middle East or North Africa, for example, it’s fantastic.
100 years ago Suffragettes were marching on these streets, can you imagine a better tribute than thousands of women running today... in celebration of their accomplishments and the sense of equality that running gives us all? It’s very moving.
It really is the race that has everything...
Went to watch London Marathon and in absolute awe at the sheer volume of Strongbow Dark Fruit being put away by the spectators
— Ben Machell (@ben_machell) April 22, 2018
Right then, party people, that’s me - Will Unwin will be along to keep you updated on Kev, Stu, San and the rest.
Finished, in probably a personal worst time. Left leg felt like it was in a caliper for about 18 miles, and I’ve ended up run/walking most of it (target was 4hrs - I’ve only just dipped under 5:15. But #londonmarathon absolutely lives up to the hype - never seen support like it
— stuart goodwin (@stuartgoodwin) April 22, 2018
Katie Price, who was apparently dressed as a lung, seems to have called it quits...
Tezza has just finished, by the way, in 5.20:07. Patrons of Viz will know why I’m chuckling to myself.
Updated
I’ve never once been tempted to do the marathon. Not that I don’t respect the effort, I do, but everyone gets to the end. But something that I guess is always so but has really struck me today is how much fun everyone’s having, and who can say there’s enough of that in their life?
Do you respect
wood
funk?
.@gillespeterson has crossed the finish line and is headed to Brownwood Rd to go live on the radio for the @SteveReidFNDN please support by picking a jazz record for him to play on the show! Donate here https://t.co/pilPBsqELs #LondonMarathon CC @DanielHarris
— Brownswood (@brownswood) April 22, 2018
A man in blonde wig and crop-top has just finished. One thing I don’t get, though: the time, 5.15:01 - that might be when the gun went, but what if you’re 50 people deep?
Owen Gibson, former Guardian head of sport, now head of national news, is out there this afternoon. He’s running for Centrepoint, to help the country’s young homeless which, I’m certain you’ll know, is terrfiying and a disgrace. You know you wanna.
Let’s have another London record.
BREAKING: Neil and Kevin have just finished.
So far, things seem to be going pretty well in terms of the health of our competitors. Let’s hope that continues.
BBC’s coverage is now done, finish-line cameras aside.
We now see a shot of a woman dressed a turd, also engaged in a record attempt. Dedication, ooooh dedication.
Fiona Cotter is the fastest lady in an animal costume, dressed as a dog. She’s running for Hearing Dogs for Deaf, the charity of the school at which she works.
John is 87, and the oldest man competing today. He’s running for Age UK, and looks pretty calm with it all.
A man dressed as a tree is walking slowly. Colin Jackson is interviewing a lady running for Clic Sergeant, who wants to win the fastest fariytale finisher. I’m afraid I’m not sure who she’s meant to be.
We see a lot of very happy people. I reckon they might have some fun tonight.
Many journalists keep their old media passes. This absolute legend wears all of them at once. pic.twitter.com/RLeKubsRGh
— Joshua Robinson (@JoshRobinson23) April 22, 2018
We’re hearing from Sue, who’s suffering from vascular dementia. She tells us that she doesn’t like running, but that it makes her feel better; her mission is to educate people that you can still live a good life despite the illness. She’s one of 300 running for Alzheimer’s research, but is the only one suffering and hopes there’ll be more in the future.
Updated
Chelsea and Southampton kick-off in 54 minutes, the winners to meet Manchester United in the FA Cup final. Rob Smyth has all the news on that.
There are two men in a batmobile, dressed as Batman and Robin. And oh look, there’s a man who reckons he’s dressed as Big Ben, not knowing that’s actually the bell not the tower. But no one asks him to give an interview and I simply can’t believe he’s been silenced in this way, Brexit means Brexit.
How I’m going to spend tomorrow:
These aerial shots of London are amazing. I wish we had authorities able to look after the people who make it actually amazing.
We’re now seeing an insert about Stephen’s team, running in memory of Stephen Lawrence who was murdered 25 years ago today. Doreen Lawrence is one of the heroes of our time.
