21/04/2013 London Marathon

One of the toughest sporting challenges. It will push you to the

limit, and then even further. No matter how fast or fit you are, the

finishing line is always sweet relief. Six days ago, though, the

finish of the Boston Marathon became a different scene as triumph

turned into terror. Today, as about the state to the streets of London

to run, to support, to cheer, their thoughts will never be far from

those critics scenes and those whose lives were irrevocably

changed. The 2013 London Marathon, a day to celebrate the strength of

the human spirit and a day to have to do to win his rise each

loudly in my face, another voice within me says, "get up and run

Good morning, and welcome to our coverage of the 33rd London

Marathon, a day that always covers the gamut of emotions but which

today has another dimension because of Boston. London once more becomes

the focal point for the sporting world, in bed -- in particular, the

iconic finish. The global running community is out in force again,

aiming for fast times, raising millions for charity and united in

a desire to conquer the 26.2 mile course. This year, they are united

in solidarity for the victims of Boston.

Krystle Campbell, Lu Lingzi and 8- year-old Martin Richard all went to

the Boston Marathon to cheer on the finishers. They would not return

home. These were the three lives taken in Monday -- Monday's oldest

marathon in the world. 70 more were injured, 17 critically. Some lost

limbs. The images left a city shocked and bewildered as a nation

and global audience watched on in disbelief. An elite race will

forever be linked to a senseless act of terror. Today, London is

united with Boston, remembering lives lost and lives devastated.

But defiantly they displayed at Just under a week since those

heart-rending scenes in Boston. The next major global marathon is the

London Marathon. Runners are gathering here in Blackheath at the

start, and there's a sense that the response is to race to celebrate

marathon day. With me is the chief executive and the former race

director. A former runner of some distinction, can you give me a

sense of the shockwaves this has sent through the marathon

community? I think, for us, the shockwaves were at different levels.

We know the people from Boston. We work with them and we know their

staff. We know many of the people who work with the tour operators

and things like that. For us, there were so many people we were

concerned about when we heard this news. There was clearly chaos and

carnage on the TV screens. It was difficult to take it all in.

Looking back a bit now, thank God it wasn't any worse than it was. It

could have been absolutely shocking. It was really bad. Our hearts and

thoughts are with them and have been all week. Obviously, there was

the shock David talks about. Then, in Ely, in all of the reports, they

were saying, it is London next. -- immediately. How have you

responded? They were shocking pictures. They have galvanised us

to look again at our security measures. We have had an amazing

response from the police, the mayor, other agencies, but also the

community. We have had to change a bit and put some more security

measures in. What has come out of it is that we have always known

that we are valued. We now know that we are treasured. It was an

amazing response from both runners and the public. What the police

have said is there is no increased threat, but it is a sense of

reassurance of people coming to watch and support. Absolutely.

London is a city that is well used to living with these threats, as we

have known for years. We have a very practised procedure through

our police. We know that people are going to respond positively to day

and support the runners. It will be a poignant moment with the 30

seconds silence at the beginning. We have had a fantastic response

from our runners. This will be the first time I have been on the start

podium. In the park, I have been part of the scenes behind the start

area. -- in the past. I am delighted to be doing it. The

period of silence will generate an amazing response. Thank you for

your time it will best fighter in what is a busy day. We are going to

head out to the Mall, where all the attention will be. A commentary

team are based there, Steve Cram and Brendan Foster. We can get

their views now, perhaps starting with Steve Cram. Steve, you have

been here all week. You have been to the press conferences. What is

your sense of the build-up to the race this year? Jonathan, it

started in a sombre mood, as you could understand. As Dade and Nick

have said, they did a fantastic job. -- Dave. The elite athletes arrived

and everything was as normal for them. Then the press conferences

started. They got people back into the normal mode. The course

generated increased its interest. They have handled things extremely

well. The reassurance to talk about was important for everybody,

because people were coming back from Boston, journalists who were

there and coming back to London, some of the Paralympic athletes who

are taking part, and gradually they were coming back with stories. But

it was important that they had a chance to tell that. As the week

has gone on, the mood has lifted and people are looking forward to

the race. We have got a cracking day. Once everybody gets moving,

yes, we will have time to reflect, but the important thing is we are

going to have a great event today. Brendan, as I mentioned, you have

been at every single race. How different does it feel this year?

Obviously, people's thoughts are going to be before the event, and

during the silence they will be with the people of Boston. After

that, London will show - the terrorist attack, it was not an

attack on running, it was an attack on humanity. Humanity, led by the

city of London and the British public, as always, will respond and

say, we can't be stopped from doing what we want to do. People want to

go for a run and challenge themselves. They want to do the

London Marathon. They want to live their lives. This is going to be a

response to that. Obviously, there's a part of everybody's mind

referring to Boston, but London will respond and take this event to

its heart, which it has always done. It was interesting to hear them say

that they have always known that the event was loved. We do treasure

the London Marathon. The British public treasure this event. Today,

London will respond and shine. The weather is fantastic for that

response. The city will uproarious. -- look glorious. I'm sure you are

right. Just a last quick question to you, Steve. We have some elite

races for this occasion, don't we? We do. It is fitting that, while we

reflect on what happened in Boston, don't forget Boston is almost the

patriarch of great marathon races. It was the inspiration for other

cities. London is now top of the tree because it gets the best elite

fields. This year could not be better. The men's race is a stellar

field. Who knows, we might even As you can see, the runners are

starting to gather. It is a beautiful, beautiful morning, if a

bit chilly. A great sense of expectation as runners look forward

to the fruition of months and weeks of planning. Here is what is coming

up over the next five hours. In one of the greatest fields ever

assembled, Stephen Kiprotich returns to the streets where he won

Olympic marathon gold eight months ago. He is joined by Wilson Kipsang,

bronze medallist at London 2012 but when of this race last year. All

eyes, though, will be on Mo Farah. He runs a half marathon today as

part of his build-up to the full distance next year.

In the women's elite race, it is another top-class field, with an

Olympic one soon as Tiki Gelana goes head-to-head with Priscah

In the wheelchair races, David Weir will be out to follow up his amends

this -- momentous 2012 with a win here. Shelly Woods will be going

for a third win. And, of course, after the elite,

comes the masses. Over 36,000 runners will power the streets to

raise money for worthy causes. They all have a story to tell and we

forecast. There was fast on the ground this morning. My feet are

like blocks of ice! But it is warming up. You can see that the

sun is shining and the temperature will increase through the day.

Hopefully, not to warm, though. Without the wind, it should be

pretty decent running conditions once they get going. Of course, you

once they get going. Of course, you don't have to be running to take

part. You can text or tweet your Well, lots of different start

points for the London Marathon. One of them is inside Greenwich Park.

This is where Sonali Shah has based herself. She is in the bandstand.

She is discovering some of the inspiring stories of why people are

running this race. I am with Gill, who will be running

with her dyed partner. Tell us your story. The two years ago, I lost my

sight. The eye condition as a charity that I am running for today.

