:01:07. > :01:11.In a normal sporting year, the only marathon champions to be crowned on
:01:11. > :01:16.the mile of the winners of this race, the London Marathon, but not
:01:16. > :01:20.this year. Both Olympic and Paralympic marathons will also be
:01:20. > :01:25.decided on the capital's most iconic streets. Is this just a
:01:26. > :01:29.warm-up for 2012? I really don't think so. Welcome to the highlights
:01:29. > :01:34.of the Virgin London Marathon. Emmanuel Mutai returns to defend
:01:34. > :01:38.the title he won in a course record last year. But to win again he will
:01:38. > :01:45.have to beat his fellow countrymen. The fastest man ever of the
:01:45. > :01:50.legendary distance of the marathon. The women's race promises to be
:01:50. > :01:53.just as closely fought. 2011 winner Mary Keitany heads a stellar cast.
:01:53. > :01:58.The British runners in the field today, it's their final chance to
:01:58. > :02:02.stake a claim for Olympic selection. And for David Weir, it's a chance
:02:02. > :02:06.to become part of London marathon history. A sixth win here would see
:02:06. > :02:09.him equal Dame Tanni Grey- Thompson's record. When the elite
:02:09. > :02:14.races are done, the streets belong to the thousands of runners who
:02:15. > :02:18.have thousands of different personal goals today. 170,000
:02:18. > :02:22.people wanted to be on the start line today. Who would have thought
:02:22. > :02:26.that marathon running would ever be so popular. Whilst the performances
:02:26. > :02:30.of the elite athletes are breathtaking, it is the stories and
:02:30. > :02:34.motivation of the masses which have turned a bracing to a street party.
:02:34. > :02:38.We all remember that one before Jane Tomlinson, but cancer sufferer
:02:38. > :02:42.who was an incredible fund raise up. I remember training with her. The
:02:42. > :02:48.memories of the London Marathon for the first year, it has stuck with
:02:48. > :02:54.me. This is a great way to remember her. I've beat my target already,
:02:54. > :03:00.my target was 5000 and I'm a 5500 at the moment. Her many times have
:03:00. > :03:06.you done this? 26, this is my 27th. What keeps you coming back?
:03:06. > :03:13.London. Last year I was 20 miles inland I didn't feel great. I had a
:03:13. > :03:16.collapse with St John Ambulance. But they got me back on my feet. I
:03:16. > :03:24.need to shave a bit of my personal best today. The you are part of a
:03:24. > :03:27.big team. A team of 11. Mostly parents. They are running today in
:03:27. > :03:30.support of the children who are going through treatment, children
:03:30. > :03:39.who have completed treatment and sadly, the children who didn't make
:03:39. > :03:44.it. Let's see some of skills. It is Steve Prescott. It's an
:03:44. > :03:48.incredible journey. We started off on the marathon last Sunday, we
:03:48. > :03:52.cycled the day after and the day after that. We managed to row the
:03:52. > :03:57.Channel yesterday. I made my marathon debut in Paris last Sunday
:03:57. > :04:05.it. It was a tough one but we've had a fabulous week. I lost my leg
:04:05. > :04:08.in Iraq in 2007. Yeah, BLESMA have done a lot for me. That's why I
:04:08. > :04:13.want to give something back and do something for BLESMA. I was going
:04:13. > :04:19.to put might have won David Weir's chair Betty went without me,
:04:19. > :04:23.selfishly! Do you think I could do it? They are celebrating their
:04:23. > :04:26.golden wedding anniversary today by winning the London Marathon. Let me
:04:27. > :04:34.come to you first. He should have taken you to Paris for a candlelit
:04:34. > :04:38.dinner. No, this is much more fun! 60 marathons, 60 weeks, at 60.
:04:38. > :04:43.the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, what a bid to do it and to do London again,
:04:43. > :04:47.this is my fourth London. We are all cellists since childhood, but
:04:47. > :04:52.we decided a few years ago it would be fun to do extreme things with
:04:52. > :05:00.them. This is that the latest challenge. You're finishing number
:05:00. > :05:07.is going to be? Run, cellists, run. Take it away it will start my first
:05:07. > :05:12.London Marathon. I'm really excited. I'm running for Sport 8 as well. I
:05:12. > :05:16.cannot get people -- beaten by someone who wore bhaji smugglers
:05:16. > :05:20.through their whole career. People are saying, good luck, are you
:05:20. > :05:24.running today? That's not a good confidence booster. It's time to
:05:24. > :05:29.get on with the action. Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paul Diggin son,
:05:29. > :05:34.Brendan Foster and Steve Cram your guides bought London 2012 marathon.
:05:35. > :05:39.-- Paul Dickinson. Mary Keitany, world record holder in a half-
:05:40. > :05:47.marathon, looking to win here in London. Edna Kiplagat, the world
:05:47. > :05:57.London. Edna Kiplagat, the world champion. For the rest of the
:05:57. > :05:57.
:05:57. > :06:06.British athletes, there's just one way. The elite women with a clear
:06:06. > :06:09.road ahead. The challenge never changes. The world's best gathered
:06:09. > :06:14.once more, perhaps one of the greatest fields, certainly in terms
:06:14. > :06:17.of the women's race, that we have ever seen. It is testing the --
:06:17. > :06:22.testimony to this event and testimony to the rewards that lie
:06:22. > :06:27.ahead. It is not just about today, it's about the Olympics as well.
:06:27. > :06:30.This event is spectacular. The weather this morning is glorious.
:06:30. > :06:36.Beautiful weather for distance running. I'm sure we are going to
:06:36. > :06:39.see a fantastic race today. Already, Liz Yelling, of Great Britain, in
:06:39. > :06:43.amongst the leaders, in a position there to attack from. They are
:06:43. > :06:47.probably going fairly slowly because that group is very well
:06:47. > :06:57.bunched together. Perfect conditions for the wheelchair
:06:57. > :06:59.
:06:59. > :07:01.marathon. There is the list of the main contenders in the men's race.
:07:01. > :07:11.Ernst von Dhaka said this is the most talented field ever assembled
:07:11. > :07:18.
:07:18. > :07:22.in any marathon he has ever ridden She has got two former champions in
:07:22. > :07:32.that field including Amanda McGrory, the defending London Marathon
:07:32. > :07:38.
