2016 Live Coverage Athletics: Great Manchester Run

A very good morning and welcome to our coverage of the

A very good morning and welcome to Run also alongside me is the man the

gun, David, Run also alongside me is the man the

before I tell you what is coming up, I will help him get the wheelchair

races under way. I will help him get the wheelchair

your marks. SOUNDS HOOTER. That is the wheelchair is on their way and

the women's race should be very competitive with Shelly Woods

against Jade Jones, Shelly Woods is the defending champion. In the men's

race, Simon Lawson will be hoping to go back to one better than last and

take victory. A lot of raising the gum including two of the greatest

distance runners of all time looking to add more Manchester glory to

their glittering CVs. It is a beautiful day in Manchester, ideal

running whether. Tens of thousands are lined up behind me and

running whether. Tens of thousands the streets, travelling from far and

wide to join in with this great occasion whether running

wide to join in with this great running it is not primarily a race

but a personal challenge, being part of something bigger, raising money

for a cause or simply remembering. It is about running for a reason.

I always feel anything is possible when I go out to run.

Apologies, we seem to have a problem with the sound on that video. But we

can tell you what is coming up in the next couple of hours, so much to

look forward to. Manchester is one of the hotbeds of sport in the UK

and this weekend encapsulates that with the City Games on Friday night

and the next generation taking part in a mini man at the Etihad Stadium

yesterday. Anthony Crolla will be running again this year and he has

recruited an army to do it with him and they could not ask for anyone

better to motivate them. So many runners taking to the streets this

morning and is opening at so many emotional and inspirational stories

to tell about why they have taken on the challenge of running 10,000

metres. And six Olympic gold medals between them only begins to tell the

story of the brilliance of Ethiopian duo Tirunesh Dibaba and Kenenisa

Bekele who head up the elite fields. And hopefully that is the gremlins

out of the system! It should be a great couple of hours. It is also a

day tinged with sadness because a great friend and supporter of the

Great Manchester Run is no longer with us. I am sure you will all

remember Kirsty Howard at the couple of games in 2002. -- Commonwealth

Games. She had an incredibly rare illness. She had been part of the

Great Manchester Run since the beginning, defying the medical odds

to live as long as she did, raising millions of pounds for Francis house

children's Hospice in the process. With me is one of their sisters,

Zoe, and Phil Taylor, who is part of a charity. Incredibly sad that she

is not here. She has been such a big part of it is so tell me how proud

you are of your sister and what she achieved. I don't think words can

say how pride I am. I have done this run twice and I say I will never do

it again also now she can't do it herself, I feel I have to step up

because she did so much for Francis House. She was so selfless, all of

the challenges in her life, the focus so much on doing good for

others was inspirational. Definitely. And she never moaned,

even on the days she was not feeling great, she got on with it. She had

so much going on but she just did what she had to and carried on

racing. Tell is about Francis House. Ed first started with the Kirsty

appeal. -- it started. We reached the ?5 million goal in October 2006

and then launched another campaign to raise ?3.5 million to build

Francis Lodge which is the juvenile section at the hospice. We have

built that and the Kirsty Club now is raising funds to run Francis

House. Kirsty very much touched millions of people and one

particular person, David Beckham, who we saw at the Commonwealth

Games. It is amazing, what she achieved. When she was born and

growing up, all of the challenges she had, they did not think she

would survive beyond four. She has achieved so much, far more than

anybody in a lifetime could add achieved. She received numerous

awards and raised millions of pounds and all for the benefit of others

and more people benefit from her hard work. I am sure it will be an

emotional day, all the very best. And I know you will keep the memory

of Kirsty burning brightly and thank you for speaking to us. We have two

roving reporters bringing you all of the stories, Jeanette Kwakye, who

will be hearing from shortly but first Phil Jones. I am here with a

great 400-metre runners, Iwan Thomas. We have seen in the marathon

and half marathon so ten K must be a breeze! It's not too bad. Six and a

bit mild is OK, people think because you are a run at you can run any

distance but for a sprinter, anything over half a mile hurts! But

if I am sensible, it should be OK. You are running with a bit of a

difference. You have got all of these. Today is a bit strange, I am

going to attempt to live broadcast the whole event on this selfie

stick. It will be uploaded onto the Internet and people can watch me

live, going through pain and smiling and hopefully not getting slapped on

the bottom by loads of people! That always happens! I get a little

friendly pat. And people can message you en route. They can, they can put

a message on the screen and that comes through to me. I just wanted

to grab the essence of Manchester and show people what a great event

this is. The sun is out at the moment which is rare here! I just

want to show people what it is like, like a bird's eye view of a race

like this. It is a fantastic idea, thank you for sharing it, we will

check in with the footage later. That Iwan Thomas has boundless

energy! Now to another former athlete turned media presenter,

Jeanette Kwakye. I am with Jo Edwards who is taking part in the

race today. Tell us why today is so important. I have supported the

Chris Dean now for about seven or eight years. My husband Chris was

treated at The Christie. eight years. My husband Chris was

treatment he had from the hospital was fantastic. -- I have supported

The Christie. I got pregnant during that time while he was ill and we

had a little boy and no doubt without their help he would not be

here. Chris unfortunately lost his battle with stomach cancer in 2010

so I decided to do some fundraising and I started with a walk from our

home in Newton in the Willows to Anfield, and it snowballed from

there. I love the Anfield, and it snowballed from

everything about it and I do what I can for them. For you, going from a

walk to run, it is a big journey. How you prepared? I have been

running for a few years. I took a challenge a couple of years ago to

run 500 miles in a year and I did that. I decided to do a triathlon

and did a couple of half that. I decided to do a triathlon

so today I'm pretty comfortable! And you have a little training

so today I'm pretty comfortable! And with your son who ran

so today I'm pretty comfortable! And run yesterday. He did fantastic, two

kilometres in just over ten minutes so he was made up! Again, he was

spurred on by running for his dad. Thank you so much and good luck.

The men's wheelchair race has reached Old Trafford, there were

great celebrations there this morning after the FA Cup victory

yesterday and Simon Lawson is on course for victory at the moment

after coming second last year. And Jade Jones in the women's race,

Shelly Woods not far behind, they will be battling it out for the

victory. Shelly Woods is the defending champion. We have a couple

more elite races to come, the women will be starting at 11:15am and the

men and the masses start at 1130 Seo -- 11:37am. Here are some ones to

watch. Headlining the women's field is triple Olympic champion and twice

winning here Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia. Twice world marathon

champion, is gaining endurance athlete was third in magister a year

ago, Edna Kiplagat. Matt -- Manchester. European cross-country

champion in 2040 and second last Manchester. European cross-country

year, the best of British, Gemma Manchester. European cross-country

Steel -- 2014. Leading the men's field is Kenenisa Bekele. One of the

world marathon grades was runner-up that day, he's back to renew the

rivalry, Olympic medallist Wilson Kipsang. From elite runners to an

elite sportsmen, WBA lightweight champion Anthony Crolla. You ran

last year and you are back with a whole bunch, you been meant touring

them. We are calling them Crolla's Army. -- meant

. I thought the gremlins were gone but we have a problem with the BT.

Anthony, talk about what you have been doing.

We have 12 runners, each representing one round of a boxing

fight. They are raising money for a great cause and we are all at

different levels but it has been great getting to know these people

and I'm proud to be doing it with them. I am reliably informed we have

got that film now. The greatest achievement is

definitely winning the world title. When you set out to do something for

an early age, to finally achieve it after many years, many ups and

downs, to come back and achieved that is definitely my greatest

achievement. I think that the training at times can be very tough.

When you take those boxes in training, in a fight you know you

can overcome a lot of things and likewise in fights, you know how

tough it can get so you know how hard you have to push yourself in

training. Running is important as part of training, different types of

running, long distance or interval, on the track. It simulates in a

fight where you will be working hard or building stamina. For them to ask

the run in the army that has been put together, it means an awful lot.

Listening to some of their stories, they are an inspiration to me. I

love the city, there are not many more prouder Mancunians than me, the

way the people are and get behind their own, you will see that on the

race, the city comes out each year to support the race.