Here’s one: Radcliffe says she’s relieved to still have her record. I dunno, and wonder if she’d feel that way if she’d won Olympic golds. Don’t athletes quite like it when their sport moves on? Remember Ian Botham when James Anderson beat his record of most wickets for England? Michael Johnson when Wayde van Niekerk beat his 400m mark?
As far as I can see, those times are almost identical to the ones I entered earlier; I don’t know.
Technical error: the given times for the leading men were quicker than first advertised.
Kipchoge finished in 2.04:17 and Farah in 2.06:21.
Paula Radcliffe is back and has, you’ll be relieved to know, really enjoyed her day. She reckons both elite races were good, which they were.
Elsewhere, Arsenal and West Ham are drawing 0-0 - Jacob Steinberg has the latest. Wenger out!
@DanielHarris lovely day for spectators but tough going for the performers, volunteers and of course the runners! #LondonMarathon pic.twitter.com/MIwdtuJqa2
— Guru Singh (@doctorguruji) April 22, 2018
And livebloggers. Won’t someone please think of the livebloggers.
The Paddington lot are in their work gear. “We were advised to take it off after a mile but we felt very strongly that we should keep it on.” It’s pretty moving hearing them speak.
The North Ken firemen have paused to give an interview. They’re running for Kids on the Green, and have a big green hat made for them by those kids which they’re taking it in turns to wear.
Updated
This is how badly my race is going - people with white goods on their back are beating me #londonmarathon pic.twitter.com/dHm4B3OcVH
— stuart goodwin (@stuartgoodwin) April 22, 2018
As we saw much earlier, the Grenfell fire brigade heroes are running to raise money for those who were affected. Absolute legends.
Some running club types are singing Here Comes The Sun, and have a guitar. Colin Jackson is interviewing someone dressed as something who was going for some kind of record. He’s running for Dimbleby Cancer Care.
NEWSFLASH: it’s still hot.
Updated
Callum Hawkins is here, and he’s in good nick it’s good to see. He stayed a few extra days in Australia, and says he’d been feeling fine until then and remembers his legs going to jelly but not everything thereafter.
Watch Vivian Cheruiyot win the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon!
— London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 22, 2018
What a performance.
Watch now on @bbcone and @bbcsport online.#LondonMarathon #SpiritofLondon pic.twitter.com/v49GeJpNM9
Thanks Will and hello again. We’ve just seen a man dressed Darth Vader – at least I think it was a man dressed as Darth Vader – with speakers strapped to him playing dark side tunes.
Your man Daniel Harris is thoroughly refreshed so will keep you updated on runners being very warm. Cheers
Colin Jackson is VERY excited about drumming. Now lots of sponsored people are hitting drums with minimal rhythm. That will get the runners energised.
The Spirit of London award winners are being interviewed about running at a similar pace. Was a tough old race again but both went over the line unaided today.
A few struggling down The Mall now. But plenty of people celebrating their success as they cross the line here. Lots of folk coming through now.
The winners are being taken away, too, allowing them to enjoy their celebrations.
Plenty of people crossing the line now, with no shortage of them looking a touch woozy as they complete their race after three hours in the sun. The medical staff on hand might have a lot of work to do making sure everyone gets everything they need to recuperate from such a gruelling experience.
Rob Pope sounds like a very northern Forrest Gump. He is running 15,550 miles to replicate the route in the film. What an impressive man, but he must be very sweaty with that hair and beard.
Katie on screen is admitting how tough it is out there due to the unexpected heat in London today. There will be plenty more of those complaints today.
We’re on to the more weepy stories now of those who have come through adversity to run in the marathon. Might be a tough hour or so for those inclined to cry at sad stories. Luckily, I have blocked tear ducts, so I will be fine. But we can all safely get through this together with a box of tissues, cup of tea and a chocolate digestive.
A man dressed as Forrest Gump in the running phase of the film crosses the line. Rob Pope has gone over the finishing line in two hours 36 minutes. He is aiming to run across America five times, which seems excessive.
Report in from home...my significant other reports that she can hear the whooping and cheering on the streets. It’s that level of encouragement which sweeps people along the streets in those tough, painful times when trying to complete 26.2miles.