:07:38. > :07:42.wheelchair marathon. It really was a fantastic finish as they moved
:07:42. > :07:47.into the Mall last year. There were about four athletes together. I
:07:47. > :07:53.think it was Vandyke he crashed eventually. It was David Weir who
:07:53. > :07:57.won in a sprint finish. Marcel Hug is at the front. It's going to be
:07:57. > :08:01.interesting to see how much they will force David Weir to make
:08:01. > :08:05.decisions. The PAC was brought up very early in a race last week and
:08:05. > :08:08.it would three minutes on the rest of the field. Dave needs to make
:08:08. > :08:18.some very tough decisions in the early part of the race to try and
:08:18. > :08:19.
:08:19. > :08:22.through the second mile. That's why we've got a bit of a split going on.
:08:22. > :08:27.The British women are in that second group. The leaders have
:08:27. > :08:31.started to move away a bit, as would have been expected. But it's
:08:31. > :08:34.important for British women stick to their pace well. Liz Yelling, I
:08:34. > :08:44.thought she might not go quite so well today, but the others are
:08:44. > :08:46.
:08:46. > :08:56.looking OK. Clare HAL a Sears at the back of the group.
:08:56. > :08:56.
:08:56. > :09:01.It's a stellar Starlettes -- start running from around the world. And
:09:01. > :09:11.there is the British challenge. A place available, may be two, for
:09:11. > :09:14.
:09:14. > :09:23.London Marathon, one of our greatest sporting occasions, is set
:09:23. > :09:27.on its way. Ambitions, dreams, challenges ahead. Thousands and
:09:27. > :09:32.thousands are once more gathered in this common goal to complete the
:09:32. > :09:37.most traditional of athletic events - the marathon distance. Three
:09:37. > :09:41.starts for the London Marathon, as ever. The Red Start is where the
:09:41. > :09:46.vast majority begin, the blue start for the elite runners and then they
:09:46. > :09:51.eventually converge as they head down the cause, and they turned
:09:51. > :09:56.back up towards the famous Cutty Sark just after the 10 K point.
:09:56. > :10:01.This is where so many crowds will gather to watch. They may wind
:10:01. > :10:07.their way through the seven the side of the river, through rubber
:10:07. > :10:11.high youth. Now they get their first glimpse of Tower Bridge.
:10:11. > :10:17.Across there, turn right and through the half way point. They
:10:17. > :10:22.will actually be coming back this way in a few miles time, passed
:10:23. > :10:26.into Canary Wharf's, running through the new section of the
:10:26. > :10:32.course over the last couple of years which has been introduced.
:10:32. > :10:37.Then they are starting to head for home. Past the Tower of London
:10:37. > :10:42.again, on to the Embankment. They will be able to see Big Ben in the
:10:42. > :10:46.distance as they curve round the river. When they get a bit then
:10:46. > :10:56.they take a right turn. Just a mile or so to go down Birdcage Walk to
:10:56. > :11:01.
:11:01. > :11:06.Buckingham Palace. The last 385 the sunshine. A wonderful sight.
:11:06. > :11:09.Alarmed mark of the London Marathon. The crowds also make it for such a
:11:09. > :11:14.wonderful atmosphere as they go around the Cutty Sark. The big
:11:14. > :11:17.group of eight athletes and two pacemakers. They will be buoyed by
:11:17. > :11:21.the atmosphere that London is already demonstrating here to date.
:11:21. > :11:25.This is a great day for London, it's a great day for the city. It's
:11:25. > :11:29.a great day to show off the city. It certainly does look resplendent
:11:29. > :11:32.in all its glory, with the sun shining. We saw a miserable weather
:11:32. > :11:39.forecast are telling us last night it was going to be raining all day.
:11:39. > :11:44.Well, it's not raining yet. A few minutes ago, the elite wheelchair
:11:44. > :11:50.athletes were passing Cutty Sark at the six-mile mark and the 10
:11:50. > :11:55.kilometre point. Certainly a big race going on, Tanni. Cassidy has
:11:55. > :11:58.been sitting at the front for the last few miles, Dave Weir in third.
:11:58. > :12:03.The drafting makes such a difference. The guy at the front
:12:03. > :12:13.has the work that little bit harder. The guys can push quicker sitting
:12:13. > :12:16.
:12:16. > :12:20.racers, the elite racers, who were already overtaking the women. They
:12:20. > :12:30.will be the next group of athletes to finish in the Mall, after the
:12:30. > :12:31.
:12:31. > :12:35.mini marathon runners have all pacemakers have been trying to edge
:12:35. > :12:41.them along. There has been some reluctance to go at a breakneck
:12:41. > :12:44.pace. They are running about two hours 22 pace at the moment. I
:12:44. > :12:48.suggest that when they get to the halfway point and the pacemakers
:12:48. > :12:52.dropped out, then the speed will accelerate. It will be one of the
:12:52. > :12:58.races where the second half of the race is faster than the first half.
:12:58. > :13:06.If you've been watching the early stages of the British challenge,
:13:07. > :13:12.the pace was SAT off. The pacemakers in the black and white.
:13:12. > :13:20.These two have joined now. Graham Murray has always looked fairly
:13:20. > :13:25.comfortable. She has always move to with Damon. She has rejoined them.
:13:25. > :13:29.All three of these British women are running around about 2.27
:13:29. > :13:35.players, maybe a little inside that, which is inside the time required
:13:35. > :13:39.if they are to run faster than Jo Pavey. There is the lead group now.
:13:39. > :13:43.There is Martin Lel in the blue and red vest, just alongside the
:13:43. > :13:47.pacemakers. The most successful ever London marathon runner. Three
:13:47. > :13:51.times the winner, twice second place. All the talk yesterday from
:13:51. > :13:56.his team-mates was that he's back in shape and back in good form. He
:13:56. > :14:00.won't give up this one without a fight. There are two races here
:14:00. > :14:03.today. The race for the London Marathon title and the race, which
:14:03. > :14:07.is the toughest race of all, to make the Kenyan team for the
:14:07. > :14:12.Olympic Games. Look how difficult that is going to be. Look how could
:14:12. > :14:19.these athletes are. 20: it has gone and they are approaching the
:14:19. > :14:23.halfway stage. David Weir is in the lead, just ahead of Marcel Hug in
:14:23. > :14:27.the distinctive silver helmet behind him. They are putting on a
:14:27. > :14:31.little bit of a break here. It can be a little bit deceptive over
:14:31. > :14:35.Tower Bridge. It is quite a tough climb and you can get a bit of
:14:35. > :14:39.speed coming down. It is interesting seeing Dave Weir, he
:14:39. > :14:42.shouted at Marcel Hug, come through, you need to take a bit of a lead,
:14:42. > :14:47.because they need to start splitting up the pack now. They
:14:47. > :14:55.don't want 13 or 14 guys coming through to the sprint finish.