And there will be more of those amazing stories later on. Tell me

how this came about, how did you pick this true? It was very tough

because we had a lot of entries but I think I have the perfect 12. It is

not just young athletes, it is people of all ages and levels and

each is doing it for a different cores and it's something I'm very

proud to be a part of. -- causes. Have you enjoyed it? Of course,

being a proud Mancunian and being asked to do that, this is the best

day of the year for Manchester, the way the city comes out and support

the run and a lot of great causes. I've really enjoyed it. This time

last year we were talking about your rehab from the rubble incident when

you tried to catch those burglars and got that head injury and what a

year since then. WBA lightweight champion, this is just a little

reminder of your last victory when you retain your title.

What a shot that is with the right-hand! And the uppercut! The

crowd are loving what they are seeing. He has sent his man to the

floor and account has started! He looks to his corner and he has

successfully defended his WBA lightweight title! Magical stuff

from the man from Manchester. You must be thrilled with the way

this year has gone. It could not have gone any better. Last time out,

being an underdog again and being a further challenge, it was even

sweeter than winning the title. I am enjoying life at the minute, keep

working hard and improving. Next fight? Middle of September, who? I

am not sure. Hopefully a champion and many more great nights here in

Manchester. Maybe Vegas one day. It is time to the women's elite race

and time to say hello to our commentators, Steve Cram and Denise

Lewis. A beautiful day in Manchester. Really looking forward

to some great racing. As Jonathan was saying, following all the

stories through the next couple of hours, but the elite race is about

to get underway and the women about to be introduced to the big crowds

in the streets. The city game was here on Friday when it was a little

bit less drive. Fionnuala McCormack, one of islands finest. -- dry. She

has been running pretty well. Christel doornail, the European

marathon champion. -- Daunay. A two-time world champion in the

marathon, from Kenya, Edna Kiplagat. Her third year last year. Many of

our British 10,000 metre runners were actually attempting to get into

the British Olympic team at the track meet yesterday, Gemma Steel

decided to come here, great to see Harry magister. It will be great to

see whether she can take on the lady who will be introduced to the crowd

now. One of the greatest distance runners of all time, Tirunesh

Dibaba. Olympic 10,000 metre champion in 2008 and 2012. Will she

be in Rio? We will be chatting with Paula about Tirunesh Dibaba. Great

to see her back, took well over a year out. Lovely conditions. We hope

for a good race here and I guess the big question is how fit is Tirunesh

Dibaba? Good morning to Paula Radcliffe, you must be delighted to

see her. It is great to see her back and I am eagerly anticipating seeing

the kind of form she is in. She has been pretty cagey coming into this.

She does not know, she took a long been pretty cagey coming into this.

time to build back after the birth of her son and admittedly she gained

a bit of weight, she was not running to the final stages of pregnancy, it

took some time to get back into it. This is her first test out. Her main

aim is to qualify for Rio. I think she will probably raise the 5000

metres first. This will answer some questions and get the competitive

juices flowing again in a relatively easing back into the field. I guess

that is why today is important for her. If she is going to go onto the

track and run a quick time, the Europeans do often pick the people

running the fastest, reputations do not count for anything. For Tirunesh

Dibaba, that is something that is somewhere in the future, the next

three or four weeks she needs to run a quick time on the track. Today

will be a huge indicator for her. Diane Nukuri runs her through the

early stages as they run through the city centre, tens of thousands

waiting for their opportunity to get going. They run behind where we are

in Deansgate, taking a left and then heading out towards the Salford area

and this part of the route, it is pretty fast. It is a flat course,

Old Trafford always looming in the distance and of course the FA Cup

winners last night. A fuselage heads around here today. A small loop

around, not too far from the BBC HQ, Salford Quays. -- a few sore heads

here today. Up into Deansgate where we are sitting patiently waiting for

them to finish. So familiar route now, many of these athletes

including Tirunesh Dibaba have run this. She is a two-time running

winner. 2008, 2000 12. There is nothing... It is not about making

excuses, but the Renault conditional reasons why she could not run fast

today. The same to everyone else as well. -- 2012. The cause is pretty

sheltered and not too many twists and turns, tight turns to slow the

pace down. Really good conditions the getting faster times. Tirunesh

Dibaba starting to ease away, she sat back a bit and allowed Diane

McCurry and Fionnuala McCormack -- Diane Nukuri. It was under three

hours ten minutes. We will get a split, the kilometre marker we can

see what you were talking, it was about 3.9, 3.10, not too bad. A big

group. Diane Nukuri leads in the early stages. This is the finish of

the elite men's wheelchair race. It was a demonstration by Simon Lawson.

Second only to David Weir in terms of men's wheelchair racing in the

UK. He was out in front from the very start. Just outside the course

record held by David Weir. 21.20. He was almost three minutes clear of

Brett Crossley in second place. 3.11 the official time through the first

kilometre, a pretty good, steady pace. It does not look to me as

though to narrate the barber -- as though Tirunesh Dibaba is too keen

on going fast yet. Training only tells you so much, you need to get

into the race and feel your way into it. I would not expect to see her

and less the pace slows down, I would not expect to see her make any

significant moves before halfway. She wants to test herself out in the

racing situation and feel her weight racing situation and feel her weight

gradually back into competitive competition. 3.11, it is not

superfast, it is a 32 minute pace. That is a decent enough pace for the

first half, hopefully she will come back quicker in the second half.

Talking about a 32 minute pace, Freya Ross is at the back of this

group. Great running last night from Jess Andrews and Beth Potter,

running the Olympic qualifying time in the race in Highgate last night.

Jess Andrews, a massive improvement for her, going under 32 minutes,

knocking a minute and a half off of her personal best. It was an

outstanding step up. She has moved her personal best. It was an

away to Spain and has been focusing on her running, it would be great to

see her comeback and run so well. -- it was great to see her. We will

have to see who the third British runner will be. We will have to see

what the selectors saved. Keeping the same pace, 6.20, to two

kilometres. The gaps are already opening up and Gemma Steel is not

able to go with that, sitting in the second group. We saw our fourth win

in the men's wheelchair race, Shelly Woods in the yellow helmet, much

closer in the women's race. Shelly Woods pulled away to defend her

title. Again a quick time. Just outside her own course record,

21.51, she came through the second place Jade Woods. The victory was

the Simon Lawson in the men's race. -- was for. Tirunesh Dibaba trying

to force the issue a little bit here, Diane Nukuri kept the gap

looking reasonably comfortable. Gemma Steel is in the second group.

Tirunesh Dibaba breaking things up and as Paula said, perfect pacing,

3.11, 3.11, identical times the best three kilometres, but now she means

business. She dies and already starting to forge ahead. She will

have missed racing and competing, she will enjoy getting out on

familiar ground, she has the course record here. Just getting out there

and being able to appreciate racing will give her extra energy and I'm

sure she is enjoying running out there and is testing the others and

asking some questions of them in terms of how fast they

asking some questions of them in now. It has been interesting, her

younger sister is the one who now. It has been interesting, her

the big star, Roque in the world record at the 1500, even rumours she

may do the five under ten, she cannot double up with a 5000 unless

she runs a heat and a final on the same day. Maybe she is thinking of

doing that. It is interesting, they kind of shift. Tirunesh Dibaba has

had to plan her own route through here. We are not aware of a 10,000

metre race that she could easily slot into. We will have to find one

and set it up somewhere and hope that she can run quick enough to

attract the attention of the Ethiopian selectors. There are

already five Ethiopians who run faster than her, she is capable of

running faster though. The spotlight has shifted.