How much are you hoping to raise? We have raised about �20,000, so

whatever we raise today will be good. Wow! What did she like as a

partner? -- what is she like. is really good. She keeps me in the

right way and makes sure I don't injure myself. She is not just your

side, she is your support out there. Yeah, she is really good. And you

have both already run the New York Marathon last year. The yeah, it

was really good. The only thing was the horror came. We ran around

central part. -- hurricane. We ran newsreaders and one sports reader,

so fairly worth, Mike Bushell, I bet you cannot wait to get started.

I think it will be pretty warm by lunchtime, we have all trained

through the winter in sub-zero temperatures. Suddenly, on the first

day we have to run the marathon and sun comes out. This is the only time

in my life I will ever say I am pacing and Olympic athlete. Ewing

Thomas -- Iwan, he always shoots off at the start, but he will stick with

me. Whether I can rein him in is another question. Will he keep up

with you at the end, that is the thing.

Susanna, how are you doing? I feel a bit like iron man, I have a

leg that is really strapped up. I would not call it an injury, I did a

bit of overtraining, that silly thing where you go from 16 miles to

20 miles in a couple of days so my leg is not feeling 100%, but I am

definitely going to finish it. And you feel it is a day where you

have to finish the race, given what has happened?

Of course, with Boston in mind everyone has to. There was a real

feeling afterwards, we were all suffering a bit, I was out of

training for three weeks from a cough, and you think, you have to

do, you have to do this, you just have to support them, really, and

think about what they were going through. It is just absolutely

ghastly. Mike, I presume you are going to

finish ahead of your BBC compatriots, no?

No, I have seen Sophie before, she has previous form. Speedy Gonzalez.

I think there may be a challenge between the three of us, I did not

do it fast last time, but by the end I was perfectly happy with no pain.

I will push myself more this time, I just want to hit the wall.

Stick around next for the VD, it is a map of the course. Maybe it will

put you off. -- stick around next for the video next. This is what the

course of the London Marathon looks like. The course is relatively flat

and fast, although interestingly London does not have the reputation

of being one of the quickest marathons.

There are three starting points, eventually converging as the runners

head east into Charlton and Woolwich. The rent -- then turn west

before reaching the Cutty Sark, now fully restored following the fire

six years ago. The then head south as the head towards Tower Bridge, at

a landmark that is very important as they mark their progress. Tower

Bridge incredibly important as that marks halfway, 13.1 miles at this

point. It would be lovely if the runners could then turn left and

make a - for the finish, but then it turns east along the highway into

Docklands, and after a tour around the Isle of Dogs the next major

landmark is Canary Wharf at the 19 mile mark. A loop of the sparkling

skyscrapers than it is the final West turn and a long-running home.

Through Saint Catherine 's Dock then back to once the Tower of London and

Tower Bridge, along the embankment with a lovely view of the shard,

towards the London Eye, Big Ben and the houses of parliament, passed

Buckingham Palace, onto the Mall and then they have done it. The tried

and tested route of the London Marathon, and in ten minutes the

first athletes on it will be the elite women. Phil Jones has a gauge

to these contenders. The streets of London where paved

with gold for Tiki Gelana last summer as she ran to Olympic

marathon success. Chasing her down will be Priscah Jeptoo, who took

silver last August. Florence Kibler gap's victory in the 2011 burial in

Madison demonstrated she is capable of a podium finish having been

fourth year a year ago. -- the 2011 burial in marathon.

After victory on her debut, Edna Kiplagat finished third last year.

Bank on these to be leading when the women hit the Mall.

Part of our commentary team down on the Mall is Paula Radcliffe, who

knows a thing or two about running the London Marathon. What do you

make of those leading contenders? Who would be your favourite?

It is a very strong field, my favourite would be Tiki Gelana. The

way that she made her debut in Rotterdam, she ran very fast time,

but also for the way she ran in the Olympics. She says she is in better

shape than for the Olympics, so she would be the favourite. Edna

Kiplagat behind her and Florence, also, is an outside shot. Florence

is a little more up and down than Edna, she is a consistent performer.

How do you feel Tiki Gelana will choose to run this?

That will be interesting to see. When the race goes off we will get a

feel for how they are going to run this. For me it is perfect

conditions today, not the wind there has been earlier in the week,

temperature wise it is pretty much perfect for running. They may attack

hard from the start, they may decide to watch each other and play around

a bit more then start running faster from halfway. It is difficult to

tell how they are going to go until we see the first couple of miles.

Well, Paula, obviously it is great to have you in the commentary box,

but we will chat about your injuries and a second, first look back to

Kenya as a go at what you did here at the London Marathon.

There is no better example of distance running than what we see

from Paula Radcliffe. She is the best in the world at this

event. Paula Radcliffe, pushing back the

barriers. It is an absolute joy and a pleasure

and a privilege to watch Paula Radcliffe.

This woman really is a phenomenon If I could stand up, I would applaud

like everyone else because you are seeing a new world record from Paula

Radcliffe, a fantastic performance, the best yet. Unbelievable.

Well, Paula, it really was a remarkable performance, difficult to

see it ever being broken to be honest. All we want to know is what

is your fitness like? I know you have had an operation, could you

give us an update on whether you will ever run again in London?

Happily for me I have been able to get back jogging in the last couple

of weeks. It is really slow but moving in the right direction. I am

just happy to be at that stage, I am taking it step-by-step at the moment

to see what level I can get back to. It doesn't change what I am doing at

the moment, it is getting my foot better each day. Being here this

morning and standing on the Mall, it is the first time I have ever stood

here, I have using -- usually been running as hard as I could do that

finish line. It is a unique experience this morning.

OK, Pollock continues, good luck with the rehabilitation. -- Paula

Radcliffe continues. From one world record holder to another one, Colin

Jackson has been rubbing shoulders with the elite athletes.

From inside this tent, the winners are gathered up and escorted to the

start line, and this is where the final checks will take place.

Usually inside there tends to be a lot of tension, but not in there,

and I think that is because they had 26 miles in front of them - no need

for attention whatsoever. This room is around with talent. We have the

will Olympic champion and bookies favourite, just putting her numbers

on and spikes, Tiki Gelana. She is not the only one who has gone under

two hours and 20 minutes, there are three others saw it will be a very

competitive race in deed. As far as I am concerned, these are more

nervous, anxious, ready to go, and before they do I think I had better

go. I will see you shortly. Here is the timetable for the races

this morning. The elite women's race featuring the Olympic champion off

featuring the Olympic champion off at 9am. At 9:20am the wheelchair

race, look out for David Weir going for his record seventh win. Just

after that, the IPC world marathon cup, featuring Richard Whitehead.

The elite men's race and the masses start at 10am, and from 1230 PM we

will be focusing on the fun runners will be focusing on the fun runners

and London Marathon stories. The women are there on the start

line, and they will be looking forward to get off as as soon as

possible, and I wonder who it will be that will add to this list Reus

list of former winners. -- illustrious list.