:14:55. > :15:05.of the women is that Shelley Woods, along with so Ejide and Diane Roy
:15:05. > :15:10.
:15:10. > :15:18.were altogether after 15 kilometres. Bridge. The leading group of
:15:18. > :15:28.watching each other, keeping close. Approaching 12 miles. The pace is
:15:28. > :15:32.just lifting a little now. They are running around 2:21 pace. I would
:15:32. > :15:42.not be surprised if they started to think about how they can pick up
:15:42. > :15:47.
:15:47. > :15:53.running brilliantly to win at the Berlin Marathon. Tower Bridge
:15:53. > :15:59.looming for the British fight for that Olympic place that is
:15:59. > :16:05.available. Louise Damen on the right as you look. On the far side,
:16:05. > :16:09.Freya Murray in the red. Claire Hallissey is 121. They are with the
:16:09. > :16:16.pacemaker. They have been locked together for the last three or four
:16:16. > :16:20.macro miles. Not far away from the halfway point. They are going at a
:16:20. > :16:30.quicker pace than they might have asked for, but it is a good pace
:16:30. > :16:30.
:16:30. > :16:36.and at the moment it is at pace which will, for one of them,...
:16:36. > :16:45.They have given themselves a good chance. The lead wheelchairs are
:16:45. > :16:51.into Canary Wharf now. David Weir is right at the front. Those two,
:16:51. > :16:55.still. The lead men and Patrick Makau is the first of the big men
:16:55. > :17:00.to pursue alongside the pacemakers. That is because he might not think
:17:00. > :17:04.this is as fast as he once said. We talk about tactics and one or two
:17:04. > :17:09.will want it to be quicker, they will want to get rid of some other
:17:09. > :17:17.athletes. Makau is reputedly in good shape. There's the British
:17:17. > :17:25.contenders. Up the in Whitby is in that group, and Andy Jones. --
:17:25. > :17:30.Benedict Whitby. Lee Merrien wearing No. 22. It is between
:17:30. > :17:35.Whitby and Merrien. Others have quietly prepared as well. They will
:17:35. > :17:43.be hoping this could be their day. 2:12 is the target for the British
:17:43. > :17:48.men. He they are coming around the Cutty Sark. The sight of the Cutty
:17:48. > :17:53.Sark warms the heart every year you watch the London Marathon. The
:17:53. > :17:56.crowds are phenomenal, the atmosphere is brilliant and the
:17:56. > :18:01.support is remarkable. They come out early to get a good position
:18:01. > :18:08.and it really is a good position here. This is a sad sight to see
:18:08. > :18:12.Liz Yelling struggling across Tower Bridge. I had a quick chat with her
:18:12. > :18:17.yesterday and she didn't seem particularly confident. She knew
:18:17. > :18:20.preparations had not gone well. I'm sure she would keep going, but her
:18:20. > :18:25.dream of representing Great Britain at the Olympic Games has
:18:25. > :18:29.disappeared. But she will be wishing her compatriots all the
:18:29. > :18:33.best. She knew it would be between these three. Everyone was talking
:18:33. > :18:40.about Claire Hallissey, Louise Damen and Freya Murray and the
:18:40. > :18:45.three of them are locked in battle. There's the lead group. Mary
:18:45. > :18:50.Keitany, 15 miles gone. These athletes are starting to now get
:18:50. > :18:56.competitive. The pace is getting stronger. The last two miles have
:18:56. > :19:00.been really, really quick. Shelly Woods of Great Britain has amassed
:19:00. > :19:07.a big lead. 12 months ago, she was locked together for just about the
:19:07. > :19:12.whole race with Amanda McGrory, who eventually won it. But Shelly Woods
:19:12. > :19:19.is riding well here. She is over a minute ahead of what Kakuta sushi
:19:19. > :19:22.do from Japan. This shows her confidence. She is getting her head
:19:22. > :19:28.down on concentrating on what she needs to do. This is the best race
:19:28. > :19:35.I have seen her do. The chasers are about a minute back. And that is a
:19:35. > :19:40.heck of a lead. Surely she will win the title once more. This is the
:19:40. > :19:47.crucial point of the race for selection for the Great Britain
:19:47. > :19:51.team. Claire Hallissey is making the move. Louise Damen is just
:19:52. > :20:01.struggling a little. Hallissey is really stretching them now. This is
:20:01. > :20:10.a significant point for the race to join Paula Radcliffe and Mari
:20:10. > :20:13.Yamauchi in the Olympic Games team. She needs to run the 2:28. We had a
:20:13. > :20:17.fantastic finish last year, and we could be having a repeat
:20:17. > :20:22.performance this year. It also looks like George Cassidy from
:20:22. > :20:27.Canada, who won Boston last week, is not in the pack. That will be a
:20:27. > :20:37.big relief to Dave that he doesn't have too many people who can out
:20:37. > :20:40.
:20:40. > :20:44.there as well. This could be the Japanese Paralympic trial. A lot to
:20:44. > :20:52.be won and lost here. But once again, it could be down to the
:20:53. > :21:00.sprinters when they get to the Mall in about 15 minutes' time. There's
:21:00. > :21:06.Claire Hallissey, the first British athlete, running about 2:27, 2:28.
:21:06. > :21:10.Behind her, Freya Murray is surging. Louise Damen looks like she is the
:21:10. > :21:14.struggling. Hallissey looks comfortable. I thought Murray
:21:14. > :21:20.looked comfortable in her pursuit of Claire Hallissey. We have a good
:21:20. > :21:27.race between them. 12 miles completed, the halfway mark
:21:27. > :21:31.approaches. That will give us an indication. Last year it was round
:21:31. > :21:38.about 62.5 and I think we will be looking for that sort of pace here.
:21:38. > :21:43.That looks like Kipsang right up alongside the pacemaker. But that
:21:43. > :21:47.group is so full of talent, even at this pace, there are still five or
:21:47. > :21:54.six men that are going quickly. Slightly different to the women.