They are close her and her assistant, I don't whether they run

together. There will be a bit of fire, she wants to get back to the

same level. Talking about getting back, we can pop back to the start

with Phil Jones. I am here on the VIP bus with who you could call to

stall works of the Great Manchester Run, Peter Hook and Chris from

Coronation Street. What brings you back? It is a good time to go to the

shops. I am so slow! How quick are you? I normally get round into times

-- in two days. We could go around together! This week

-- in two days. We could go around weeks off. Just to see if this makes

any difference, I don't think it will. Most of it is done on

adrenaline. This is my 10th run. Congratulations on that. You come

back for great charitable causes. We used to run for leukaemia and

lymphoma research which is now being renamed Blood Wise. The Christie,

they have helped many of my friends and family, it is the least I could

do. Some and family, it is the least I could

Manchester. It is a great occasion. -- some up the occasion. It gets you

going, they are all shouting at you. It is an embarrassing. I am thinking

of doing it masked. It is great you come back each year, wonderful to

see you here. Enjoy the race. Thank you. Great to see them and so many

celebrities taking part raising so much money for charity. Around about

30 million I think is the expected target which is phenomenal. At the

front it is Tirunesh Dibaba, Edna Kiplagat and Diane Nukuri. Diane

Nukuri run a marathon in New York. They are hanging on to Tirunesh

Dibaba. We are just approaching four kilometres, she has picked it up,

for five seconds, it is broken up, just the three of them now. Old

Trafford. It is quiet today, but it was not quiet down in Wembley

yesterday, a great day for the club, commiserations to all Palace fans.

The streets around Old Trafford quiet. Gemma Steel just struggling a

little bit. Daunay wearing 104 and the Polish athlete, Dominika

Napieraj 110 and Inglese of Italy. It has been a difficult period for

Gemma Steel. She said herself that she wanted to make the 10,000 metre

team. She knew how well some of the other girls were going but is

struggling to stay with that second group. Dibaba, it is not twisty and

Tony Hibbert slightly downhill away from the football ground so they are

able to keep stretching out -- twisty and turning. They went

through the third kilometre in 3.0 six. That is what did the damage.

Tirunesh Dibaba is looking in control of this and she looks the

most comfortable right now. I think what happened with Gemma Steel, she

went to San and raced on the 10,000 metres on the road. She picked up a

virus and struggled to come back. She came into this feeling more

upbeat and stronger but she is not back to her form of last year.

Really stretching them out. You can see the little gaps, Nukuri hanging

on. And Edna Kiplagat, having flown in from America, that might have had

an effect with some jet lag so Dibaba is taking advantage as they

approach halfway. It is the FA Cup final yesterday, a big day for

football and it is a big year for football with the European

Championship is coming up, we are all hoping England will be doing

Championship is coming up, we are well and the man who has to make

sure that happens is our started today and he is with Phil Jones.

And obviously you are talking about Roy Hodgson, the England manager. It

is all about France coming up but today it is all about Manchester

with a big game later and the starter today. First of all I'm very

happy and honoured to be asked to assist the start. It is fascinating

to see so many people taking part and watching and I can only hope

that they have good weather for the race because I am certain that will

help them. You always get a warm welcome in Manchester, I hope you

get that later for the England team as the build-up start in earnest for

the Euros. It does today but we have had a good few days training at St

George's Park and we are looking forward to the game this afternoon

which is important for us, the first in our three preparation games here.

I am sure that the players and staff are all very excited about playing

at the City of Manchester Stadium. Anything you still need to learn

about your squad in the next few games or have you got it pretty much

in your head what to do? I know the players very well. The only one I

don't know well is Marcus Rashford but all the others I have worked

with over quite a long period so it is not a question of finding out

about them, it is just making certain that we start our

preparation and, when the game against Russia in Marseille comes

around, we are 100% prepared as to how we want to play. And do you get

a sense of the excitement building up? The nation goes football crazy

in the major championships and I'm sure you're being approached all the

time about it. I am but I enjoy it. I think it is very healthy and I'm

delighted that the country is excited. I also feel we have an

awful lot of support throughout the country. I think people like the

team and what they are trying to do. We go there with high hopes and we

also carry the high hopes of the nation. Good luck this afternoon and

with the Euros and enjoy the occasion today. I shall, thank you.

Good luck to Roy England team and our other home

nation teams taking part as well. Tirunesh Dibaba has put her foot

down. The last kilometre was the quickest of the race. Diane Nukuri

is now struggling. Edna Kiplagat is hanging on the Ethiopian. I wouldn't

say she is looking like her old self but this will be a real confidence

booster for Dibaba if she can keep forging on and keep the pace going.

When you come back, the first six, 7k, it is in that bit of the race

that you find out how fit you are. It is, and the closer you get to the

finish, the easier it gets. Certainly she doesn't look like she

is putting herself under any undue pressure or asking questions she

might not be able to answered. She looks smooth and controlled, a quick

look over her shoulder to see who has dropped off and it is Diane

Nukuri who has not been able to go with them. She seems to have got a

bit annoyed by Edna Kiplagat running in her slipstream and has moved

across the road to encourage her to run alongside and give her a bit

less drafting. Last week Edna rant about 31.58. That was about the same

time as we saw at Highgate last night -- she ran. That may be

explained why Diane Nukuri is unable to go with this pace as it picks up.

Again Dibaba looks across, it is almost as if she wants her to take

Again Dibaba looks across, it is she is not that keen to keep doing

it herself. I agree, just going through 6k. Fionnuala McCormack is

now in fourth place. Gemma Steel is in eighth place I can tell you,

still trying to hang onto that little group that she was with who

are about five seconds behind McCormack. Dibaba will want to win,

that is the first thing, and to make sure she does nothing silly. But she

will want to win well and feeling good and hopefully with a time well

under 32 minutes I would think. They are on schedule for that. That

previous kilometre was still on pace, suddenly maintaining the pace

they have been setting. She settled for a bit and got the feeling that

Kiplagat would not pick it up so, because I think she is chasing a

time, she has defined out what shape she is in. You can't do that by

sitting and waiting so she might as well push on and that will tell her

a lot more than just sitting behind Kiplagat and waiting for the win.

Absolutely, she will get some answers at the end of the race. If

you compare a road ten Kate with a track ten Cate, you should be able

to go a bit quicker -- ten K. A pretty nice day in Manchester. We

had a A pretty nice day in Manchester. We

thankfully that has all gone. And now we can look forward to the start

of the men's elite race and the massed ranks of the thousands who

will follow them on this now famous route so let's introduce you to some

of the contenders. Matthew Hynes from Middlesbrough, he will perhaps

be the best of the British. He won his last race, the Middlesbrough

Park Run. Next to him, someone who had a brilliant race last autumn

when he ran for the marathon which made him the new German

record-holder for that distance. He had to drop out of London sadly when

he was hoping for a good performance. Zane Robertson,

Commonwealth frons medallist at 5000 metres and he has shown that he can

mix it with the top Africans when he is fit -- bronze-medallist.

He has never won this race, he has been second on two occasions but

Wilson Kipsang, former marathon world record holder, he is hoping to

will be his day but if it is to be, yes to beat a legend of the sport,

from Ethiopia, the three-time Olympic champion, Kenenisa Bekele.

He came back with a bang in the London Marathon with a great

performance. Sadly, not good enough to see him selected for Rio. But

let's get them under way. Roy Hodgson, full of smiles as ever.

The Great Manchester Run is about to get underway. There we go. The

klaxon sounded by the England manager. Many will continue to cross

the line over the next couple of hours because they can't all go on

the route at the same time because it is only 10k. These are the lucky

ones who get to go first. A wonderful organisational effort to

get so many people primed and ready to go and get them away safely

across the start line will stop you can see how they are channelled in

sober is not a mad rush. Everybody has their own individual chip. --

they are channelled so there is not. Perhaps they might be running for a

personal best, looking at their watches as they cross the line as

ever. And it is great to see how this race has grown over the years.