Now we’re onto the inspirational stories of those raising money which is a nice change of pace, mixed with some shots of monuments and clear, blue skies.
Shiny Happy People is playing on this montage where very few of those involved look content with the situation they have chosen to be in. Might need an alternative soundtrack relating to the heat.
Now the TV director is moving around the course to see who is the unhappiest looking runner on the course. Plenty of people, unsurprisingly, fighting through the pain barrier as they attempt to get through a sweltering day. No shortage of face grimacing going on.
Very much the hottest marathon on record in London, which will be making things a little bit tougher for all those pounding the capital’s streets. Hopefully they are all keeping thoroughly hydrated as they sweat through a bear suit.
Here’s the early report on the action from the elite races.
On the upside, Farah says he enjoyed it and gave 110 per cent, even though that’s impossible. Now he is off to see his kids, which is nice for him.
Mo Farah looks ruined. He can barely talk as he tries to admit he could not cope with the pace of the frontrunners. Farah could not fathom the drink stations, which caused a few issues early on.
We can expect a lot of shots of Tower Bridge today. I walked under it about two hours ago and there was plenty of whooping at that time and the crowds will only have grown in the meantime.
Weir says his endurance and speed are getting better as he gets old, which is not something many can say. Can he make it to 10 triumphs in London?
David Weir is talking about his eighth London Marathon triumph. He has endured some tough times but what a fantastic achievement by a supreme athlete.
Right...now that the elite is done, we can move on to see which fitness fanatic dressed as an animal finishes first.
There were some cracking runs in the women’s and men’s races but the fun bit of the marathon is here for us all to enjoy. Soon we will we will get some great chat from minor celebrities crossing Tower Bridge or similar.
Right, I’m going to break to take on some fluids – Will Unwin will guide youse through the next hour.
Bekele has finished, but was never in touch.
Mo Farah breaks the British record and finishes third!
Mo Farah punishes around the bend, but this has been a great run. He finishes his third marathon in 2.06:22ish.
Kitata takes second.
The great Eliud Kipchoge wins the men's race for the third time!
He joins Dionicio Ceron and Martin Lel as a three-time champion, the most by anyone! His time was about 2.04:15, well outside the world record of 2:02:57 but that was an absolutely awesome run nonetheless.
Updated
Here comes yer man around the bend! He has taken this race apart!
Just what you need: the feed is jumping. But it can’t detract from the brilliance of what Kipchoge is up to. He is buzzing.
My guess is not, and I doubt we’ll see a record either, but at least he’s been praised by Rob Walker for drinking at the right time, a rare privilge.
Kitata is in all sorts ... can Farah rack him up?
Read more about a belting women’s race...
Kipchoge is smiling. He’s finding this really easy and having lots of fun, the massive nutter.
Kipchoge is alone with the Thames to his left and, I wonder, might the world record be on? My guess is he’ll be just outside, but he’ll join the greats of the game if he can rack up his third win - no man has won more, but Ingrid Kristensen did four.
We are still with Farah. Ridiculous.
Farah is suffering but holding it down.
Just like that!
Kipchoge goes! Kitata can’t respond!
Updated
3.3 miles to go, and there’s a difference in gait here. Kipchoge is tall and grinning, “a little trail of snot from both nostrils” - thanks, Rob. Kitata of Ethiopia has arms all over the show, head bobbing, shoulders wobbling - but there he is! He’s 21.
I wish we could forget Farah and just watch the leaders now. I mean, seriously.
Farah is still looking pretty strong as he now climbs what is a minor incline but must look like a travelator. On which point, if someone, anyone, has Harvey from So Solid taking on that beast, and cap furnish me with it, I’ll be your best friend.
Kipchoge is so smooth as they ease up the hill, but Kitata is still over his shoulder.
Kirui is 28 seconds behind Farah, who is about 40 seconds off the leaders. This could be an amazing finish.
The word record is 2.02:57, set in Berlin by Dennis Kimetto of Kenya. The leaders about just about in touch with that.
I wish I didn’t have to do this, but I do.
Kitata is still with Kipchoge with five miles to go, while Farah is well inside his PB and the European record, never mind the British one.
Keitany finishes in 2.24:28ish. She clutches her hip, and is quite tired.