At a horrific finish. We make our one second inside the previous world

best. -- at terrific finish. This is Paula Radcliffe, well and truly on

top form. This has been a superb performance, she wins the London

Marathon 2008. Mary Keitany, stunning performance

elite women, and good morning to our commentary team once again, Paula

Radcliffe and Brendan Foster, Steve Cram.

Thank you Jonathan, good morning to everyone on this beautiful morning.

The masses race, of course, when we will all be paying our respects to

the events in Boston earlier on in the week, just less than a week

ago. Before all of that happens, the elite women get to set off first.

Looking resplendent in the sunshine, and we have mentioned some of the

great names who will be competing today. There is the full list for

the elite field, headed up by many people's favourite, Tiki Gelana, the

Olympic champion. Priscah Jeptoo will go very well, I think, also.

Meselech Melkamu, an old hand on the track. A big Japanese contingent,

they are using this as the trial for the world Championships in Moscow

later this year. As indeed are the two British women, Amy Whitehead and

early hours this morning, but the sun is warming things up, and as

Paula Radcliffe was saying, perfect for fast running on what is still a

pretty quick course around London. It may not be the quickest in the

world but is one of them. Let us introduce you to the main

contenders. ANNOUNCER: Representing Kenya, Florence Kibler Gatt.

She made her debut in October, she is a multiple world track and cross

country medallist, Meselech Melkamu. Then the reigning world champion,

Edna Kiplagat. Winning 113 -- 113, the Olympic silver medallist from

London 2012 representing Kenya, Priscah Jeptoo. And a big reception

please for the Olympic champion from London 2012, representing Ethiopia,

Tiki Gelana. We are ready to run our first race of today in the elite

women's field. The announcer doing wonderful introductions, I already

-- always feel sorry for the elite women as there is not many people to

see them start, so they are applauding themselves, really. A

little bit of an issue for them when this elite field gets going, they

will have no company, the road will be clear, and as the group breaks up

they will be hoping one or two of the pacemakers, David Bedford and

Dave Best will be the chief starter today. He said he is very honoured

to be doing that job. You can see him on the right-hand side. The race

starter is former world record-holder David Bedford.

Still being an organiser, checking his own watch making sure he does

not set them away early. The virgin London Marathon 2013 is

under way, the elite women with what promises to be a wonderful race

you never know what to expect. We have these Olympic and world

champions. Gounod's what we are going to see in the next few hours.

-- who knows. It was great to see the race director on the start line.

He has been responsible for taking the elite side of the London

Marathon and making it a truly international, probably the best

the elite field in the world. And the field is outstanding. We are

usually talking about corner being in the front. -- Paula Radcliffe.

You must feel terrible sitting there! Recently I have been sitting

alongside you rather than being out there. Obviously, I would rather be

out there. But still, if you can't be out there, the next best place

to be is appreciating the race here. It was interesting to listen to

some of the build up. I believe London is a fast course. I think it

has got the best crowd in the world, the best city. It is extremely

quick. It depends how you commit to the race. One thing I would say is

that because of the strength of the field, what we see is people

looking around at each other and not getting the head down and

getting on with the race. As we are seeing, we have got the three

pacemakers in the black and white stripes, and they have been asked

to go through halfway in 69.15. At the moment my it does not look as

though the field is keen to go with that. That is Gelana there from

Ethiopia, who is trying to get there but is not quite on the back

of the pacemakers. She seems to be looking around to see if anybody is

prepared to come with her. BRENDAN FOSTER: The record books do

not say it is a slow course. The record has been standing for 10

years. STEVE CRAM: if you are watching the

clip off Paula Radcliffe winning when she did the superb time, which

is still the official world record, although the rules have changed a

bit. The women are not allowed to have any pacemakers at all. Any

records set going for it have to be done in a women-only race. -- going

why the pacemakers head off and the field do not follow, they are asked

to go at a certain pace, they are getting paid to do that and they

will stick to what they have been asked to do. If they are sensible,

they will keep an eye on them. There's three levels of pace. You

can see a couple of groups breaking up. The British pair, Amy White

head and Susan Partridge, and I should say there are others in the

field - you can get in this elite race and be so far adrift of what

is going on the front, you may be better off in the main race.

have got a new white head who is taking the early start to day but

one race a few years ago. It is going to be more dribble around you

in the mass raids. You are going to have a bit more of an atmosphere. -

- more people. The danger of being on the elite start is that it does

start to spread out. After seven or eight miles, you may be running on

your own for a long time. It is not a big field here and it has already

broken down into three distinct groups. So, the pacemakers have

been set to bring them home in under 2.19. In these early stages,

he looks like they are not particularly interested. -- it

looks. They are letting the pacemakers drift away. That is not

what we want to see. Gelana has talked about the shape she is in.

Quite a few of these athletes, Gelana included, had intended to

run the New York marathon in November. The plans changed because

they were all in New York and the hurricane hit, meaning the race was

cancelled. She has not run a marathon since then. She has done a

half marathon. She elected not to substitute New York. Some others

did. Seat turned her attention to London. She is hoping for a good

performance. She has decided to sit off the pace a little early. It is

not a bad thing. The first few miles can be the quickest of the

course, especially through miles two and three. I feel silly saying

this Mr Paula Radcliffe, but some athletes like to settle into the

race, don't they? -- next to Paula Radcliffe. They do. You see how

your body is reacting. In the last few days, they may have done some

jogging and stretching. You come to the Starline making short you are

into the race with a time in mind. I did, the last two times. The

first time I didn't have a time in mind and really felt it in the

first few miles. It was around Cutty Sark that I started to get

moving. When I was attacking Times, I was already thinking about what I

wanted here. Some athletes come to events like this to run a good time.

Susan Partridge there. She is running with a time in mind. She is

trying to get a qualifying time for the world championships later this

year in Moscow. When you look at the main group, you can see the

calibre of the athletes, you have got the world champion and the

Olympic silver medallist, you have got the Frankfurt marathon runner,

and therefore, sometimes the idea of a time does out the window. This

is a race that you want to try and win. If this is a race that you

want to watch exclusively, and of course we were lucky to stay with

us, but on our red button, we are trying to give a chance for

everybody to see what they want. You can get full coverage of the

conditions here. The elite and a mass start is at 10am. This is what

is still to come. David Weir was one of the heroes of London 2012,

with four Paralympic gold medals. Today, he looks to secure his

seventh London win. Wilson Kipsang is one of the fastest of all time.

He starts as favourite as he looks to defend his London title.

Anything can happen in sport, just ask Stephen Kiprotich, the surprise

champion last year. And all eyes will be on Britain's double gold

medallists, Mo Farah. He is just running a half marathon today as he

builds up to the full event next is Andrew Strauss and his wife,

Ruth. Ruth, I start with you. You must have been a cricketing widow

for many years. Andrew retires in September, you sit down, you say,

let's run a marathon?! Was it like that? No, it was a drunken evening

at a brewery night. Andy was convinced by one of our friends to

run. I thought, I'm going to have a bit of that as well. It has been

just seven months since you have retired, Andrew. It seems longer,

to be honest. How has it been? has been relaxed. I have had a bit

of time at home. It has been nice not to have to be so disciplined.