Today we expect to see the 300,000th finisher to cross the line at around

about 12:30pm. We can go through some of the other names as you can

see the elite start list. McNeil from Australia. I would not expect

any of these to figure at the front. Good to see Richard Goodman having a

run. And just to reiterate, most of the British 10,000 metres runner

were in that trial yesterday. Ross Millington came out on top in that

race at Highgate. Andy Burnham and others were attempting to cement

their place but it did not go quite so well for them as it did for the

women so they will have to wait and see. Nobody got the Olympic

qualifying time last night. We are back with the elite women, Dibaba

still has Kiplagat on her shoulder, still cannot shake off the two-time

world marathon champion, despite setting a good pace. 3.84 the

seventh kilometre. She is trying hard and pushing but the brigade is

still there. Edna Kiplagat is not interested in taking on the pace --

Kiplagat is still there. She is making Tirunesh Dibaba work

for this as they go through eight kilometres in 25.0. Very even pace

and very controlled. She might be working out if she has saved a bit

in her legs for the final stages because she is reckoning she will

not shake off Edna Kiplagat and will need to save a bit although, unless

she is faking it a bit to force Kiplagat to take it on, she looks as

though she is starting to struggle. Kiplagat to take it on, she looks as

This is Nukuri. One thing I used to say about Tirunesh Dibaba, I always

thought she was one of the most economical runners. She has the

speed and power and when she was fit and at her best, you would a video

and say that is what a distance runner should look like. She used to

float over the ground. Watching her today, she has got a little way to

go to get back to that. That is expected, it will take some time. I

think she has to try to concentrate on winning the race. They are still

setting a pretty good pace, she should be reasonably happy but she

will not want to be beaten by Edna Kiplagat today. And she will be

fairly confident that she has retained her finishing speed and

will be able to use that and will be thinking about trying to keep level

with Edna Kiplagat and not take too much out of the tact and -- out of

the tank. She still looks a beautiful, economical runner, but

not floating as normal as you say, and if you contrast the strength in

her legs, you can see she has missed a bit, and you can see the miles in

the legs of Edna Kiplagat. That is not quite there with Tirunesh Dibaba

where it used be. I agree. That can and will come back, I'm pretty sure.

Roads are one thing, track is another. She knows the sort of shape

she will have to be in if she is to be selected for Rio which will be

tough, and then to go and content for a medal. It would be great to

see her there. The sport needs it big start at the major

championships. The men have gone through the first

kilometre and run 2.30 five. Wilson Kipsang still has a bit of the

London Marathon in his legs. Arne Gabius Isner as we expected, so is

Robertson. Wilson Kipsang is forcing the issue. We were not expecting too

much from Kenenisa Bekele and he pulled it out of the bag for the

London Marathon. Everything we were hearing in the build-up was he was

not in shape, he really turned it around. He had not really done a lot

of volume and long runs, but he was able to hold in and record that 2.6.

Looking at Wilson Kipsang and Kenny said the KLA, I would say he would

come back a bit better for this race than Wilson Kipsang would have been

able to. -- and Kenenisa Bekele. Tirunesh Dibaba trying to force the

issue. That looks like a hierarchy carry than the old Tirunesh Dibaba.

She checks her watch. She knows that Edna Kiplagat with 800 to go, she

would never normally Edna Kiplagat with 800 to go, she

to even frightened Tirunesh Dibaba in any way whatsoever, but there

will be some doubts when you are coming back. At this point you would

think she will be happy to sit, but she still wants to keep pushing and

keep the pressure on. She is definitely starting to push earlier

than she would normally do. I have to say that Edna Kiplagat, this race

will have given her a lot of confidence no matter what the

outcome is over the last 600, 700 metres, she is struggling a bit, she

was third in Tokyo, she raced well last week in New York. She has not

been back to the form that saw how one the world titles, she has been

working her way back to it. Now for the first time Tirunesh Dibaba

keeps looking behind and she sees a five-metre gap, looking at her

watch, I don't why. She needs to concentrate on running towards the

finish. The crowd is starting to build and this looks better from

Tirunesh Dibaba. She is confident, checking every few strides as to

what is happening. All she needs to know is the gap is growing and the

race is in the bag. Now she can concentrate on finishing strongly in

the last hundred metres or so. Coming round the final bend, a

uphill finish in the Great Manchester Run. It is good to see

Tirunesh Dibaba coming back after so long away. The last here two years

ago and this could be the start what we hope will be a true comeback onto

the track and perhaps a return to the sort of form that saw her win in

London, win in Beijing, taking the Olympic gold medals. It would be

fantastic to see her back in Rio. Tirunesh Dibaba into the last 200

metres or so. The crowd getting ready to receive her. The time has

been pretty good today, it would give her a small indication, not

until she gets on the track and has a go will she find out what shape

she is in, but this has been a go will she find out what shape

comeback for the three a go will she find out what shape

champion, Tirunesh Dibaba returns to win the Great Manchester Run for the

third time. A winning time around 31.16, we will get that confirmed

officially, that is a pretty good return for Tirunesh Dibaba. Edna

Kiplagat did so well to hold on for so long, as ever she was never going

to be able to content with Tirunesh Dibaba's speed in the latter stages.

Diane Nukuri, a good performance, expect to see her running in the

Olympic games. She will take third spot. And under 32 minutes. A good

performance from her. Diane Nukuri, a fair way behind. Tirunesh Dibaba,

must have been a little bit nervous before today. Fionnuala McCormack

was fourth for a long time. She gets fifth. The French athlete comes in

at six. Gemma Steel, watching the clock as she comes up. She will be

the first of the British athletes to cross the line. It will be under 33

minutes, that is a bit of an improvement from what we have seen

so far from Gemma Steel, 32.40 three. And there are our top three.

To Mr Barber looks like she has only just been out for a stroll, a coffee

and a croissant, a 10K run. -- to Tirunesh Dibaba. A great performance

from her as she heads towards her campaign to get into the team 30.

Back with the men. Talking about getting in the teams are Rio. Where

use a prize when there was the announcement over the weekend that

the Ethiopians have only selected Kenenisa Bekele as a reserve? If you

look at time, he is not the quickest. Given his track record, I

was surprised, given how he came back to run so well in London on a

summer course, the other Ethiopians had run fast. Having said that, the

Ethiopians, they were not particularly organise, none of the

runners in London knew what they had to do to get selected. They have

done this in the past, real five or six names and then they will pick

from that closer to the time. Don't read too much into who is reserved

and who is on the team, they can change that as they see the form

they are in. They have just gone through four: metres in just under

11.5 minutes. They are not going back quickly. -- four kilometres. I

don't think Zane Robertson has been in such great shape. His half

marathon he ran in New York, a high 62 minutes. The last 10K he ran was

not that quick either. Probably today is perfect for him to be

competitive, but he was suggesting he was going to try to run down in

the lower 28 minutes, he has a way to go to pick up to that pays, that

is why he has decided to force it may be. He has seen the times

through four: metres, picks it up with Kenenisa Bekele and checking to

through four: metres, picks it up see who has come away from the

group. Wilson Kipsang, he trains with a group in Ethiopian. He likes

to get himself in shape in Kenya, he runs with a group in Ethiopian, gets

himself into good shape. He is accustomed to training along Wilson

Kipsang, Kenenisa Bekele. They are both Manchester United supporters,

may have got a boost as they went past Old Trafford. They are working

together to get the pace moving along, four of them are clearly

moving away from the rest. It is interesting to see the elites

grabbing some water, it is therefore the masses, leave enough, there are

30,000 people behind you! Jeanette is waiting with some of the people

ready to go. I have found Batman and Robin! Isn't this fantastic! Your

names are a bit more simple than Batman and Robin. I cannot hear a

thing! This is Mike, you are from Salford, can you hear me now? Can

you tell me why you are here today. We are raising money for Cancer

research, we have been doing the locals around Manchester as Batman

and Robin and this is the big event today. Thanks to everyone who gave

us some money. Robin, do you take your instructions from Batman, will

he be pacing you today? I will be behind him. He is not allowed to be

made! I am not allowed to beat him at all. It is Batman and Robin, not

Robin and Batman, there is a pecking order. I am expecting a good spring

-- sprint finish. Good luck. Jeanette with some of those who may

get a little warm out there today. The sun is shining, good to see.

Look at them all waiting for their chances. There are various waves,

people know when to get ready to get on the road. They are raring to go.