:21:54. > :21:59.The talent is there. They have gone for it. The crowds are absolutely
:21:59. > :22:09.massive hit in the Mall. 200 metres to go and it is David Weir who hits
:22:09. > :22:14.
:22:14. > :22:20.David Weir, Paralympic champion on the track. Going for gold. This
:22:20. > :22:24.could be victory No. 6 in the wheelchair marathon. He equals
:22:24. > :22:31.Tanni Grey-Thompson's record of all time victories. He timed it
:22:32. > :22:38.absolutely perfectly. 1:32.23, outside the course record. It could
:22:39. > :22:43.be a big surprise in third place, another USA athlete. But David Weir
:22:43. > :22:49.is the victor. He set himself up beautifully for an attack on all
:22:49. > :22:53.sorts of events at the Paralympic Games in just over 130 days. That
:22:53. > :22:57.is absolutely fantastic. Perfectly timed, well-executed and it shows
:22:57. > :23:02.that he is in the best position of his life going into the Paralympics
:23:02. > :23:11.this year. We are entering the business end of the women's race.
:23:11. > :23:17.Things are just starting to happen. We have lost Lucy Kapuu from the
:23:17. > :23:20.lead group. Keitany, Edna Kiplagat, Florence Kiplagat. They are
:23:21. > :23:26.beginning to shift over the last five or six miles and the pressure
:23:26. > :23:32.is on. One by one they have dropped off his lead group. There's Claire
:23:32. > :23:36.Hallissey. Don't forget, Freya Murray past Louise Damen and still
:23:36. > :23:42.looks as though she is running strongly. That gap, if anything,
:23:42. > :23:46.has closed a little bit. She was nearly 10 seconds behind. We are
:23:46. > :23:52.going to see the 35 kilometres splits coming through for the lead
:23:52. > :23:57.pack. That is only four or five seconds. I think Freya Murray is
:23:57. > :24:03.within striking distance. Does she have it in had to catch her? The
:24:03. > :24:09.gap is closing. Mary Keitany stretching the world champion. Only
:24:09. > :24:12.a few yards, there's nobody giving up on it yet. Keitany is trying to
:24:12. > :24:17.win this one in a completely different way to her most recent
:24:17. > :24:23.marathon where she tried to run a world record. The third fastest
:24:23. > :24:28.ever halfway split in the New York Marathon for her. Today, she has
:24:28. > :24:34.bided her time and then has stretched away. Now opening up a
:24:34. > :24:39.few yards on the world champion, Edna Kiplagat. In the men, this is
:24:39. > :24:49.interesting. The world champion has joined phrase two. Kirui looking
:24:49. > :24:53.
:24:53. > :24:57.This is really, really quick running. They are within range of
:24:57. > :25:03.the world record. These three men, if they keep running like that,
:25:03. > :25:09.will not be too far away. Lee Merrien, I'm pleased to say, having
:25:09. > :25:14.gone through halfway in around 66.5 minutes, seems to be picking it up.
:25:14. > :25:19.He is moving better after that slow first 10 to 15 kilometres and I
:25:19. > :25:24.guess he is the only British man with a chance of getting close to
:25:24. > :25:30.that 2:12 mark, but he's got work to do. Shelly Woods can afford to
:25:30. > :25:35.relax now. She has dominated this race from about halfway point. You
:25:35. > :25:39.can't fault her for what she has done today. It is absolutely
:25:39. > :25:43.amazing what she has done today. She has defeated the best women in
:25:43. > :25:48.the world and she has laid down a marker for the marathon. To be the
:25:48. > :25:53.other women by three minutes is absolutely stunning. She won it in
:25:53. > :25:57.2007, she is the champion again. Shelly Woods of Great Britain wins
:25:57. > :26:03.the wheelchair marathon. A couple of miles further back down the
:26:03. > :26:07.course, Mary Keitany has the lead all to herself. The Kenyan who got
:26:07. > :26:12.it wrong in New York get -- very much getting it right in London
:26:12. > :26:22.today. It has been a brilliant display of distance running in the
:26:22. > :26:22.
:26:22. > :26:29.last eight or nine miles. Diane Roy heads for home. Wakako Tsuchida is
:26:29. > :26:35.coming on the outside! She comes through! So strong in this final
:26:35. > :26:41.finish. Roy has had enough now. She is coasting to the line.
:26:41. > :26:47.Canadian has got nothing left. What Kaka is to see her take silver. The
:26:47. > :26:52.bronze medal for Diane Roy. Mary Keitany of Kenya has led through
:26:52. > :26:57.the second half of the race in super-fast time. They went through
:26:57. > :27:00.half for a just inside 71 minutes. She has run the second half of the
:27:00. > :27:06.marathon in a time most people would be proud of to run just that
:27:06. > :27:10.distance alone. Keitany has her husband and son with her today. She
:27:10. > :27:15.said she wanted them to celebrate with her. That is what she will be
:27:15. > :27:20.able to do. It will be a personal best, but more importantly, she
:27:20. > :27:24.will retain her title in the London Marathon. She wore head to the
:27:24. > :27:29.Olympics later this year. A stunning performance from her in
:27:29. > :27:33.the last 10 miles. A new Kenyan record as well for Mary Keitany.
:27:33. > :27:39.One of the quickest marathons, and perhaps the quickest second half of
:27:40. > :27:46.a marathon we have seen in recent times. Mary Keitany, absolutely
:27:46. > :27:50.unbeatable today. If she runs like that in the Olympic Games, I would
:27:50. > :27:55.suggest she will immediately have placed herself as an early
:27:55. > :28:00.favourite for the gold medal. Edna Kiplagat takes second place. It
:28:00. > :28:06.will be just inside the 2:20 mark for Kiplagat and that is the new
:28:06. > :28:16.personal best for her. The two of them know that Olympic selection is
:28:16. > :28:17.
:28:17. > :28:26.probably assured. Jeptoo has run her personal best by a couple of
:28:26. > :28:30.minutes. Coming along towards Tower Bridge and the Embankment in the
:28:30. > :28:37.second -- and the second fastest marathon runner of all time, Wilson
:28:37. > :28:43.Kipsang of Kenya. He has been running faster and faster. The
:28:43. > :28:48.result of that is he has opened a gap, blow in the field apart. Their
:28:49. > :28:53.run races behind him, but Wilson Kipsang won the Frankfurt marathon
:28:53. > :28:57.in the second fastest time ever, the only man, with Patrick Makau,
:28:57. > :29:07.able to run any faster than the great highly Gebrselassie held the
:29:07. > :29:13.world record at. A really good performance from Wilson Kipsang.