The marathon training has taken over from that a bit. It has been a

good process for us to go through together, all of those training

runs and getting ready for this. We are so excited to get out there and

do it now. Are you going to run together every step? Absolutely

not! He will be finishing faster than I am. And a word about your

charity. The aim is to give disadvantaged kids a sporting

chance. Having been so fortunate to play sport for a living, it is a

charity that is close to my heart. We are delighted to support them.

look forward to speaking to you at the finish, a bit more dishevelled,

I would imagine. Over to Sonali. I'm with two gentleman who are also

raising money for the same charity. They are running today in memory of

the 1981 Ashes hero, their father, Graham Dili. I know both of you are

into your cricket. But why run in his memory? Running is something I

have not been particularly good at. We know our dad would be looking

down, having a chuckle at us running 26.2. We thought that would

be what we would go for. It is a big event and something we can tear

ourselves towards. How much are you hoping to raise? Our initial target

was �2,000 each. Anything after that will go to the hospice where

our dead spent his final days, which we both think is a good cause.

It will really honour his memory. If you are both not natural runners,

how has the training been going? came into it with a few injuries.

We have had to do it with that in mind. It has been going OK. It is a

wonderful thing to do. We will be cheering you on. Thank you.The

don't forget, you can watch the women's race live.

We are going to start the build up to the wheelchair race now. It

features the greatest racer of all time, David Weir. He likes to race

once. Winning it six times is a dream come true. I hope to win it

be going for a seventh title. I never thought that. I never even

thought I would meddle in the Paralympics. The confidence of

winning, that is when you get confidence in everything. You have

to have challenges in training. It has been the worst winter I had

experience. The called wind, some such as I got back and felt like

crying. -- cold wind. I'd dug deep and got through it. I feel

refreshed after the Games. I feel motivated, steal. I think I am in

better shape than I was going into the last London Marathon. All of

the top guys have done Button and they have come to do London, and

they are in good shape. The field is the toughest I have seen. They

have been racing all over the world. I can never judge myself. I can in

training, but against other shouting out who know me. This year,

it is going to be everybody down the Mall. Even the bits that are

quieter, people are going to be seeing last race. I have got a new

helmet. It has got a designer wear off on the front. It is fantastic.

-- werewolf. You can see it from a to the Mall now, where Tanni is.

to the Mall now, where Tanni is. Would you like to see him break

your record? I would, actually. He deserves it. I have known him since

he was seven years old. He has always had such a natural talent.

It didn't matter how many times people told him, it was about six

years ago that he realised he had it himself. He has gone from

strength to strength. The competitor in the, if I was able to

compete, I would not want him to have the record. But there's

nothing to get me back into a chair to do the time. If anybody is going

to take it, I am happy that it is David. We are focusing on David,

but the field is loaded. Last year, it was almost a blanket finish. It

is going to be tough for him. David has been saying all week that

it depends on how the pack chooses to compete. In the past, there's

been attempts to break him, but not consistently making it hard. If

anybody else wants to win, they have to make the first 10

kilometres hard for David. He covers every break. He doesn't tend

to go to the front and pull hard. With the numbers, there's 20 guys

in the elite race crew could all finished close together. They can't

Wood, silver in London, perhaps disappointing. How do you fancy hard

chances? She is really strong, she needs to

race completely different tactics to David, she does not want a sprint

finish, so she will have to make it very hard early on for the rest of

the women, that is where she is most successful. It is very interesting

to see how the American athletes will work together. You have Tatyana

MacFadden and Amanda McGrory, they train together and are based out of

the University of note -- University of Illinois. They will want to make

sure they have a good race and make it hard for her.

Thank you very much, we will hear from you and Paul Dickenson shortly,

but let's head back to the women's kilometres and are sitting back a

bit, the pacemakers are ten seconds ahead. In fact, 14 seconds ahead of

this group. They are all looking at each other, they have slowed down,

the pacemakers have slowed because this group of talented women in

these early stages are not up for a fast race today. The first five

kilometres time of 16.2 to is not particularly quick, at all. --

16.22. Susan Partridge is a little further ahead in 123, there is Amy

Whitehead, she has had plenty of injuries in the past. More of her

shortly but we are back to the start for the start of the wheelchair

race. It certainly is elite in every sense

of the word in terms of times achieved in the pass and races one.

-- in the past. Let us just pause for the introductions to both the

men and first of all the women. ANNOUNCER: Shirley Reilly. Alongside

her, she won three track golds at London 20 -- London 2012, the Boston

champion, Tatyana MacFadden. In absolutely brilliant form this

year as she was last year, too. And the Powerline -- Paralympic

silver medallist and defending champion in the London Marathon,

Shelly Woods. She holds the course record jointly with Amanda McGrory

of the USA. In the men's raced, para -- Paralympic silver medallist,

Marcel Hug. Alongside him, from Japan, 2013 Boston Marathon

champion, the 2012 Tokyo champion, Hiroyuki Yamamoto.

A real marathon specialist. And stand-by for six times

champion, four times Paralympic gold medallist for Great Britain, it is

the where Wilf, David Weir. Loud cheers, by the time he gets to

the Mall, the cheers will be absolutely deafening. Re-energised

after his Paralympic exploits last year.

And our starter is David Bedford. David Bedford in just a moment we'll

send them on their way. Jenny Archer, David Weir's coach, will be

down there watching. They have a plan, they were round Richmond Park

yesterday for a two-mile train, and he said everything has been going as

according to plan. I way we go with the men's and

women's elite wheelchair race... Conditions look absolutely perfect.

I am not sure how much wind is on the course. Like so many of the

elite athletes and the Paralympic athletes, the heat is not going to

be a problem at the moment, unless it heats up dramatically later on.

All eyes will be on David Weir, sporting that new helmet. He is just

tucked in behind the leader. Things are promising to be fascinating, and

certainly David Weir should be in the leading group by the time we get

to the Mall in just over an hour and a half's time.

Perfect weather conditions for the wheelchair race today. The fact it

is dry and warm it means there is much less debris on the road,

athletes have struggled with punctures in the past in London, and

I am pleased to see David Weir is wearing his team GB kit. There are

some parts of the Coast -- course that are very fast and it is hard to

pinpoint the athletes, and I think what will be brilliant will be the

amount of support David and Shelly Woods will get, which will be

irritating for everyone competing against them.