Meanwhile, approaching halfway. The mens rea is, I have seen they have

just gone through halfway. 14.17, it did pick up in the physical matter,

they had been going at a fairly slow place.

they had been going at a fairly slow Pace. Heading for something around

20 point five minutes. The fifth column that has broken the field up

a bit. Wilson Kipsang has taken on the challenge and is building the

pace. A mirror image of the women's race. That has caused questions to

be asked of David McNeill, he is dropping back from this. Zane

Robertson is taking it to them, but he is dropping a bit round the

corner and instead of pushing the pace, he is the one trying to hang

on as Wilson Kipsang keeps the pace moving along. You can see it on his

face, he is starting to look as though he is struggling a little bit

to keep on with this place. -- pace. A bit quiet down in Salford this

morning, if you people out there watching and cheering on these

world-class, you look at Kenenisa Bekele, he is one of the best if not

the best ever, some people say be quiet when you say those sorts of

things! But it is good to see him back, a lot of people had written

him off. The performance in London if nothing else will have done a lot

for his confidence. Wilson Kipsang, he has had an up-and-down period. He

will want to make sure... He would love to get the victory today.

Robertson hanging on there. I suppose you never know, you know

better than most, Paula, when to come back and get back on the road,

how much time it takes to recover. Wilson Kipsang will have been

disappointed with his performance in London. Where is Kenenisa Bekele

will be absolutely delighted. The levels of confidence coming into

today. It can make a difference how you run the race, Wilson Kipsang

will be disappointed, he did not run to tick the well by his standards in

London, but maybe he did not push too hard, maybe he switched off when

he realised he was not having a great day. With the frustration, he

was able to bounce back here and run well. He knows that to stand any

chance against Kenenisa Bekele, he has to make it a hard race from this

far out, because he cannot get anywhere near to

far out, because he cannot get over the closing 800 metres, even

1000 metres of the over the closing 800 metres, even

Already he has turned the screw enough,, it looks like they are

maintaining the pace, opening up growing daylight with Zane Robertson

behind. I should remind people, a great story about the Robertson

twins. They went out to Kenya, I render seeing them on a couple of

occasions and they said we will live and train like the Kenyans do and

see what happens. They turned their careers around. They have turned

into very good athletes, but they talk a lot about the change of

attitude in terms of living, breathing, running, and

understanding the likes of Wilson Kipsang is from there as well. When

you are surrounded by that culture and ethos, it is amazing how much

difference it can make. They struggled to get their own

federation to recognise their abilities and help them, so they

went and helped themselves. They have had a great four years.

Struggling today though to hang onto theirs. The seven kilometre was 244,

Wilson Kipsang pushing on. Richard Goodman miss having a good race, he

was back in fifth place. We will get a split at eight, tours. Wilson

Kipsang and Kenenisa Bekele, an Ethiopian and Kenyon in battle. Two

of the great names of marathon running.

Bekele as to persuade the Ethiopian selectors that he is worth a gamble

for Rio -- has to. Just a stride or two between these two, very much

mirroring what we saw two between these two, very much

race with Kipsang knowing the danger of Bekele will stop a lot of miles

in his legs but he always has and he always will, you never lose your

ability to sprint finish. Bekele looks good, relaxed, running well,

dropping his arms to show he is relaxed. He does look very relaxed.

A lot of his normal bounce is there. That can take a while to come back

after running a hard marathon like he did, having to dig deep in the

final stages to be able to run that Watt. He has that strength in his

legs and he is bouncing along, as if to say, you haven't shaken the oft

-- to be able to run 2.06. I need somebody who is a bit more up on the

fan suggests costumes. They are going to be warm! Great conditions,

a slight breeze out there, the sun is out but the temperature is not

too high, perfect for a 10k. These two are locked together stride for

stride. 250 on the previous kilometre.

They have slowed a little bit because the fifth and sixth were

pretty quick. Kipsang is looking to hang onto Bekele who seems to be

holding himself back a little bit. It has not been super fast. It has

been quicker since 4k which is why these two are out on their own.

There is Robertson will stop Bekele would have the option, he talked

about maybe going onto the track but I don't think that is an option

because he will have focused so much on the marathon. To change onto the

10,000 metres, because of their strength in depth, even the great

Kenenisa Bekele, only the marathon is an option at Rio. Particularly

given his injury problems come into the London Marathon. Those calf and

Achilles problems, that means getting into spikes and racing on

the track is a huge getting into spikes and racing on

probably prefer to keep working in races like this, to reinforce his

form to the selectors and hope they will look at his championship

performance record and his huge potential in the marathon against

the fast times that the other runners have recorded over the

distance. They are going through eight kilometres in 22.40 which is

maintaining that pace. You can see the gap to Robertson is 12 seconds

and growing and he might come under threat for that third spot because

McNeill is running strongly but is still nine seconds behind. This is a

long, straight road, and if people had started to falter you can reel

them in but these two have got it to themselves. The pace picked up in

the middle after the first 4k, not going too fast, and then they pulled

away with Robertson but Robertson could not maintain the pace. They

are not running super fast and Robertson is looking very tired, may

be paying for that uplift in the middle and he will come under

pressure from his Antipodean rival very shortly. He looks as though he

is limping a little bit and does not look comfortable. He will struggle

to hold on to third place. In contrast, these two look pretty

comfortable, Kenenisa still dropping his arms. In contrast to Dibaba, he

does not have a particular time goal, he just wants to run well and

win He just wants to race well and come

away having beaten Kipsang. It is definitely Bekele who is forcing the

issue and Kipsang is happy for him to do that. He knows the inevitable

will happen in the latter stages and he will hang on for as long as he

can. I guess Bekele will wait as long as he can't. They are picked it

up so they will both be hurting a bit. Just a metre. This is not a big

effort from Bekele to win it yet but he has another look at Kipsang. 2.48

for the eighth kilometre. And now about a mile to go, a little less

than that, about 1400 metres. And when they see the 9k, I would not be

surprised if we cede Bekele putting his foot down a bit more. He would

be worried about being outkicked by Kipsang but he will want to relax in

the last 800 metres. We are expecting Robertson, he was not

moving well, to come under pressure. They have gone through nine

kilometres in about 25.2. And almost on cue, Bekele thinks enough is

enough and away he goes. Like Dibaba, it is such a mirror of the

women's race, he looks behind every few strides and suddenly the gap is

there. That was much easier than four Dibaba who had to work to shake

off Edna Kiplagat. She was still getting over her shoulder in the

later stages. Bekele moved away easily and he is still checking

later stages. Bekele moved away he can relax and enjoy this run in.

I don't think Wilson Kipsang will be able to get close to challenging

him. Bekele building his lead, Kipsang is in second place,

Robertson coming under pressure. Richard Goodman is running well, the

first of the British athletes, in fifth place. There he is, from the

shaft three Harriers. -- Shaftesbury Harriers. Running very strongly in

and heading for a good performance. Bekele, with every stride,

stretching his lead away from Wilson Kipsang who is looking a bit ragged

and tired. And like Dibaba, when he is at his best, there is no better

side than Kenenisa Bekele will stop he is looking strong, moving

side than Kenenisa Bekele will stop Obviously managed to shake off that

London Marathon where he had a great performance, and he has enjoyed it

here in Manchester and it is great to see him back. Kenenisa Bekele

will of course hope, all he can do is show he is in shape and ready.

For somebody as great as he is with his record and

For somebody as great as he is with track, he has to hope that the

selectors put some trust in him and selectors put some trust in him and

you said at the beginning, how Ethiopia don't always they go on

camp and look at how people are performing. Despite the selections

they make this far out, they can change their minds. All this will do

is serve as a little reminder. Kenenisa Bekele, yes, it is only

over 10k but he can beat the best and was almost putting his arms out

to say, what did you expect? He is back to winning ways, the great

champion that is Kenenisa Bekele who takes the title of the Great

Manchester Run. It is great to see him back. 28.08, a really solid

performance. Too good for everybody including Wilson Kipsang. We are

watching for third spot and Robertson is going to hang on.

Sorry, McNeill has passed Robertson. He looks behind. Robertson was

struggling in the latter stages and as expected the Australian comes

through and that might be his best ever on the roads will stop McNeill

gets third spot, Robertson coming in for fourth place, looking a bit

tired. I think he forced things a bit in the middle. We suggested that

his races coming into this did not look great. Evidence of that. He was

under 29 minutes but I know he was hoping for something a lot quicker

than that. Great to see Kenenisa Bekele back. He wonder

-- he won this race in 2014 so this was his second victory. Debra

Selassie won it on four occasions. Best Dapper Selassie -- Dapper

. This is a solid performance from Gabius and he has overhauled Richard

Goodman who will come in in sixth place. Gabius looks a little

distressed as he crosses the line. Richard Goodman has beaten some good

athletes today and running 10k on the road is something he would not

normally do but well done to him, just under 30 minutes.