:29:13. > :29:22.Claire Hallissey of Great Britain on her way. She will run close to
:29:22. > :29:26.two 28 -- 2:28. They knew the task today and only it a time inside
:29:26. > :29:31.2:28 would put her up for Olympic selection. A smile breaks out
:29:31. > :29:39.across her face. Claire Hallissey is the first British athlete home.
:29:39. > :29:44.2:27.46 or so. Well done to her. The paint and the glory. It will be
:29:44. > :29:49.very close for Freya Murray. A good performance from her in her very
:29:49. > :29:53.first marathon, also inside the time requested of these athletes.
:29:53. > :30:03.She can be very proud of her first performance. Not quite good enough
:30:03. > :30:11.
:30:11. > :30:15.to beat Claire Hallissey, but the from this month. Kipsang, of Kenya,
:30:15. > :30:19.now finding the chance to pick up his knees. He's watching the clock
:30:19. > :30:24.tick away. The course record will probably slip by before he gets to
:30:24. > :30:27.the finish line. But that doesn't matter today, it's been about the
:30:27. > :30:32.victory, it's been about running for Glory, about getting himself
:30:32. > :30:35.into the Olympic team. Kipsang takes the victory in London. He has
:30:36. > :30:42.won in Frankfurt before. This time it is the biggest victory of his
:30:42. > :30:50.career. Kipsang wins the London Marathon. He stood strongest on the
:30:50. > :30:56.day. The crowds are cheering them on here. Kebede, of Ethiopia,
:30:56. > :31:01.Martin Lel, of Kenya. Neck and neck, just a yard between them. Now it's
:31:01. > :31:05.half a yard. There he stretches away. Kebede can't respond. He's
:31:05. > :31:12.trying to fight all the way to the line. Martin Lel will take second
:31:12. > :31:18.place here. Martin Lel, of Kenya. On the podium again in London.
:31:18. > :31:26.Kebede takes third spot for Ethiopia. A great race from two
:31:26. > :31:30.great champions of the past. Two hours and 12 minutes. Lee Merrien,
:31:30. > :31:34.that was the time he hoped he would have crossed the line. He hoped it
:31:34. > :31:40.would be a different story. He's gritting his teeth, he's trying to
:31:40. > :31:45.find a little bit extra. He will break his personal best time, and
:31:45. > :31:50.that on any day is worth cheering, but today it wasn't quite the
:31:50. > :31:55.result he'd hoped for. There were two fabulous wheelchair
:31:55. > :32:01.races here today in perfect conditions. David Weir, his sixth
:32:01. > :32:08.victory in this race. As far as the women were concerned, Shelley Woods
:32:08. > :32:14.getting her Olympic year off to a great start. Winning by almost four
:32:14. > :32:18.minutes. Tanni was sailing you are in the
:32:18. > :32:23.best form of your life. Do you feel that? The air, I'm in great shape,
:32:23. > :32:26.I've had a really good winter. I've had no shoulder injuries. I've been
:32:26. > :32:32.consistent in the chair. I'm the lightest I've been but the
:32:32. > :32:37.strongest as well. I'm happy. know you were the first man to win
:32:37. > :32:41.five of those titles last year, now you have equalled Tanni's fantastic
:32:41. > :32:46.record. That must mean something to you. The great privilege to be up
:32:46. > :32:49.there with Tanni, she is a great role model. She's the one who
:32:49. > :32:54.really got me back into the sport. Watching her in Sydney brought me
:32:54. > :33:00.back. It's great to equal her record. You were so young when you
:33:00. > :33:04.when you first one in 2007. Does this one me more to you because of
:33:04. > :33:12.everything that's happened? Most definitely. This is probably the
:33:12. > :33:18.best win of my career. With this field. Everybody Was there apart
:33:18. > :33:23.from Eden, from Switzerland. I hear she's been sick. Amanda McGrory has
:33:23. > :33:27.been so strong. It's nice to stop her winning a hat-trick! It was
:33:27. > :33:37.great. I heard Prince Harry was giving up the medals. I've never
:33:37. > :33:39.
:33:39. > :33:45.met him, so I thought I'd better off the course record. Martin Lel
:33:45. > :33:48.in them again and Kebede taking third place. Lee Merrien came so
:33:48. > :33:52.close but it wasn't good enough on the day, despite a personal best.
:33:52. > :33:55.He was the best of the British athletes.
:33:55. > :34:02.You said you didn't feel the pressure of Olympic selection. You
:34:02. > :34:06.really didn't? Yes, because I think I was really feeling good. My
:34:06. > :34:10.training was really OK and I knew that the only way to survive was to
:34:10. > :34:15.secure a win in this race. And now you can look forward to the Olympic
:34:16. > :34:19.Games. Of course. I'm very happy after winning this race. I will
:34:19. > :34:26.stand a chance to represent my country at the Olympics, and back
:34:26. > :34:36.again to London. You must love London now. A beautiful city!
:34:36. > :34:40.
:34:40. > :34:46.Mary Keitany with that super-fast the Olympic team with a personal
:34:46. > :34:53.best. It was a great debut from Freya Murray, with two hours, 28,
:34:53. > :35:03.Now you've won the race Juan now back to being a mum. I'm very happy
:35:03. > :35:05.
:35:05. > :35:10.for them because they are telling me, ma'am, Go, Go! They were used
:35:10. > :35:15.to seeing the on television in Kenya but they saw me on the road
:35:15. > :35:19.today in London. What would it mean to compete at the London Games?
:35:19. > :35:24.would be fantastic. The Home Olympics, it's the chance of a
:35:24. > :35:27.lifetime. It would be great. came here to do the job, you've
:35:27. > :35:31.done it and hopefully we will see you there.