There are three main protagonists for the wheelchair race, Ernst Van

Dyk, multi-marathon winner at -- around the world. Kurt Fearnley, of

Australia, who is the course record holder from 2009. The great Heinz

Frei and Marcel Hug, as well. The field is packed full of talent,

isn't it? It is the best men's field we have ever had in the wheelchair

race. As David said in his interview, most

of them have come from LA and Boston, and David is choosy about

how he races, which I think is very smart, but it means they will be

watching out for him. If you women's race, as well come incredibly strong

in terms of personal bests and how the raced. It will be interesting to

see how Tatiana performance. She had so many punctures at the madness --

Olympic marathon she will be wanting to show what she can do in London.

We have the International Paralympic committee athletics marathon World

Cup, featuring a number of Paralympic champions, world

champions and world-record holders. The indomitable Richard Whitehead,

double amputee, his best time for the marathon is the world record at

2: 42. He won the Paralympic 200 metres title in the stadium just up

the road from here. Incredible cheers, I way we go. Richard

Whitehead on the far side. We have some very good Brazilian athletes in

the single amputee class, as well. We have visually impaired athletes,

too, running with Gaidar runners. Yes, you can see that the games are

winning orange, and it is tough for the men to get Gaidar runners quick

enough. It is crucial to make sure the guides are in the right place to

swap over. You can see they are running with tethers, some will run

very close some will run further at a distance. This is a really strong

move by Nayland in marathon, because weather has been a very competition

opportunity for the wheelchair racers, there has not been that for

the Blind and visually impaired athletes. It is a massive -- a

massive opportunity for the Olympics and world championships to have the

world-class and elite field Morocco. Tim Prendergast from New

Zealand, a real hero in that country, solitary representative in

the key 42 /43 category, Richard Whitehead. He is one of the fastest

in the field. There are some of the single amputee is there. Lendner It

is a very strong athlete from Germany, he has won every title

going. Chris Hammer from the United States is a very strong athlete,

too. That race will unfold in due course and we will try and keep tabs

on it and give you an update, certainly on Richard Whitehead's

progress, because he will be instantly recognisable by the

Lots of different events taking part as the day progresses, and of course

the mini marathon, so much part of marathon day now, the likes of Mo

Farah in the past have won this race. We will see name-3-macro later

on. A chance for some of our bright young stars to show the pace, as

well. A great day for them, we will bring you a full report later of all

the winners in the different age groups. They are all just finishing

right in front of us as we sit in the Mall and await the women's elite

and men's elite. The main race off at 10am, but the women are well into

the race. It has been up and down, the pacemakers have had a hard job

to judge this. The group did not seem that Keaton, they have waited

and allowed them to get back together. The first five commenters

was... Not exactly slow, but around the 2: 20, Mark, which is slower

than they had asked for. This is a big race to win, we have Olympic

champions, world champions in here, there is a wad of kudos. It is not

about recklessly going after times. Certainly, they are not recklessly

going after times. The pacemakers have drifted back. But if you look

at the calibre of these athletes, victory is not pursued. There is no

clear outstanding favourite. The Olympic champion may not be the

favourite here. She has a competitive race, it will be

competitive, and it is good to see them in this manner. It is good to

see the two Japanese athletes, both joined that leading group, which

tells you the pace is a little bit of what they were talking about

beforehand. There is Florence Kibler Gatt, the Olympic silver medallist

is looking good beer, and various Tiki Gelana, just relaxing in the

middle of the group, very comfortable there, running here in

London after having won the Olympics in London in completely different

conditions. The Olympic Games was a downpour, soaking wet, and we all

got wet, but it was a great race. You never stop complaining, did you?

We just noticed that mail was 5.51, and that is a very small mile.

That is a very small -- slow mile. It is usually one of the faster

miles. That explains why you have seen the groups bunched together.

The Japanese girls are back on the back of the pack and the group

behind is getting closer, too. Just information for the British girls

coming through five K, Susan Partridge was through in about 16.59

with Amy Whitehead behind her. They are running about 223 pace -- 2.23

pace, which is very good for them. Susan Partridge from the West Coast

of Scotland, she has been in Boulder training, and Amy Whitehead with

her. We are picking up some tips from the great Steve Jones, helping

awkward action, everyone knows about it, although you probably saw it as

a good effect appeal begins, as well. She has a gap around her,

people keep out of the way, and both Tiki Gelana and Edna Kiplagat, when

they won the Olympic and World Championship titles, both fell

during the race and got up and won the toilets are record-breaking, it

would seem! They are all bursting. That is the pre-match nerves. Let's

head back to Greenwich Park. I am with rusty, who will be

running with her daughter. I know it is not polite to ask your age,

but I am going to. This is something to be proud of. I am 72.

It is my first marathon. That is amazing. Everybody should try it.

And you have been training together? Not entirely. We have

been keeping in touch through technology. Rusty, I assume you

want to encourage people to get out there and run at any age? Yes, much

better than washing up! Better exercise as well. Best of luck to

today. I am with three people who competed there. Thank you for

joining us. Rosie, where were you when the bomb went off? I had

finished and I was just past the finish. I was in central Boston. It

was an incredible day. We have been overwhelmed by the people of Boston,

and how they treated us on the day. They did all they could to look

after us even though they were hurting. Keith, it is difficult to

put into words what you must have felt. It goes against the whole

spirit of what a marathon day is about. Absolutely. Marathons are

about people coming together, on both sides of the barrier. It is

normally amazing. That was partly ruined in Boston. It's up to us to

put some of that back and say we are better than this. Craig, I

think I am right to say that you had not anticipated running in

London. No, no, I planned not to. I had a number but it was as a back-

up in case anything happened in terms of getting to Boston. But

actually, it had the opposite effect. It inspired me to come down

here and use my run and raise money for the victims. You are winning

your T-shirts proudly. What kind of response have you had? A few people

on the tube had asked. They thought we lived in Boston. But yeah, a

good feeling and goodwill. Everybody is United to day out

there. -- United today. Poignantly, you are wearing your black ribbons.

It is so much in our mind, the people who have been hurt in this

thing. What I want to do today is to thank the supporters of Boston.

When I finished the race, the first thing I said was, it was the best

supported marathon I have ever been at. The supporters are so selfless.

They are the people who don't get any glory. They just come and help

other people. I just want to honour them by doing this. Thank you for

doing this. I know it will be tough, but all the best. All of the

runners will be wearing those black ribbons. Let's head back out of

them to the cause. -- out onto the conditions over the skyline of

London. The wheelchair racers have already gone through five

kilometres in a brisk nine minutes. Yamamoto is in the lead, just ahead

of David Weir. The distinctive helmet there of the giant man from

South Africa, Ernst Van Dyk. David we're just keeping close order to

the leader. That is going to be important for him. -- David Weir.

The course is deceptive. There's a lot of little ups and downs.

Yamamoto had strung everybody out, and then on the flat they have all

come back together again. Dave is reacting to other people. He is

very good. He is watching everybody, making sure he is not blocked. He

is in a great position right now. STEVE CRAM: look at the view on

this spectacular day in London. Cutty Sark has been such a big part

of the marathon. It is sitting there, resplendent in the sunshine.