And here comes Mark Keitany, good on her. She went for history and it got big on her, but she didn’t stop and held it down. Cherono is on her tail, taker her out, and will take fourth ... Keitany briefly rallies, but has nowt left.
Brigid Kosgei, who also didn’t go hard at the start, finishes second, also setting a PB. Bekele, just coming around the final bend, is also on for one and also looks to have plenty left.
Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya wins the women's marathon!
She legs it down the last bit, and is now the fourth-fastest women in history! She had plenty left there, and has a better time in her, that’s for sure. She raises her arms but then starts coughing; she’s good.
2:15:25, Paula Radcliffe’s record is already safe and then some, as Cheruiyot paces down the Mall.
Dibaba is still jogging, but dropping.
Cheruiyot is still pumping, looking set for around 2.18 which would be a personal best by five minutes; she leads by a minute twenty or so. Keitany is now fourth.
Alberto Suárez Laso wins the men's visually impaired race!
Laso of Spain avenges his Paralympic defeat, gassing away from Chentouf down the Mall to win.
In the men’s it’s Kipchoge and Kitata well clear now. The former is piling it on, stoking and stoking, enjoying the frankly unfathomable pain he’s experiencing and inflicting.
Cheruiyot is gritting her teeth and plodding through. She’s really close here, but is having the inverse of fun.
Kipchoge has surged so Farah has dropped and is dropping, but Kitata is haning on.
Cheruiyot has a look behind, but there’s nowt to be seen! She’s on her bill, and is easing to victory. She won the 5000m in Rio and got silver in the 10; she’s not as great a mover as Keitany, but she’s assessed things very nicely here.
Karoki is is just behind the leaders, but Wanjiru, last year’s winner, has also gone.
The pace has slowed, it seems, which might explain Farah’s progress, but Kirui and Bekele have lost touch!
Updated
Kipchoge still leads the men, but Farah is now alongside! Kitata is with them too, and they’re maybe 10m ahead of the next few.
Cheruiyot bouts past Keitany! She takes her out easily, and there’s no effort at a fightback, Keitany diddled herself going for the record, and is beaten!
Keitany is at 1.54:36 at 35km ... and Cheruiyot and 12 seconds behind, with 25 minutes’ worth of running left! Is she now the favourite?! If Keitany doesn’t have anything left, she might not even get second.
We’re back to hang with Keitany, while behind her, Vivian Cheruiyot, a great of the track, is starting to catch her up!
Kipchoge is making damn sure to stay on the blue line so he doesn’t have to run a single unnecessary step - he seems to have told the pacemaker to chill. The leading group is now strung out, with Farah at the rear.
Kipchoge at 1.01:00 at halfway. The record is 2.02:57, so even allowing for some downhill at the start, this is looking very smart indeed.
Has Mo lost his bottle? He gets to a water station but it's not where he thought it would be. The four-time Olympic champion eventually grabs a drink and gets back to business, but he's not happy.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 22, 2018
Live 💻 https://t.co/2xqdN8LXsE
📺 BBC One#LondonMarathon #GetInspired pic.twitter.com/ksGdCfrPfw
The leading men whizz across Tower Bridge, Tower of London to their left. There are eight of them I think, Farah at the back, and they’re through 20km in roughly 2.02, well inside world record pace.
Oh dear! Dibaba is down to a walk!
She tries a gentle plod, but the greatest 10,000m runner ever is struggling. But now she goes off again! She stops! She walks!
Updated
Oh-oh! Dibaba has stopped! She’s holding her leg, she’s overtaken by the second group, and now she’s back going again. But she’s not catching the second group I don’t think, so that might be her.
Farah is now up with Kipchoge and the boyz. He’s looking around; the others are not.
Keitany is grinding, 1.37:03 at 30km. She’s 52s ahead of Dibaba, but is slowing. Perhaps she’s taking a breather - ok a “breather” - before coming again. But either way, she’s on for a lifetime best, though it’s beginning to look good for Paula Radcliffe and her record.
Do it.
Updated
Keitany is looking focused, which us to say things might be starting to hurt. They’ve got about eight miles left.
