It's that time of year again, when top notch athletes, people raising money for charity, and generally plenty of crazy types head to England's capital city to attempt to run 26 miles. I just managed 5 a week or so ago, and that was hard enough. This year there is more pressure on British athletes who are hoping to gain a spot in the Olympics squad for later this year. Sit down, tune in, and watch the inspirational people running so you don't have to!
London Marathon
Published by Christine Blachford on
Morning all. They have some pretty big marquees with not a lot of athletes in.
Colin Hackson said there was just one spot left for the Olympics.
The Beeb's commentators have been given a mobile box so they can be there for the first time in over 30 years.
Doea this mean they can commentate whilst being driven around?
Hehe, I think they stay at the finish. I look forward to the crazy presenters who jog alongside to chat to the non professional runners.
Already we have a man with a pink beard.
I want ones on bikes to do this for the wheelchair runners too. It's time for the Beeb to make their coverage as mad as possible.
Looks quite sunny but I hope it's not too hot for people.
Peter Sauber will put them to shame.
Women's race about to start. Six GB runners.
Morning
He's going to be Morris Dancing his way around?
After about 5 miles, people wil speed up just to get away from him.
Wheelchairs are go
Horrendous queues for the loos!
Big group leading the women's race + 2 pacemakers
The thing that worries me about the stepped starts is that I know I wouldn't have got very far ahead in 15 minutes :)
I like the GB purple but it doesn't really go with the orange.
Heheh :)
One of those didn't look at all comfortable, all tensed up
Being a pacemaker must be a very unrewarding task.
Just talk to Kofi Annan about it.
Apart from the money.
I'm not sure if they should really have pacemakers, if they're that good they can do it on their own.
On the other hand the races seem to have got closer since they came in
I agree. I love this from Wikipedia:
A similar case occurred in the 1994 Los Angeles Marathon when veteran marathoner Paul Pilkington was paid to set a fast pace then drop out. When the elite athletes failed to follow his pace, he kept going, ultimately winning $27,000 and a new Mercedes[5] to the surprise of the expected favorites.
That's like the safety car winning a GP which starts in the wet. :)
Haha that's brilliant
Good grief, all those people.
That's an amazing sight.
37,000!
Must be really hard to run among them all.
Great map, although it's just making it look even longer!
Fast wheelchairs coming through!
Where on the track are they allowed to use DRS?
She still looks tense... if that is how she runs, it's going to be an uncomfortable couple of hours!
Across Tower Bridge.
I like the idea of the marathon running past my house, wouldn't have to go far to see it.
The start queue doesn't seem to be going down very quickly!
That would be good. I'd like to see it but's an effort from here.
It's an effort, and an early start :)
Not as much effort as running but still.
Maybe I could drive a lead vehicle, you get to see the course and the crowds in comfort
The Shard looks like something from the background of an alien city
I am intrigued by these athletes with enormous gloves on.
Liz Yelling is overtaken by wheelchair peoples.
Ooh, timing
http://results-2012.virginlondonmarathon.com/2012/index.php?pid=leaderboard
Estimated finish is a great idea.
It looks a bit less bright now. They were forecasting rain earlier.
The shard really is very tall isnt it?
I do worry when they are throwing their water bottles around. Someone is bound to trip on one.
It sticks out a bit.
Would you guys ever do the London Marathon?
I might walk it
But otherwise no :)
I've seen it happen in the bigger groups, the fun runners etc
I'd never say never, which is already a step above a couple of years ago when I would have fallen off my chair laughing at the very idea.
But I think even if I could do the distance, I couldn't cope with the people. It makes me anxious just seeing it on TV.
7 wheelchairs together in the last mile or so!
Great sprint finish!
Wow
You'd have to start at the back to get some space, don't know if you get the choice
I think you get to start at the back if you're going to hold everyone up, so I just need to find a panda costume or something.
See I would reeeallly love to do it. I know it would completely kill me but it's one of them life list things really. even if it did take 20 hours to do :)
It's definitely on a lot of people's life lists, and I can see why. It's a great achievement and I bet the atmosphere is fab.
Run Fatboy Run also speaks volumes to me :)
Rhino sighting
Hehehe.
The women's race is not so close.
Last year's winner wins again. Big lead.
Did he say she ran faster than Radcliffe did when she set a record?
Yet this wasn't a record? Blimey.
He definitely said it was one of the fastest second halves of a marathon. I guess the first bit was too slow for a record?
I always thought they got wrapped in tin foil when they finished. Virgin towels aren't so fun
Run 26 miles and then pose for lots of photos. The life of an athlete!
Kipsang is destroying the men's race
He's making it look easy as well
Although they all look quite tired now, especially the chasers
I'm so amazed they have anything left to speed up on that last stretch.
3 seconds outside the record! Big lead over the rest
Like Lel did, how did he do that?
Just amazing!
Shame for the Brits to miss the 2hr12 marker, but a lot of the athletes seem to be struggling now
Wills and Kate doing the marathon? God, imagine the media coverage.
amazing how many people are running with phones strapped to their arms, tracking progress this year.
Their pacemaker carries a sign!
James Cracknell does 3hrs.
Who else keeping marathon feed open (err TV actually) whilst F1 is on? Will try to watch both, not as fully into the F1 today as usual
Yes!
Wow, 2h54 for Nell McAndrew
:) Coverage until 2pm, I'm sure they usually exit earlier than that even on non-F1 weeks
From @AllanMcNish on Corvette GT driver Olly:
@olivergavin well done Olly, 2 hours 58 mins 46 seconds takes some doing....impressed.
Usingh Bolt :)
Mario!
Luigi and Mario made it to the end.
Proclaimers :)
Tower Bridge is clear now
They're talking to someone called Graham Bell who looks just like Trulli
He does!
Is that an oompa loompa?
Yep :)
Really good job from Sophie Raworth after collapsing last year.
Seems to be the majority still going are walking now.
Kermit!
That's awesome.
Finished now. Enjoyed that! Kermit was my favourite.
Good fun, love the atmosphere there.