What a treat we have had this morning watching Tirunesh Dibaba

take the women's race on her comeback and Kenenisa Bekele the

men's race, both beautiful runners. And a lot of -- a lovely gesture

from Wilson Kipsang as they crossed the line, that he is the number one,

Bekele. This will be full of people in the not too distant future and

there is a milestone today for the Great Manchester Run. The 300,000th

finisher will cross the line and there is also a milestone next year.

There will also be a half marathon as well and this is what the course

will be like. confirmation of the men's result.

Strong running from Kenenisa Bekele. Richard Goodman was the first

British athlete. Tirunesh Dibaba, great to see her back and very

encouraging performance. Nukuri ran well for third place and

Gemma Steel was the first British athlete. The earlier starters this

morning were the wheelchair racers. It was a fourth victory for Simon

Lawson, a long way clear of Brett Crossley. Shelly Woods and Jade

Jones had a very good race but Shelly Woods defended her title,

also a fourth title for her. Not just a 10k next year but a half

marathon as well. Entries are open as of 12 minutes ago so you can get

it online if you want to enter. There is still so much more to come

this afternoon after the elite races have finished. It was fantastic to

be chosen as part of the team of Anthony Crolla. Being from

Manchester as well, it is good to be part of his team. When things do get

tough, I tend to look up and think my mum. All you have to do is start

walking, then you can start jogging and then running. That is the way

forward. She was born with a birth defect so we were rushed to

Manchester and we saw a consultant who performed life-saving surgery.

It is not just a day of support here and it be a whole with the City

Games on Friday evening, Greg Rutherford looked particularly good

in the long jump. And yesterday at the Etihad Stadium, it was the mini

run. It's great, the kids are getting

moving. But not sat at home in front of laptops, they are having a run

and a really good time, even in the rain, good old Manchester! It is so

nice to see so many kids getting active.

My favourite bit was in the race, it was my first-ever medal. It was the

best day ever! I had so much fun! She had a great time, she is only

three, it was her first run and she really enjoyed it. He has just

finished the race and we are really proud of him. You beat daddy! Idea

to! -- I did! proud of him. You beat daddy! Idea

am running the Great running for the hospital, I am

hoping to do it within 50 minutes tomorrow, famous last words. We

hoping to do it within 50 minutes see. I have had the best day ever!

CHEERING As you see in the DT, it is raising

money for the helipad at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. How

are you feeling? -- in the report. It is such a beautiful atmosphere,

it is amazing. Today is really important to you, to have that

helicopter pad in Manchester, tell me how much it means to you.

helicopter pad in Manchester, tell doing it for a good cause and I want

to be here for everyone. Right on cue! He is absolutely

to be here for everyone. Right on is so important that we have this

here in Manchester. How will it feel when you are amongst these people

and you are running for this doorman. I really wanted to do this

-- for this little man. It is amazing and to get to the finish

-- for this little man. It is line, it would be like a dream come

true. How much help as you line, it would be like a dream come

your husband, they have been with me through the training and Little

Jeremiah as well. Just to see them all the time. We wish you the best

of luck. So many still waiting there to get

out on the streets. I said earlier on it is a massive logistical

operation. It works like clockwork and it is crowded down at the start

line, we are here at Deansgate, welcoming the athletes who are

running pretty good Times, 38 minutes about to go through on the

clock. From the first of the Mass starters. The orange ones are the

quick ones. They are coming through in waves. A huge number of runners,

close to 40,000 last year, not sure of the fact numbers this year. They

will file down, the whole course moving out towards Old Trafford and

then it comes back towards the city centre at the top of your picture, a

bit of a breeze on the way back, coming in from the West. Good, broad

roads and on they come. They continue to warm up at the behest of

the organisers. It is a long wait and it is hemmed in, you do your

warm up and then you are hemmed in, you jump up and down and do some

gentle aerobics, stretching. It looks fantastic. I would be tired

after that. I would be annoyed, I am not very good at arm waving. It

might be some sort of record for the biggest keep fit class. Don't even

suggest it, I am sure there is a record out there for that sort of

thing. Zumba. You would know! It won't be long to go. If you were

watching a bit earlier at the start, I was speaking to Anthony Crolla,

the WBA lightweight champion, a real superstar in Manchester. He recently

retained his title. He has been mentoring a group of people,

Crolla's Army, he is quite a man and they are quite a group of people.

There are two pictures, there is a bigger contrast, that is my last day

of chemotherapy. At The Christie. The one that my daughter is holding,

that was taken recently, asked together as a family. This

represents the reasons why I am running. -- this is us together as a

family. This is the helipad we want to have on the site. We do not have

one of these and we are the biggest in the UK. My sister was diagnosed

with autism two years ago. I am running for autism research. It was

fantastic to be chosen as part of the team with Anthony Crolla. He is

a great person, when I met him I realised he is really nice. This is

a picture of my husband and I am running the Great Manchester Run in

his memory. He was a world champion Thai boxer, he was passionate about

sport and exercise and it seems fitting. My two daughters inspire me

to do well. I want them to be proud. They or any proud of me for doing

that. -- they are really proud of me for doing that. This is a picture of

me and my daughter and granddaughter watching my son running. I was 19

stone, I remember putting a pound in the charity box but spending ?10 in

the burger van. To see these people who were running for their family

and friends, it just made me feel so selfish. This is my cousin who was

born with PKU, you need to have a low protein diet or it can cause

brain damage and learning difficulties. This picture is very

important to me, it was presented to me at a boxing tournament after a

show where I boxed on. I am proud to be running with him on Sunday. I am

really looking forward to it. I had gone on a holiday of a lifetime to

Australia and I always wanted to go on a Scooby Doo ride. I got on it

and before it went off, the alarm went off to save can the big lady

get off. I had to get off in front of everybody, it was so humiliating,

it was unbelievable. It is not everyday you get world champion

boxer training you. I am used to fighting, but now the running is my

first sport. There were a few people who had done a bit, I was nervous.

It was really good. I had seen Anthony before on TV and being from

Manchester as well, it is good to be part of his team. It was fantastic,

it felt so good. I tried to put some power in. I am sure that he smiled

at one point, it would be terrible to hit him in the face and get it

really wrong! When I am short of breath, I think of her and I keep it

going. The Christie, it means everything to me today, they say

that my life and you want to repay them in the best way you can. It

would feel like I would have crossed a barrier in the grief journey. It

will be the start of a new life with my husband still beside me but in a

different way. That is how I feel about it. A lovely group of people

and Anthony Crolla has done a great job with them. We will be speaking

to him later on. The finishes are streaming across the line, pretty

decent times. Phil Jones took a short cut and he is with one of the

proper finishes. I am with actor George Raynsford. You put the rest

of the celebrities to shame with that kind of time, how pleased are

you? I was really pleased. I stopped taking my watch with me. If you do

not make your time and your miles, it doesn't motivate you. It was a

pleasant surprise, I just went for it. How good are the conditions?

Perfect. Good weather for the support to come out, not too sunny,

everyone got some Burton last year. -- got sunburnt. I run for Blood

Wise, formally leukaemia and lymphoma research. We are raising

awareness and funds to help bat. -- to help that. Thanks. It is a

beautiful day today. It is almost a bit warm. It is a privilege to see

the runners go past me. Each one has an incredible story to tell. This is

my run. A few years ago my weight had got out of control, I was eating

anything and everything and I was 23.5 stone and I needed to do

something about it. It is a big challenge. People ask me to do

things, being lazy, I did not want to do anything, sitting around,

eating. Confidence wise, speaking to friends and seeing them wearing the

clothes you want to wear, do no you will not look as good as them,

speaking to different people on a daily basis, it is not a nice

feeling. I was watching all these athletes running on the TV and they

were running the touch a long time and mentally it challenges you. You

think you cannot do it and the word I cannot get stuck in your head. I

went to the gymnasium one day and I was enjoying it. I saw progress and

the weight dropping off, my jeans size were going lower, the T-shirt

sizes were getting smaller, then I was 8.5 stone lighter. For what I

have achieved, I am really proud, the journey continues, it does not

ever end. I am proud inside. I am talking to you people, I am

introducing myself, I am engaging with people, I am happy, the

confidence is sky high. I am running for Cancer research, my auntie

passed away recently and a friend at work has finished her chemotherapy.