:35:31. > :35:34.The London Marathon is about running 26 miles as fast as you can,
:35:34. > :35:43.but it's also become the world's largest annual fund-raising event,
:35:43. > :35:45.with so many inspirational tales to tell. We caught up with someone who
:35:45. > :35:55.explains though he is running for and why he wants to make a
:35:55. > :35:59.What made you do the London Marathon in the first place? Last
:35:59. > :36:03.summer, my uncle was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I decided I wanted
:36:03. > :36:07.to give something back and also raise awareness about it. I wanted
:36:07. > :36:13.to take up a challenge where people would realise that I was serious
:36:13. > :36:18.about it. There's no better thing to do than the marathon. Literate,
:36:18. > :36:24.I went on the internet, looked for the Prostate Cancer Charity and
:36:24. > :36:29.found that they were going to run as part of PB Team, as part of
:36:29. > :36:34.Breast Cancer Care. These are the two cancers that most affect people.
:36:34. > :36:38.10,000 men die of prostate cancer a year, 12,000 die of breast cancer.
:36:38. > :36:42.As a team, there are 800 runners getting together to run for that
:36:42. > :36:46.cause, to try to raise �1 million for charity. You've got people who
:36:46. > :36:49.are running who have just been diagnosed with prostate cancer,
:36:49. > :36:53.they've been diagnosed with breast cancer. They are running the
:36:53. > :36:58.marathon, so that gives you a great inspiration to say, you know what,
:36:58. > :37:04.if they can do it then so can we. So far, I've raised �8,500 but I'd
:37:04. > :37:08.like to get as much as possible. I've had donations come in as high
:37:08. > :37:13.as �5,000 to �5, but the key thing about this cause is every penny
:37:13. > :37:17.really counts. I know those people who have put that money towards me
:37:17. > :37:21.are the ones going to be motivating me on the day to keep going, take
:37:21. > :37:24.every step, even when it gets really tough. A big part of the day
:37:24. > :37:29.is raising money for the charities involved, but it's also about
:37:29. > :37:34.raising awareness. Tell me how that is going to help. I've asked people,
:37:34. > :37:37.even if they will not donate, just to visit the website of the two
:37:37. > :37:43.charities, just to learn a bit more. There's so much that people can
:37:43. > :37:47.learn about the early stages and about prevention and detection that
:37:47. > :37:51.can make a real difference. The fund raising is great and that will
:37:51. > :37:55.help as well, but the more people who know about prostate and breast
:37:55. > :37:59.cancer and the early signs of it, the more people we can save it. So
:37:59. > :38:06.hopefully I've been able to take some steps to do that. Tell me
:38:06. > :38:12.about your special training part -- partner. 101 years old, is that
:38:12. > :38:16.correct? Yes, he was 101 on a bowl first. He is going to be running
:38:16. > :38:22.the marathon as well. He plans to break his own record. He's a great
:38:22. > :38:27.inspiration. If he can do that at 101, he's so positive and such a
:38:27. > :38:31.great person to be around, it just keeps you going through training.
:38:31. > :38:35.It's been a great buzz. Everywhere I've been going, whether it's the
:38:35. > :38:39.local park, shops, getting people to fund raised, it's been fantastic
:38:39. > :38:44.getting to talk to people about it. It's been a great experience and I
:38:44. > :38:49.wholly recommended to anyone. 750 charities are now officially
:38:49. > :38:53.registered, and they raised �52 million last year - quite
:38:53. > :38:56.extraordinary, as are some of the sights to see out and about on the
:38:56. > :39:00.course. Hopefully you will catch a glimpse of something or somebody
:39:00. > :39:02.that you know. Lots of stories and so many people
:39:02. > :39:06.Lots of stories and so many people with many miles to go. We are
:39:06. > :39:10.moving into that area where sometimes it is the athletes from
:39:10. > :39:13.the running clubs who are coming towards the finish line. I've got
:39:13. > :39:23.to mention one from the Biddulph running club, he's running but
:39:23. > :39:27.
:39:27. > :39:33.Parkinson's UK. Kevin shovel bottom running clubs around the country,
:39:33. > :39:37.as well as all of those who just run for fun, run for charity, run
:39:37. > :39:47.for the challenge. You can see some of the messages going across that
:39:47. > :39:53.
:39:53. > :40:02.runners as we can out on the route. In what is remaining a really nice
:40:02. > :40:09.date. We had some showers forecast early on, but so far it has been
:40:09. > :40:14.sunshine all the way. Our first celebrity home this year, male or
:40:14. > :40:21.female - look at this. She went through halfway in one hour, 25, 42.
:40:21. > :40:27.That was really quick. None the less, she hasn't slowed too much.
:40:27. > :40:35.She looks fantastic, as she turns the corner with 200 de Gaulle. Nell
:40:35. > :40:40.McAndrew, one of many athletes who train hard, she breaks three hours.
:40:40. > :40:47.She enters a very small, select group of people who have run under
:40:47. > :40:51.three hours for the marathon. Etude Shea. A smile breaks out! Nell
:40:51. > :40:55.McAndrew accepting the plaudits of everybody here. She's a very
:40:55. > :41:00.popular character now on the running theme. And why not, her
:41:00. > :41:04.efforts have been enormous! And now maybe be motion is starting to
:41:04. > :41:14.break through. That's a superb performance from Nell McAndrew.
:41:14. > :41:24.Well done indeed. Two hours, 54 minutes. No wonder she breaks into
:41:24. > :41:27.
:41:27. > :41:31.a few tears of joy and pride. Well the first celebrity home, but this
:41:31. > :41:39.is a personal best buys some time. You run the marathon in two hours,
:41:39. > :41:46.54 minutes. What was your personal best before that? Three hours,
:41:46. > :41:51.eight minutes. I'm gutted because the last two miles I was desperate
:41:51. > :41:55.for the toilet but I thought, I'm not stopping, I haven't got time! I
:41:55. > :41:59.just burst into tears as I crossed over. I've got a special request
:41:59. > :42:03.because my dad was 60 on Friday. He's lucky to be a survivor of
:42:04. > :42:09.cancer. If you could wish him happy birthday, he might crack a smile.
:42:09. > :42:19.He's really grumpy normally. Happy birthday, Dad. Happy birthday from
:42:19. > :42:22.
:42:22. > :42:27.hours. As James Cracknell turns the corner, he knows that he's got 90
:42:28. > :42:31.seconds to cover 180 metres also. He's just going in front of us now.