The men are still inside 2.02 pace. Alright lads, we’ve all had a few.
BREAKING: Farah has collected his own drink; I say Farah has collected his own drink.
BREAKING: Farah missed a water station, not his own special drink. He’s got to wait a mile to resolve that; more news as I get it.
Updated
Kipchoge is 43:05 at 15km.
Farah is alongside Bekele, but just failed to collect a bevvy, while Kipchoge is moving as beautifully as he does. Kirui is comfy too, and this is shaping up to be a serious race.
About to start. It is fiercesomely warm. Bumped into my fellow @BiggleswadeAC club ballot victor though pic.twitter.com/YGshv3KhPW
— stuart goodwin (@stuartgoodwin) April 22, 2018
Back we go to the elite women, and Keitany has slowed. She’s just about on world record pace, but who knows what she’s got left with 17km to go. Dibaba is still moving well enough, but will have to go some to compete for the lead.
Madison De Rozario wins the women's wheelchair race in 1.42:58!
Best known for her work on the track, she is now a fully-fledged all-rounder! She maintained her metre lead all the way down the stretch, and there was nowt McFadden could do about it!
Updated
De Rozario of Australia, the Commonwealth champ, pulls away!
Updated
De Rozario and McFadden are pulling away!
Updated
The women’s wheelchair race is gearing up for a five-way sprint down the Mall. McFadden was injured last term so lost her title to Schar, and those two are favourites but De Rozario is in front and not to be messed with.
Updated
Farah is getting ticked off by Rob Palmer for wasting energy. Maybe it’s good to get him going.
Farah is in a row with a cameraman, giving him a proper telling for something or other. He gets angry!
Keitany is still putting it in hard. She is phenomenal, on course at halfway at 67.16. Dibaba is 23 seconds behind, also on course for the record, which tells you that it is in danger, not just of being beaten but of being taking to Sketchley.
Weir looks really happy. He’s at peace with himself and, having quit the track, with his racing. He is an exceptional human being.
Dave Weir wins his eighth London Marathon!
What a finish that was!
Updated
Romanczuk moves aside, and here comes Weir! Hug, the Silver Bullet, can’t compete! This looked like it was going to be tight, it is tight, but there’s no doubt at all who’s going to lead them home!
Updated
The wheelchair race is still close; Hug, Weir are led by Romanczuk as they come round onto the Mall!
Farah’s lifetime best is five minutes down on some in the field, but it’s noted in commentary, as it was with Dibaba, that you don’t want to run a marathon on your bill.
Farah has no rejoined the main pack, just at the back. He’s also wearing fluorescent yellow sleeves.
Keitany is about a Tower Bridge ahead of Dibaba, 15 seconds; it’s still thought Dibaba is reigning it in. The world record is still on, but they’ve slowed slightly.
“Surely no list of the best songs about London would be complete without this little gem?” emails Michael Cosgrove.
The elite men are absolutely bousting. Cram hasn’t seen a field of this calibre broken up like this ever - they’ve gone at 4.20, 4.32, 4.43 I think, 15 seconds ahead of world record place. Farah must know this is too much, but he knows he can’t let the group get too far ahead. He’s sort of gone, sort of not gone, and is in touch but not quite in the pack.
“Greetings from Blue Start, zone 5,” tweets the Guardian’a Stuart Goodwin. “Katie Price has just walked past, dressed as a lung. Hope that’s for charity, or she’s doing running gear wrong.”
Schar and McFadden are second and third in the women’s version, and they look to be doing fine.
The men’s T53/54 wheelchair race is close as we near the end. Weir and Hug are in the leading pack of eight, and it’s going to be a finish. They’re lining themselves up to make sure they get a good angle on the bend.
We’re back with the women’s elite race; Dibaba is struggling, maybe 20m down, and verily Keitany is not. They’re 51:16 at ten miles, 32s inside Radcliffe. It’s possible that Dibaba is backing off because she thinks that’s too fast.
Here at the start of the @LondonMarathon it’s all so real now. Very excited and not a little scared. pic.twitter.com/S5RAFuWg0o
— Jane Beedle (@Janebbakes) April 22, 2018
“What surely is the world’s greatest marathon,” says Steve Cram impartially. Watching the pictures, it seems pretty hard to argue to the contrary, so I won’t bother. London, what a gaff.