I know suffering from these diseases is terrible and I'm running this for

them. If you watching this interview, I made it this far, I am

doing the ten Kate, if I can do it, anyone can. Start walking, then you

can start jogging, then you can start running, that is the way

forward. That is certainly a bit of a

transformation. All British athletes are getting ready for Rio, hopefully

to be selected. We have a student here at magistrates University and

she has taken some training out -- at Manchester United and she has

taken some time out of training to inspire people to get involved in

the Great Manchester Run. I tried to encourage everyone to get

involved. It is always a great event, a great turnout, it is

exciting that the University are putting so many people into the run.

I first heard about it and I thought we will get 100 if we are lucky and

then when they exceeded 1000, that is fantastic and they are all

starting to gather! It is a great way to get people up and out, people

who would not normally run a ten Kate, but raising money for charity.

-- ten kilometres. We are raising money for the Red Cross and marry

Kiri Cancer research. -- Marie Curie. I am witty confidence in my

abilities. I have good injuries. Temple that it should not be a

problem for me. -- ten: matters should not be a problem for me.

Sport is a really important part of life and you can gain new friends

and get a sense of achievement but also raised money for charity so it

should be a really nice, positive event. I wish them the best of luck,

it does not matter how long it takes, enjoy the moment and do a lot

of good for yourselves and the University and those great

charities. I am with the Manchester University runners. They have put

charities. I am with the Manchester together a fantastic campaign to get

loads of people from the University running. Tell me about it. Myself

and one of our colleagues had the idea to do something to link into

this event, to really capture the imagination and get the university

together. We said the target of 1000 the book between 1000 people --

between staff and students. There are 1100 members of

between staff and students. There students. You are the general

secretary of the students union. Tell me how you got involved. Were

you always in the running? This is my first ever run! I'm a bit

petrified. We got told about it and thought everybody should get

involved. We wanted to push people who had never run before to do

something new and bring the fun and atmosphere of exercise. What has the

impact been like at the University? It's been incredible. Everybody is

at our campus and there is like a thousand people all getting ready!

It's a great buzz. This unexpected -- I'm expecting a massive social.

And we have asked everybody to raise ?100 so we're hoping to raise

?100,000 collectively. I wish you the best of luck today, good luck.

And they are at the start line ready to go. There must be some sort of

world record for the biggest group of runners, those purple shirt

streaming through. 1100 in total. That is the record for biggest group

from one place. -- that must be a record. We're going to look back at

some of the elite races starting with the wheelchairs and Andrew

Cotter. In the men's race, the man in front at the very start really

dominated things, Simon Lawson. He did not have much competition, he

had a good race with David Weir last year but he is not raising this year

so it was left to Simon Lawson for just about the whole race. The

women's race was far closer between Shelly Woods on the right and Jade

Jones. They've had a close race until the final to take. For Simon

Lawson, he was out on his own in a quick time, just outside the course

record of David US. -- David Weir. And it was a good time as well for

Shelly Woods who took the fourth title.

I know this is a familiar for you both. Four wins apiece in

Manchester, what is it about the race you like so much? It's a

brilliant atmosphere. I love coming back here to race. The course is

quick as well, a bit bumpy but it's good and good fun. Simon, a trouble

free run for you? Yes, the really good race, nice weather and no wind,

better than the rain yesterday! It must be a relief when you wake up

and you see the sun peeping through because it was a bit wet earlier but

perfect concessions. Really good conditions for a good time. Not too

windy going out and nice coming back. I was really pleased with my

race. I was pushed well by Jade back. I was really pleased with my

pretty much all the way and managed to get away in the last 3k. I kept

going and didn't look back. I was a bit worried because my wheel was

coming loose! I thought if I don't go, she is going to do me. I was

pleased to get one over on her. Simon, what do you take out a race

like today in a big Paralympic year? So many athletes are jockeying for

position, or is it do for you and your confidence? It is a good boost.

position, or is it do for you and I was just chasing my time today

because I was out front so I was trying to get a PB for this cause

which I did so that puts me in good stead for Rio. Congratulations to

you both. Hopefully we will see you trying for another five next year.

Yes, and maybe the Great North Run later in the year. Thank you for

talking to us. Strong performances from Shelly Woods and Simon Lawson.

And in the men's and women's elite races that we were in the real treat

with two of the greatest distance runners of all time. Steve Cram had

the story. And those names came into the run with contrasting

preparations. Tirunesh Dibaba has not raced since 2014 when she was

last here in Manchester. Now a proud mum and this was a real indicator

for her as to where her comeback was. Could she make the team for Rio

and defend her Olympic title? She got some answers against a pretty

good field. Gemma Field was trying to hang on as the best of the

British athletes. -- Gemma Steel. Dibaba showed she is not far from

the best, winning in a good time of 31.16. Kiplagat was second and Diane

Nukuri was third. For Kenenisa Bekele, he had already cemented his

place in Rio with the London Marathon, or Sony hoped because the

selectors had only picked him as a reserve so he wanted to give them a

reminder as to why they might want him in the team. He looked good and

strong and was up against Wilson Kipsang, the former world

record-holder for the marathon, for much of the race. But when it came

down to his forte, the finish, he did not leave it to a sprint, he

pulled away with one kilometre to go and he looked strong and the crowd

were delighted to see one of the great champions of the sport coming

out on top in 28.08 ahead of Kipsang and McNeil of Australia.

And I have Kenenisa and Tirunesh with me. A great run. You looked

very happy crossing the line. Yes because after three weeks after

London Marathon I run here and I was so happy to come back after two

years. I'm very happy to be here with a big crowd here. People here

come all the time great people. They love sport and I'm happy to be here.

In terms of selection for Rio, you must be disappointed, was this a

message to the selectors? Not really, I showed them already

before. I don't know why, you know. Of course I'm not happy about it.

Maybe they have to select me as a third person. Fingers crossed we

will see you in Rio. Tirunesh, you will be speaking through the

interpreter, how happy were you with your comeback race?

I'm so happy that I have won this race. I was trying to test myself

with this Great Manchester Run and it has proved to be very good for

me. Will we see you in Rio? I'm going to try the 10000 and hopefully

I will make the team. You are both brilliant, thank you very much and

we hope to see you both in Rio. Great to see

performing well will stop two runs which were contrasting Internet of

what they mean but Bekele will hope to be in Rio and we all hope that

Tirunesh can get on the track and produce the sorts of times that the

selectors cannot ignore. The waves continue. And to mention one group

taking part, running in memory of Darren Hibbert. He passed away

suddenly on New Year's Day and they would have been his birthday so

poignant date for those running in his memory. It is a long wait for a

lot of the athletes on Broughton Street but they are continuing to

come through. The blue wave is getting underway. A long road ahead

of them, the big loop out to Old Trafford and back. The next wave is

a bit further down Portland Street. Somewhere between 30 and 40,000

runners today. They all have their goals and ambitions. This is the

orange wave charging down Deansgate. They will be looking to go under an

hour. How much do you want it? They will be looking to go under an

much have you got left? Not very much! So many people running for

charities and also for their own ambitions and targets. Perhaps they

have not run a 10k race at all, perhaps they were not running at all

and decided to give it a go. They go out and come back down Chester Road.

They will be going for some time to come, I think the last starters go

out at about quarter past one so they will be running for some time

yet. We saw one of our old pals, Iwan Thomas, before the start. I

wonder how he got on. He is with Phil.

UN has finished and he is in one piece, how was it? You are saying

1-piece! I feel in about ten! It was tough, hot, it is normally colder

here. But the people of Manchester, the crowds were amazing and so

worthy fellow runners. I went off to fast as always. I was in a bit of

pain but the people drags me around. It was a slow time but I'm so proud

of everybody who ran. Everybody runs for their own reasons, for

charities, for lost loved ones, and people think they might not be fit

enough to do an event like this but you can. You can get off the sofa

and do some running because it doesn't matter about your shape and

size. It is a great event. You were out there with your selfie stick, we

talked before the race about the live stream, how did that go?