:42:31. > :42:34.He might not be moving as well have the maybe has done in some other
:42:34. > :42:41.occasions in his career, particularly when he's sitting in a
:42:41. > :42:45.boat, but he's going to head for this sub three-hour mark. His
:42:45. > :42:48.pacemaker is stuck to him like blue. He's gritting his teeth and
:42:48. > :42:53.fighting hard. This will be a really good performance from James
:42:53. > :42:59.Cracknell. He's had many challenges since he gave up live in a rowing
:42:59. > :43:04.boat. This is always one of the toughest, he says. It is under
:43:04. > :43:08.three hours. He's definitely broken the three-hour mark. Well done,
:43:08. > :43:13.James Cracknell. Lots of others around him sprinting for the line
:43:13. > :43:20.as best they can. I am not sure that is the best vantage point I've
:43:20. > :43:27.ever seen for that. Do they think it's the Boat race? Anyway, they've
:43:27. > :43:31.got a good view of Tower Bridge. On Tower Bridge, she has been there
:43:31. > :43:34.all morning, Denise Lewis. You've reached the halfway stage. I
:43:34. > :43:43.know it's not easy out there but tell us who you are running for
:43:43. > :43:49.today. For the lily Foundation. Dave's border. Lilly died, my niece,
:43:49. > :43:54.and we run every year for her. We look forward to seeing you on Tower
:43:54. > :44:00.Bridge. Every year he gives me this bet. That's 20 more quid. Another
:44:00. > :44:04.20! We are going to get there. We've got 28 runners running for as
:44:04. > :44:11.this year. But please sponsor us because we need all the money for
:44:11. > :44:16.research. Please keep the money coming into us. We are going to get
:44:16. > :44:20.round, not an Olympic time. This year I based my pace on Steve Cram.
:44:20. > :44:30.I watched him in a bar one night, it was his turn to get the drinks.
:44:30. > :44:34.
:44:34. > :44:39.I'm copying my place on that, slow, man isn't, James Cracknell. You
:44:39. > :44:43.broke three hours. It looked a hard slog those last few miles. It was
:44:44. > :44:47.pretty hard. It's the first time I've got under three since I had an
:44:47. > :44:52.accident in the States. I haven't run for a month, which may have
:44:52. > :44:56.helped me, especially pacing the first half. But the support from
:44:56. > :45:01.the crowd in the second is just an idea of what it's going to be like
:45:01. > :45:11.for the Guy's and girls competing in London. It will be phenomenal.
:45:11. > :45:24.
:45:24. > :45:31.The crowds are still cheering on Marathon is a little bit nervous
:45:31. > :45:41.two -- today. His wife Sharon is running the marathon. She has gone
:45:41. > :45:42.
:45:42. > :45:50.through the halfway point in 1:36. Also Pauline Dickson from Newcastle
:45:50. > :45:54.University, senior lecturer. I came down on the train and she gave me a
:45:54. > :46:02.couple of jelly babies. If you are running a marathon, jelly babies,
:46:02. > :46:06.jelly beans, put them in your pocket and when you are struggling,
:46:06. > :46:10.a couple of jelly beans. What happens if you eat them on the
:46:10. > :46:20.Friday and not the Sunday? Eyes suggest that is where you are going
:46:20. > :46:30.
:46:30. > :46:38.last mile. The finish is just ahead of them. Many of their compatriots
:46:38. > :46:41.our way back on the course. Let's find out how they are getting on.
:46:42. > :46:49.few months' time we will be welcoming a global icon and a
:46:49. > :46:54.global sports star, but we have got you today! Tell us about why you
:46:54. > :46:58.are running. I am running for children with cancer. I want to
:46:58. > :47:06.give them a chance to have a good future and raise as much money as
:47:06. > :47:12.possible. What has the atmosphere been like? It is brilliant every
:47:12. > :47:16.year. It keeps me wanting to do it. Every year I keep coming back
:47:16. > :47:25.because it is amazing. You're a great inspiration, I hope you raise
:47:25. > :47:31.lots of money. Off you go. always do us proud at these events
:47:31. > :47:41.and you have done it again. I am going for a world record as the
:47:41. > :47:55.
:47:55. > :48:00.world's fastest school boy. My at the finish, congratulations.
:48:00. > :48:05.Happy birthday, what a thing to be doing on your birthday. I know,
:48:05. > :48:12.it's crazy. The second time it has happened on my birthday. I hope you
:48:12. > :48:17.have a big party planned. Yes, I can't wait. A nice glass of wine!
:48:17. > :48:23.Well done to you, I salute you. Thanks for stopping. Introduce
:48:23. > :48:28.yourself. My name is Louise and I'm running for Macmillan Cancer
:48:28. > :48:33.Support. Why is that did to your heart. I'm running for my mum, I
:48:33. > :48:38.love you, she has terminal cancer. She's my inspiration, the bravest
:48:38. > :48:42.woman in the world. I know she wasn't able to make it today.
:48:42. > :48:46.watching in bed so I really wanted to get on TV and tell her how much
:48:46. > :48:56.I love her. I promise to have a shower before I give you a kiss.
:48:56. > :49:07.
:49:07. > :49:14.You are doing her proud, Raworth, after all the problems
:49:14. > :49:17.last year, when she collapsed with a couple of miles to go. She had to
:49:17. > :49:22.be almost resuscitated to get to the finish line. A different story
:49:22. > :49:28.this year. She looks in fine fettle and the clock has not yet got a
:49:28. > :49:34.four hours so well done to her. will beat her time from last year
:49:34. > :49:44.by two hours and 22 minutes. There will be no more improved athlete.
:49:44. > :49:48.Well done, Sophie. Running for St John's Ambulance. That is a very,
:49:49. > :49:56.very good performance, well done. I'm sure her mum will be delighted
:49:56. > :50:00.as well, she was a little worried. Who are you running for? The MS
:50:00. > :50:05.Society. My mum had MS before she passed away. It is close to my
:50:05. > :50:09.heart. I want to say a massive hello to my dad, he's watching from
:50:09. > :50:13.Tenerife and I want to say hello to him. You are doing your mum and dad
:50:13. > :50:23.proud. An emotional day for you. I will let you get to the finish.
:50:23. > :50:26.
:50:26. > :50:32.disease Sophie Raworth. Last year we waited here and we heard the
:50:32. > :50:36.news you had dropped out at 24 miles, but what a difference.