In that connection, you should read this:
Back to Switzergate:
This has been acknowledged in the @guardian piece on Switzer already. Point is she bandited the race, while Switzer ran as an official entrant.
— 添柏司 TDP (@tianbosi) April 22, 2018
She presses the red button, and off we go!
The Queen is out and the national anthem is playing. It’s great to see her finally get some recognition after all these years.
However, Sean Ingle reports thusly on Kenenisa Bekele: “Apparently he’s cut out the pizzas (he was 4kg overweight last year and his agent Jos Hernans gave him a dressing down in Berlin) and not been injured in his prep. So you never know. Kipchoge is immense though.”
Kipchoge has only been beaten once over this distance, and almost broke two hours last year. It’s going to take some to beat him.
“Enjoy the Queen setting us off from Windsor.” Oh I will, Gabby; oh I will.
Mo Farah is wearing both sunglasses and orange.
The elite men are out and limbering up, but it’s so warm they don’t really need to bother. The PA is imaginatively pumping Eye of the Tiger.
North Ken are running for Kids on the Green, a new charity aimed to ensure that for kids affected by the disaster, it doesn’t become a life-defining event. Find out more here.
In memory of and tribute to those who died and survived the Grenfell disaster: members of the North Kensington fire service are here, in red vests; Paddington are doing the first and last mile in full kit.
Keitany and Dibaba are shoulder to shoulder after five miles, at 25.33 - a second slower than Radcliffe. They originally asked to be quicker, so perhaps it being this warm this early has altered the plan.
Soldiers are playing music. They’re not really dressed for the weather.
@DanielHarris Take a read of https://t.co/b0TzrHiTd6 rather than repeating the "Katherine Switzer was first" myth
— Richard Newbold (@NewboldRj) April 22, 2018
I’m pretty sure both are spectacular.
Updated
Mo Farah is talking about how running a marathon is more fun than running on the track. He says that in 2014, his tactics were wrong - you can’t give the experts half a mile and expect to chase them down.
Adele Roberts is talking about how much running benefits mental health. She was a star of the greatest ever Big Brother - don’t @ me, fight me.
There’s a bloke on telly who’s running across America, Forest Gump-style. He’s come back to see his baby daughter, he’s not shaved since 2016, and he’s flying back for his last 200 miles. He looks not unlike the below, and is so, so happy with life.
Updated
Best songs about London – I’ll start. This, for what it is, is perfect. I was about to type “absolutely perfect”, but that’s tautologous, yeah?
We see some VT of Keitany from earlier in the week, and she calls Radcliffe “a legend” but wants to see if 2.15 is possible.
Keitany is right behind her pacemaker – “clipping at his heels”, says Radcliffe. This is, apparently, somewhat nauseating, and Radcliffe goes on to advise that a pacemaker is good to her to stop her going off too fast.
The pacemakers are all in black and white stripes, as ever. Basically...
The elite wheelchairs are at roughly eight miles now. Van Dyk, who it was thought might be out, appears to have had a puncture, which has now been addressed.
In the women’s version, Manuela Schar and Tatiana McFadden, the favourites, are leading. There are rumours that McFadden isn’t so well, but she looks fine for the now.
Marcel Hug of Switzerland leads the men’s wheelchair race for now, but Weir remains in the mix.
The plan for the race is to get to halfway quicker than Radcliffe did, and then see what happens.
Radcliffe says no one has ever spoken as much about their desire and intention to break the record, and the conditions and course are well set for that. So far, she’s not been asked if she wants Keitany and Dibaba to succeed or fail.
Last term, Keitany broke Radcliffe’s record in an all-women race - the male pacemakers are here to help them break her overall record, which is 2hr 15min 25sec.
Mary Keitany is introduced and looks focused. The male pacemakers are ready, and off they go!
The elite women are on the line and Katherine Switzer, the first woman ever to run the Boston marathon, is on the telly. She talks inspiringly about empowerment - women running because it makes them feel good - and how much it means to her to be running her first London race on the 100th anniversary of women being given the vote and on the same streets demonstrated in by the Suffragettes. She’s 71!