Unfortunately, something went wrong at the beginning! I have recorded

the whole thing but I am not sure how much went out live because there

was a mouth action -- malfunction. I was speaking to the camera for 47

minutes for no reason! People were looking at me a bit strange but I

was talking to the camera, not myself! Congratulations. We will

hopefully do the streaming thing and it will work next time! Hopefully I

won't be a mechanical moron next time! Just to echo the sentiments of

Iwan Thomas, there is an amazing atmosphere, lots of music and

thousands still streaming through but for many people it is an

intense, personal, reflective experience. This is Amanda's story.

My name is Amanda Scott and this is my run.

I started my running journey in 2009 after my diagnosis of Crohn's

disease which resulted in surgery. I ended up in coronary care and six

months after coming out I decided that I was going to run the London

Marathon. Running benefits my Crohn's disease because it aids a

better digestive flow through the whole system that I have left and it

also helps with my fatigue and my pain, massively. I have managed to

reduce my dependence on morphine and terminal and also helps with Mike

chronic fatigue -- tramadol. It helps me to keep a positive outlook

on life, helping with the psychological side of the disease

because it can be quite debilitating. I feel anything is

possible when I go out for a run and when I do my traces it is the little

achievement that count for me. -- races. When I'm running, I tend to

think of my mum, Leona, who was my best friend and my biggest

inspiration. She worked while I was in full-time chemotherapy, she

fought with me and she was there in every single surgery I had. Not

having her here has been the hardest point in my life. You can never hear

her say, I love you, again. When things do get tough, I tend to look

up and think of my mum. I things do get tough, I tend to look

make my mum proud. Life can be so tough sometimes and it never ceases

to amaze me, the inner resources that people find, the inspirational

story of Amanda who is out on the course today. Thousands out on the

course. Phil Jones has found another finisher. What a performance from

Lindsey Russell. I tell you what, barely a bead of sweat on new!

I thought I would come out here and give it a go. It has been brilliant.

I see you are proudly wearing your blue Peter badge. It has gone wonky!

Do you notice the cheers? We have launched our Rio 's 16 badge, it is

nice to have the kids cheering. It is important to get the message out

and get kids active. It is not about going fast, as I have shown today!

Getting to the start line is that hardest thing, but it is not about

anything other than that, give it a go and do your best. It is a great

message, you are an inspiration. I am so tired! Anyone can take part in

the Great Manchester Run, but there is an age limit, you have to be 15

years old. I would guess one of the youngest people out there was

Brooke, she turned 15 just a few days ago. We caught up with her at

band practice. Brooke was born with a birth defect

so we were rushed to Manchester to see a consultant there who operated

on her when she was 11 days old for life-saving surgery. She has been in

and out of hospital all her life. It is the norm for me, I am used to it.

I take it as it comes. She had surgery about two years ago. I could

not do sport the 12 months. Unfortunately it did not work. It

went a bit wrong, I broke screws. Some of the pins that were holding

everything together broke. I had it redial and, the 12 months got longer

to about two years. Considering how old she is, it was very difficult

for her. I used to do triathlons beforehand, so doing stuff like that

to nothing has been quite hard. When she had the first knocked back on

the surgery, she decided to do a thing on the Internet with her

friends and it was called to the forbidden mile. She said to have

friends, I cannot run a mile, but if you can, just do a mile and give a

few pounds to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. My mum did one,

and then I thought I want to do the one my mum is doing. She is adamant

she is doing it. This is her way of saying thank you to the raw magister

Children's Hospital. It is a wonderful place to be. -- the Royal

Manchester Children's Hospital. Mr Bruce will be coming round with me,

he has been my surgeon since birth. He will be running with her on her

first attempt at a 10K, it is fabulous. Music has not let me down.

I could not do sport, but music has always been here. She has put her

energy into music, she has channelled her energy in a different

way from the sport that she has not been able to do. It is nice to do it

with them, it is nice to have something to share together.

CHEERING APPLAUSE

I am here at the start line with a very colourful family. She stands

out. We have just seen your report and what a brave soul you are. How

excited are you? I am excited, but I cannot wait to have it over and done

with. Your preparation must have been different. I cannot run, I have

been walking everywhere and trying as hard as I can. You are really fit

then? A little bit. On medical grounds, has says is it for her to

be here today? It is a fantastic achievement, however we do it. It is

a fantastic achievement. It is inspirational. For yourself, being

here, have you done the preparation you need to do? For an athlete like

myself... LAUGHTER It is quite a challenge. You have

brought your family with you. Who is running with you? Jim is running,

Katie, my dad and my mum are running. I hear she is a bit speedy,

your mum. I am not sure! A proud moment for you. She always said she

would run the magister tempeh and here she is. -- Manchester 10K.

Wonderful to see you in all these bright colours. Good luck. Paula has

come down from the commentary box to joining. I was just thinking about

when you sit and commentate and watch a mass participation race like

this, how does it make you feel. No one goes out and does a mass

participation triple jump, how does it make you feel? You are part of a

family of runners. Whether you are racing temporal matters or a

marathon distance, you become part of the family. -- racing Hahn

kilometres. Everyone will have gone through difficult points. That is

what is great, the camaraderie and the sharing that you get out there.

Just what ever problems we have, the athletics at the top level, that is

not happening here, running is something special. It is bringing

people together to make a big difference. What else amazes me is

people run quite quickly. Yes, they run quickly and they are holding

down full-time jobs. We had it easy as elite athletes, it is your

full-time job to train. A lot of people have busy family lives,

full-time jobs, fitting training around that and coming here and

running personal best and running quick times. It is wonderful to see

that Laois on. Let's talk about the men's and women's elite races. -- it

is wonderful to see that. Tirunesh Dibaba is still a great distance

runner. She maybe has a little bit to go. We talked about that in the

commentary. The definition in her body is in quite there from the

miles in the bank and all the training, but that will come

quickly. The racing training, but that will come

still there. She wanted to come out and run a reasonably quick time and

dominate the race and win well and she did that. In terms of going to

reopen and getting a third gold medal, is that beyond her? I would

never say it is beyond her, it is tough, if she was British, she would

probably be walking onto the team, but in Ethiopian there are a lot of

strong women. It is not maybe as strong as the men's team, she could

do it, but she needs to find a 10,000 metre race and then run quick

enough to cement her place in there. A quick word on Kenenisa Bekele,

none of the European is finished in 2012 in the marathon. They do not

have a history strongest champion team to the team.

They have named reserves and actually picked them later. It

happened with Kenenisa Bekele in 2008, she was named as a reserve and

then he did run on the team. He has 2008, she was named as a reserve and

a good chance of running on the team, that is what he is racing

towards. We would love to see him race on the track. It would be an

interesting prospect against race on the track. It would be an

Farah. With his injury problems, he does not want to risk racing on the

track. Thank you for the moment. We will head back out to the finish

with Phil Jones. Coronation Street always do the Great Manchester Run

proud. How did you find it? It made me really proud to be part of

Manchester. All the people who are cheering you on. It feels really

good to be part of Manchester. Is it something you would recommend to

people watching? Absolutely, if I can do it, anyone can. How did you

find it physically today? I was exhausted, I can barely breathe, I

need a lie down, but it was worth it. Have a lie down and have a

drink. I would love to come again. Thanks.

get out there and do a bit of running and join us here next year.

The runners keep on starting and they keep on finishing here, but we

are just about done on the BBC. Just time to tell you there is more sport

coming up over the course of this afternoon.

That is it from the Great Manchester Run. What a great celebration of

sport it has been. We have seen two of the greats, Tirunesh Dibaba and

Kenenisa Bekele showing that they have not lost any form. It is a half

marathon next year, get your entries in and we will see you here.

Goodbye. I always feel that anything is possible when I go out for a run.

Mentally it challenges you. The word I can't is stuck in your head. If I

can do it, anyone can. I run to make my mum proud.

BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend is coming to your place,

with Mumford And Sons, Ellie Goulding,