:50:36. > :50:42.very pleased to see you as well! It was the hardest thing I have ever
:50:42. > :50:47.done. I don't know how the elite athletes do that. They run twice as
:50:47. > :50:51.fast as us. It was wonderful. The last six miles, everybody says
:50:51. > :50:56.Deakin, but I had the biggest grin on my face. I couldn't believe I
:50:56. > :51:00.was there and felt fine. The people were fantastic, wonderful. You are
:51:00. > :51:07.running for St John's Ambulance, who helped you last year. I bet you
:51:07. > :51:11.were pleased the job pass that 24 mile... I'd got to 24.5 miles and
:51:11. > :51:21.Trish, who is still there this year, I was shouting to people in the
:51:21. > :51:26.
:51:26. > :51:36.crowd, tell her I have gone barefoot... There have been one or
:51:36. > :51:39.
:51:39. > :51:43.feet is more popular these days. A lot of people have been saying it
:51:43. > :51:51.is the wet -- way to go. Mind legs would not stand it these days. Go
:51:51. > :51:55.I am delighted to see these two at the finish. Their incredible
:51:55. > :52:01.challenge is finally over. You have had the most incredible week and a
:52:01. > :52:05.bit. Paris Marathon, you have cycled through France and the UK up
:52:05. > :52:11.to London, and rowed the Atlantic and now you have run the Atlantic.
:52:11. > :52:17.Tell us your time. A new personal best in the London Marathon. With
:52:17. > :52:22.three miles today we were both beat up. Paul was on one leg and I had
:52:22. > :52:27.cramp. I said I wanted a personal best. He responded like a true
:52:27. > :52:37.athlete. He got me over the line with a personal best. I made up. I
:52:37. > :52:47.
:52:47. > :52:53.can't believe it. We have rewritten record attempts. Some of them were
:52:53. > :53:03.achieved earlier. We had the fastest marathon dressed as a fairy
:53:03. > :53:04.
:53:04. > :53:10.if you are man. That was 2:49. That was impressive. We saw the fastest
:53:10. > :53:16.marathon in a school uniform. 3.36. And the fastest marathon dressed as
:53:16. > :53:21.a book character, Where's Wally, duly Donald, 3.39. We will have to
:53:21. > :53:29.come up with something. What would you do? If you had to break the
:53:29. > :53:34.record in the twilight of Your Career. What would you choose?
:53:34. > :53:43.think I would choose to try to run the marathon dressed as a former
:53:43. > :53:53.British international athlete. is great fun standing, as we are,
:53:53. > :53:59.
:53:59. > :54:09.near the bottom of the Mall and pay keep his looking lady. Foot of
:54:09. > :54:10.
:54:10. > :54:15.hours... We have the Wizard of Oz. How has the yellow-brick road been?
:54:15. > :54:20.It has been very long and very hard. But it is almost the end now. We
:54:20. > :54:25.can enjoy the last bit. What is the inspiration behind the outfits?
:54:25. > :54:30.were thinking about something we could do as a three. But we don't
:54:30. > :54:35.have a scarecrow. Has it been great running in a three? It has been
:54:35. > :54:39.fantastic. These two have been brilliant, it is my first marathon.
:54:39. > :54:44.They have been fantastic. There's not been a moment when I have felt
:54:44. > :54:48.we would not get round. If I didn't know any better, I would not have
:54:48. > :54:54.guessed you guys had just run 25 miles. Or you raising money for
:54:54. > :55:02.charity? Yes, for a charity that supports disabled children in
:55:02. > :55:05.Africa. I am running four Cents. It helps deaf and blind children.
:55:05. > :55:10.best of luck and rising that -- raising that money. I was just
:55:10. > :55:18.about to die on my feet! You have saved us. I hope we have given you
:55:18. > :55:22.some more extra motivation. Final push. We will skip over the line
:55:22. > :55:28.for top make sure you do. Best of luck and well done for getting this
:55:28. > :55:32.far. There's a Susanna Reid looking very fresh and not looking as
:55:32. > :55:38.though it has been too much of an ordeal. Enjoying the support from
:55:38. > :55:43.the crowd. She is heading for something around five hours and 15,
:55:43. > :55:51.which was about her target. Raising money for Sport Relief. Well done
:55:51. > :55:55.to her. She has kept a steady pace all the way through. It is her
:55:55. > :56:05.first taste of the marathon, she might come back and try to do it
:56:05. > :56:15.
:56:15. > :56:21.Birdcage Walk. It is always a welcome sight. It doesn't matter
:56:21. > :56:24.how much training you have done. Even for the elite athletes. When
:56:24. > :56:28.they come around this corner, they know there are just a couple of
:56:28. > :56:34.hundred yards to go. Particularly for those who are never sure
:56:34. > :56:39.whether they will get to the end or not. We will all be back here to
:56:39. > :56:42.watch the Olympic marathon in August. I'm sure it will be a
:56:42. > :56:47.little bit warmer on that day. I hope the atmosphere is at least as
:56:47. > :56:52.good as it has been today. I'm sure London will turn out and it will
:56:52. > :56:56.look something like this. The flags will be out. I hope the rain will
:56:56. > :56:59.hold off on that day. The clouds are gathering in the background,
:56:59. > :57:02.but it has been sunshine all the but it has been sunshine all the
:57:02. > :57:07.rage and London has put on a fantastic show.
:57:07. > :57:10.If you have been inspired to run, hopefully we will see you at the
:57:10. > :57:20.start next year! This year, that's it, but plenty more athletics
:57:20. > :57:35.
:57:35. > :57:39.Another year and another brilliant London Marathon. Some remarkable
:57:39. > :57:42.running and some remarkable pushing from David Weir, as well as the
:57:42. > :57:46.usual massive doses of bravery. This day really does capture the
:57:46. > :57:56.spirit of no pain, no gain. Hopefully we will be recovered for
:57:56. > :58:00.
:58:00. > :58:10.The 2012 London Marathon is under way. Ambitions, dreams, challenges
:58:10. > :58:15.
:58:15. > :58:23.The men really are steaming along. They are running quicker than the
:58:23. > :58:27.course record pace set by Emmanuel Mutai last year. It is David Weir
:58:27. > :58:33.who hits the front. He equals Tony Greig Thomson's record of all time
:58:33. > :58:36.victories. Mary Kerridge hardly stretching the world champion, Edna
:58:36. > :58:41.Kiplagat. Shelly Woods of Great Britain wins the wheelchair
:58:41. > :58:46.marathon. It will be a personal best for Mary Keitany. But more
:58:46. > :58:51.importantly, she will retain her title. Claire Hallissey is the