Updated
It’s great weather for wheelchair racing, apparently – Tanni Grey-Thompson reckons we might see a course record in both men’s and women’s.
“How about a big Guardian shout-out to all those spectators warming up for a tough day ahead,” tweets the Guvnor, “with an all-day breakfast in the Weatherspoons at Tower Hill? It’s busier here than in Greenwich Park!”
The proper athletes.
In the wheelchair race, David Weir is nicely tucked in, and now moving to the outside as he picks towards the front.
Away they go!
Right, the marathon world cuppers are on the line - this is people with a variety of disabilities from a variety of categories.
More from our man: “Mo Farah is officially due to go out to halfway in 61.45 ... but I’m hearing he will go slower than that, probably low 62s. If Kipchoge and Bekele really go out in 61 minutes flat it will be carnage given how hot it is ... both are in shape to break a WR though according to their camps.”
This could be something.
Away they go!
Right, our wheelchair crew are on the line, and David Weir is looking amped for his eighth win.
Sean Ingle, our fle’ics correspondent (amongst other things) emails in to enlighten us (me): “The woman you mention is Sophie Raworth. She ran the Marathon Des Sables, which - as you intimate - is absolutely bonkers...”
Updated
Paula Radcliffe is here. It was a nice day when she broke the world record, and Keitany is going for it today. She reckons Dibaba might push for it too, and is feeling threatened.
Our start times
8.55am Elite men and women’s wheelchair
9.00am Para athletics marathon world cup
9.15am Elie women’s race
10.00am Elite men’s race and mass start
There’s a woman on telly who’s name I missed who spent last week running five marathons in six days ... in the Sahara. [Jewish mother]Why only five? What happened on the spare day?[/Jewish mother].
After the buzz of grimacing through her birthday gig last night, the Queen will be starting the race from Windsor Castle – which is looking resplendent. on behalf of Her Maj, thanks to all those who’ve helped with that by paying to get into Buckingham Palace.
Updated
Those two chaps from last last term – the one, Matt Rees, who helped the other, David Wyatt – have won the inaugural spirit of London award. They’re now mates; aw! It’s my endz so I’m biased, but I don’t say this much because I’m whinging about it and bitching about how much I prefer others, so I’m going to say it now: what a city.
Updated
My word! There’s a lad here who’s run all 37 races, so is here running his 38th.
What we should definitely get today is a some exciting racing. People will need to think hard about this stuff, and dig deeper than the earth’s core to get what they want.
You might have heard about this, but people who know about isobars and stuff reckon this’ll be the hottest London Marathon ever, at 23C; 22.2C is the existing record.
“Runners are also advised to wear sunscreen and consider whether any fancy dress could be dangerous,” reports the BBC. Dangerous to your dignity, aye.
I can’t even begin to tell you how much I’d embrace the challenge of absolutely rinsing a marathon this morning. Can’t believe Mr T.H.E. Man rota’d me on for a shift, killing my nascent dreams.
Update: it’s absolutely smokin’ in da smoke.
Preamble
Apparently it’s been pretty hot in England these last few days – no one’s mentioned it, but I think I detected it for my own self. As such, I hope you’re not hoping for a personal best in today’s little jaunt – luckily, I decided not to let it all hang out this term, and will be gently but relentlessly consolidating (from my second-hand Herman Miller aeron chair). In similar vein, anyone planning on dressing up has been advised by race organisers to “think twice”; that might just be overestimating things.
As far as the serious business goes, we’ve got Daniel Wajiru, the defending champion, back to take on the wonderful Kenenisa Bekele, while Eliud Kipchoge, the favourite who won in 2015 and 2016, is here too; so is Abel Kirui, while, Mo Farah is looking to break the British record. Ahem.
The women’s race has Mary Keitany seeking to make it two in a row, with Tirunesh Dibaba, who pushed her all the way last year, also reckoning herself. Other contenders are Gladys Cherone and Mare Dibaba, while the British challenge is led by Tracy Barlow. You set ’em up!
Gun: 8.30am BST
Updated