I can tell you that the pace continues to slow, really. The 10

kilometre mark there. The group is pretty slow over the last five

kilometres. They don't seem to want to push this on all. The pacemakers

keeper trying to push them. I think they have decided that the pace is

whatever it is. The pacemakers can do what they want. But we have got

some great athletes here. There are big prizes to be one. It is part of

the world were Arathoon majors. -- marathon majors. The overall time

will become more relevant towards the end of the event. Here, they

are not so interested. You sense here that the crowds of London are

responding, as we thought they might, but coming out in all of

their glory. Look at the Cutty Sark. What a landmark this is. What a

place to watch it. It is going to get more busy as the next couple of

hours tick by. It is an amazing place to run. When I came through

the first time, I could not believe the atmosphere around here. These

guys are having a big party out there and we run through the middle

of it. It really gives the runners a boost. I remember coming out the

other side with a gap I had not intended to build. I had to keep

going on that, because once you have a gap, you have to not looked

back. You can see the pacemakers are getting on a chair. -- on edge

here. They don't know whether to push on all wait for the group.

Pushing on are the two British athletes. They are running away

inside their personal best at the moment. They are running around

2.25 pace, which has a quick start for them. Let's hope they have

judged it right. The crowds will only billed as they wait in

anticipation for the main race. -- built. That is one of the big

vantage points on the route. Just starting to break up a bit, that

group. A couple of the Japanese athletes are dropping off the back.

well. She will know the crowds. It is different when you have to come

and race. Jeptoo, with that awkward style, at the back. Just getting a

sense that things are starting to pick up. As the African athletes

pull away, there's Susan Partridge. She is running a really good race,

as Steve said. She has got good company there. She was to keep an

eye on hearse blitz. -- fraiche she marathon running. It would be great

to see Susan Partridge run well, qualify for the World Championships.

Look at this level. Formidable athletes, every one of them in this

group. Good knowledge of one numbers together for you through

that 10 kilometre point. The pace they are running at the front is

well outside to 0.20. It is about to 0.23 or something. -- 2.23 or

something. There we go. Ignore the very well. There's Amy Whitehead.

Just in front of her art two Japanese athletes. Just leading the

group is the kind of pace Amy Whitehead is setting out at. She is

wanting to run with other people. You don't want to get cast adrift

for too long. Hopefully, she hasn't runners are getting ready. Not long

to go, about 20 minutes until the mass start. All sorts of ways of

preparing. He will look like that at the finish as well! Let me start

with you, Kelly. You are running for the official charity. This is a

team run. We are combating isolation and loneliness in the

older generation. The younger generation can skill older people

to be more communicative on the internet. Most older people only

have a TV to communicate with the world. Helping them to get on the

internet helps them. We got the idea! I am a bit nervous!Let me

come to you three. Was this a holly Oaks thing. -- Hollyoaks thing?

There's a few of us. I am the odd one out. I am running for the Roy

Castle Foundation. These guys did it last year. It has been fantastic

already. Let me come to you, Kelly. How has the training been? It is a

bit harder and longer. But it is enjoyable. When you have done a 20

mile run, it feels good afterwards. I never thought I would achieve

something like this. This time last year, I was out of the Olympics and

had prolapsed two discs. This might be the start of my Hon -- marathon

career! I want to enjoy this one. You don't know what to expect with

the first one. Hopefully a nice, sensible time that I can break

missed here. These guys are going to be competitive. I am not sure

who is going to win between them but it is going to be intense. Here

April and added a bronze at the Olympics. After placing third in

2011, injury forced Patrick Makau to drop out mid- race last year. A

former winner of the Berlin marathon, he will be a force to

reckon with. Just like Geoffrey Mutai, he can point to previous

excesses by way of his credentials. Leading the Ethiopian champion --

challenge is this runner. His compatriot, Ayele Abshero, made his

debut last year, setting a blistering pace. Stephen Kiprotich

brought the curtain down on last summer's Olympics with gold on the

final day. It was the first such medal for Uganda in 40 years,

giving him a national hero status. What a time to find the best to

have ever done. Those qualities could see him take the tape again

because he is not a contender, is Mo Farah. He has been speaking to

I am doing half the race. It is to a chance to practise. And not there

to destroy the race or cause a problem. I'm just to learn.

yes! Next year, I'm going to do the full marathon. This year, I'm just

going out, enjoying it, doing all of this stuff, the press and the

media. It is not just, you know, Mo is going to come here and run.

the mind going? If I didn't enjoy it, I have been training for five

kilometres and 10 kilometres. I'm only going to do what my team

planned for May. Straight up the race, I will see how I feel. We

will know what we need to work on. For me, it will be great. I will

learn about the opposition as well. You have to think, how is he

looking? Is he looking good there? Do I need to make a move? People

should not lose sight of the fact that your focus is the world

championships on the track. I would like to be able to go out there and

try to win that race more than anything else. That is what is on

Are you going to have fun with this? People will be supporting just you.

I want people to support the leading guys, because the pace that they go

at is ridiculous. This year is the strongest it has ever been. There

are so many guys that run 2: 04, just going up and up.

Mate, if you have any money to wager, put it on the Mo Farah

foundation, a great cause, I am not going to finish the race, I will

tell you that for sure. It will be a race with multiple storylines, Mo

being one of them. Let us go back to the women's elite

race with the commentary team, Steve, Paula and Stephen. Steve, let

us get the Mo question out of the way. He is in the middle of a storm

he never anticipated. I did not criticise, it was Paula,

not me. It is great for the event that he is here. It is great for the

people of London, but just as athletes we sometimes think why

would you want to do something like that that will be hard work today,

they will go very fast, and he will have all of that great rehearsal but

he will be tired at the end of it and come back next year and have to

do the whole thing. That is the question, why didn't he run the

second-half? Why would you ever wanted to do that? That is one of my

points. He could find himself of being the position for that Michael

being a pacemaker for one of his future rivals setting a world

record. I think he will enjoy it today. He

said he is going to put drinks out. He has been enjoying going around

the Hotel watching everything going on. I think he has learned from

that. I would like to see him take it a little easy after the first few

miles. I think you are all getting a little too technical.

At the end of the day, he is double world champion comedy can do what he

wants. He is a pioneer, if he says he can learn something next year.

Good luck, Mo, good to see you, we will see you on the track next

summer. We hope that he has a good

experience today and that he comes back next year, because we all think

he is capable of having a great London Marathon.

Absolutely, he will have a great experience, he has run the mini

marathon before, but that is not the same as the actual marathon. He will

get a feel for that and I think it will give him an even bigger buzz to

go and train really hard for next year.

He mentioned he was 25-1, Brendan and I always like to look at the

and I always like to look at the odds. Let us have a look for you. At

the front it is about Wilson Kipsang, everyone expecting the man

who should have won the Olympic title last year. Geoffrey Mutai, the

true world record-holder, Patrick Makau. Irvette van Zyl is a good

bet, and a little further down, the Olympic champion, 14-1, would you?

You sound like the William Hill betting adviser now. There is my �20

that will see Mo Farah will win in the near future.

Can use what those flies that came out from his wallet? -- can you

support those flies. Today he is only going to run half

of it and we will enjoy that, as I had a pack of questions prepared

but I did not really need them, did I? Let us head back to the elite ten

now with Colin Jackson. I mentioned the women's tent was

full of talent, but arguably here we have the best meal marathon runners

on the planet. We have former winners here participating today,

and if you listen to rumours buzzing around, they are looking at a

winning time around 2: 04, which is mind-boggling. We all know the story

about Mo Farah, these guys are preparing for the final onslaught,

while people like Scott Overall in the back, he wants another good

marathon under his belt. There is a lot of excitement here in this tent,

so I am going to vanish and I will see you shortly on the course.

JONATHAN EDWARDS: What a picture that is and it is not long to go to

the start of the elite men's race and the masses, and they cant wait,

they have been waiting a long time, they are getting cold.

The women have been going for a good a little bit, the wheelchair

athletes going past them as they passed the 15 kilometre mark, the

pace has picked up. That mean group still very much together, no one

trying to break away from it. It did look like Edna Kiplagat was moving

on. That is an aid station, that was Tiki Gelana that went down there.

The wheelchair athletes came alongside, the women were looking

for the banks and stepped across. Let us have a look at that. This

happens so much melodies, we have seen people fall at stations. The

Olympic champion cuts rate across, does not see the wheelchair athlete

on the inside, I hope she is not part, the guys seem OK. Everyone is

looking around to see what is going on, we think that Tiki Gelana may

have stopped. She is still back there, I think. There she is. Thank

goodness she is still running, that will not have helped at all, that

was a very heavy fault. That was really nasty, she did not see the

wheelchair is that had snapped through on the inside to make sure

they got their bottles. Edna Kiplagat actually stopped,

calmly walked across to check her bottle, then started by running. I

think she escaped, that was an ASCII fall and will not have helped if she

has hit her hip in any way. That will put her off her stride. They

were not running at a fast pace. -- that was amassed a fall.

We have seen that, haven't we two elite field, only ten athletes, the

stations are brilliantly organised, but we have seen it too many times,

to be honest. Sometimes it is the organisation, but in this case I

think it was the athletes. They know where the stations are, there are

markings, they have to gauge the effort, they have there own specific

drinks on those feeds stations, and it needs more attention. It is great

to see Tiki Gelana, the other big campaign, back in action. She slowed

down and came back to the group. -- the Olympic champion.

For me that was marshalling error, they should have told the the

wheelchair's work coming through. It can catches by surprise when they

come through. Tanni, what did you make of that?

I have been in a similar situation, the chairs are coming in and you try

and show to head to let them know which side you are on.

It is really tough. Certainly when I was doing it, the elite women's fine

with all the photographers on it would be shouting to make sure the

Drama there, let us hope that does not influence the outcome of the

race. We will focus now on the men's race and the chance for one of them

to enter into London's history And the old record is going to be

broken by over a minute. Martin Lel makes a bit of history

and London 2008. under way, I will head to the finish

and leave you in the capable hands of our commentary team led by Steve

watching, these scenes are white people tune in. The elite field at

the front is always one of the stories, there are so many out

there, we will be looking forward to seeing Wilson Kipsang, Patrick

Makau, the world record-holder. Scott Overall, the number one

British runner. Of course, Mo Farah, through the first half. I think

today is really about the rest of the field and the rest of the

marathon world. I read one quote this week from someone who ran in

Boston saying, the reason marathons are so popular is we have become

addicted to not just overcoming our physical limits but the way these

personal victories come together, and I think never has the world of

marathon running been sewed together as it has been this week. Everyone

is wearing black ribbons and in a moment there will be a few words

from the organisers on the broadcast system to organise those waiting to

take part, and then there will be 30 seconds of silence and a chance to

reflect and remember the events of ANNOUNCER: Marathon running is a

global sport, uniting runners and athletes on every continent in

pursuit of a common challenge and in the spirit of fellowship and

friendship. This week, the world Marathon family was shocked and

saddened by the events at the Boston Marathon. In a few moments, a

whistle will sound and we will join together in silence to remember our

friends and colleagues, for whom a day of joy turned into a day of

sadness. Let us know sure our respect and support for the victims

Perfectly observed, and I saw one other comment that said, if you are

trying to break the human spirit, marathon runners are the wrong group

to pick on. All sorts of stories out there today, and all will be

thinking of those affected in Boston. To the front, there is Mo

ANNOUNCER: Wearing number five, the 2010 virgin London Marathon

champion, from Ethiopia, Tsegaye bronze medallist and the defending

marathon champion from Kenya, Wilson Kipsang.

Wearing number two, the fastest man in history, the world record-holder

Marathon Majors champion, when in New York, Boston and Berlin, from

please welcome your race starter. Under his stewardship, �500 million

were raised for charity. The former world record-holder for 10,000

ready to go. Now we get on with the athletes and the 36,000 others to

show their respect but also to show what they can do. A beautiful day

in London. The crowds have not been ago. The great Chris Brasher

watched and came home, and in the road, to believe this story, you

must believe the human race to be one joyous group. He set up this

race. They have done a brilliant job of turning the London Marathon

into perhaps the best in the world. It is nice but they are reflecting

that it did start in America, and the Boston Marathon, the patriarch

of the world marathons, is in all of our thoughts. They are on their

way now. It will take a good 10, 15 minutes or so for them or to cross

the redstart. They are all eager to get going.

BRENDAN FOSTER: These are the shops that had inspired the nation over

the 32 years since the first marathon. Greenwich Park, this is

the finest marathon in the world. Dave Bedford has steered the event.

Dave by tall has guided it on its The event is a beautifully

organised from start to finish. These are the shots that people

look at. If they can't get into this event, they fill up events all

around the nation. This is the lovely part. You come through, you

walk through Greenwich Park, you eventually turn left at the gate,

and then you trust the timing chip. It just matters that you cross the

line. And then the stories of 37,000 runners here, all of them in

their own way challenging themselves and hopefully all of

them defeating the challenge. The thought was on Boston the other day.

Now the thought is, can London open its heart? The runners are in full

flow. This is a glorious sight. PAULA RADCLIFFE: we talk about the

sadness and the shock of Boston. There was also a lot of defiance in

there, a lot of outrage that humanity was attacked in that way,

but also the sport of running. Marathon running does so much good.

Over the years, more than �610 million has been raised by London

Marathon runners. It can make a huge difference. People have

decided we can use the good to do something or Boston. You can see a

lot of the runners, they have got the names on their shirts, hoping

that people will encourage them personally. That can make a big

difference when you get to 21, 22, 23 miles, and you are just holding

on, and just for somebody to call you name it can encourage you.

organisers have pledged �2 for everybody who crosses the line will

go to the fund that is set up by the organisers of the Boston

Marathon. I'm sure a lot of people will be contributing to that fund

as well. In his first year as race director, Hugh Brasher, the son of

the founder, Chris, who, with John Disley, founded the event after

much research and effort in the early years, now everything they

have worked for over those years and today has been paid back.

London is already beginning to respond. We have got away us to go.

You can see the -- we have got away as to go. You can see people at the

start. They are waiting to get under way. The charity runners are

there. Millions have been raised for charity. The amazing thing, for

me, is that a marathon is a long way, and it is awfully hard, but in

this country, for some reason, people dress up to do it. They

carry ladders. Somebody is dragging a cooker today. It is to raise

money for his charity. Has he gone a bit upmarket?! They are heavy,

those things. It is great. As Brendan said, people find all sorts

of reasons to come. There used to be just one reason. You can see on

a Schett there the word Boston. -- and I think most people are, let's

have a look at the root. There are three different starts. Celebs are

on the green start. They all eventually come together. This a

pretty Brit quick -- pretty quick part of the course. They come up to

Greenwich. At this point, their first major site en route is the

Cutty Sark. The crowds will be phenomenal. He eventually, they

start to see some of the landmarks in the distance as they go through

10 miles. Tower Bridge will start to loom. It is perhaps one of the

biggest heels on the course. It is not be, but a big crowd is expected

there. -- it is not be. Then they go out to Canary Wharf. This is

where it gets a bit twisty antennae. The legs will be getting tired.

That was the headquarters for the 2012 team last year. They did a

fantastic job. The London Marathon team were part of the Organisation

for the marathon at the Olympics. Then they came back into the start

of the city, along the Embankment. Then they see the London Eye and

Big Ben in the distance. They turn the last corner, just 400 metres to

These pictures will be going back to the US, and I'm sure they will

be appreciated. We spoke to three people in who have been running and

have come straight from Boston to compete. Further down the course,

the elite women are just across Tower Bridge, approaching halfway.

There's a new landmark. HMS Belfast is down there as well. 320

kilometres, you can see that all of the big names are there. We are

keeping an eye on the heavy fall a few miles back. She seems to be

back in the group there. One of the Japanese athletes is just going

with the pacemaker. Some of the others, Brendan, are thinking, do

crowds collecting. -- on Tower Bridge. The only thing you can say

for certain is once they get to the halfway point, they will accelerate.

It will get faster in the second half. It will be a race. Already,

different things are happening to what we would expect. We expected

that group to stay strong as they together. We are now looking,

because of the incident at the Water station, we are looking at

Gelana, the Olympic champion. We are looking to see if she has had

any after effect of that. At the moment, she seems to have gathered

herself. She is a tough character. She is great to have to demonstrate

that today. Hopefully there's no effect of her fall.

PAULA RADCLIFFE: That fall has certainly affected her race. The

group was breaking up. Then the accident happened. The group almost

seemed to wait a bit for those who had really fallen, to give them a

chance to get back together. It has really closed back up. Keeping an

eye on it, one of them was trying to push on. Susan Partridge is

still on good pace, but we can see Jessica Augusta, who, for me, has

run a smarter ways -- race. She is now moving up and closing on season.

-- Susan. Susan, from Oban in Scotland, will be getting plenty of

support out there. She is the first British athlete. Alison Dixon ran

fast last week in Brighton. Susan Partridge is well under her

schedule, as indeed is a white head, who is not far behind her. -- as

indeed is a new white head. -- Amy Some way back, Richard Whitehead,

getting a huge cheer. We have been watching him all the way around.

Every now and then, he just lists an arm to acknowledge the cheers he

is getting. He is loving every moment of this. He absolutely years.

He had to run in the only event that was available to him in the

Paralympics. It has been difficult, a short amount of time to come up

from sprinting. But is really welcome on the course today. He is

an amazing athlete. Many of them are on their way. It does take a

little while. It might be another five minutes or so. We can see

Sonali Shah is back at the start with a couple who have yet to cross

the line. I am walking to the start with two

fairies, Chris and Matthew. We were meant to have a third, you cheese,

who's going for fastest ferry around the course. -- your chief.

He is itching to break the record. We are raising my knee for a

charity that wants to buy a Age UK. He started running in 2004,

at the age of 68. As he got older, he wanted to run for a charity that

was close to his heart and one who would make life better for older

people. To celebrate his 77th birthday, he plans to run a series

of races totally 77 miles. -- totaling. In 1998, Catherine's

mother passed away from bowel cancer, and then in 2010 her father

was diagnosed with the same illness. Having been given the all-clear,

heartbreakingly, his cancer returned. Despite this, this family

were able to enjoy a lovely summer together, and added London Olympics

she was inspired to run the marathon. Sadly, her father passed

away last year. She will be running this year's marathon for both

parents and in support of beating Bowel cancer.

Gavin began to experience the first signs of Hodgkin's lymphoma at the

age of 15. He underwent intensive chemotherapy as well as having a

stem cell transplant. Thankfully, he was able to make a full recovery

and went on to study cell biology. He is now studying for a research

PhD at Cambridge. He hopes his research will help others to beat

the disease. This year, he will be running for a charity hoping to

Tigger there. Whatever your story is, if you have got anybody out

there who is running and you want to let us know what they are up to,

that. I mean, technically. Does looking at some of these pictures,

the colour here that shines through makes the London mattered and --

London Marathon with all the fluorescent colours and styles and

all of the running shirts they were - it all just looks great and really

is a testament. Things have changed so much over the years, and this

London Marathon has been at the forefront of all of that. There's

barely part of the event, Chris Brasher had to fight the

establishment. It is the 40th anniversary this year of the team in

the north-east winning that. We have managed to get so far, we

have not the football so far, I thought you did well, Sunderland

beating Newcastle 3-0, that is the last time we will mention it.

They always say get your retaliation in first, don't they? There are

people running for various football strips. They tend to go off on the

greens start, you saw the blue start getting close to completing getting

there people through. Let us get confirmation of that group, Edna

Kiplagat, Florence Tipler gap, Joyce of the group there, she is the first

that has started to go, not the most experienced, this is her first full

London Marathon. She has just left herself about 20 metres with that

group. We have already had one incident with Tiki Gelana, let us

look at another incident at about 15 kilometres... No, it is the same

instrument. Tiki Gelana, to be there, should have been more aware

of what was going on. All of the athletes ended up in that leading

group being affected to some degree. Cassidy is... Is he looking

for a drink? Edna Kiplagat was offering drinks to Tiki Gelana, I

think she was all right, she did not take a drink on board, but it is

nice that the Ethiopian - Kenyan rivalry was put to one side.

I think the camaraderie is coming through a little more. You are

sharing a lot with your fellow runners, you know what you have all

been through in preparation. The marathon is a little bit different

to a sprint race, something may go wrong at the start, you know you

have another race the next week. Marathon runners are not like that

and the last thing anyone wants to see is a group of falling down and

hurting themselves. The only good thing is that it would be the first

part of the race, not the second were it would be much harder to get

up and get going again, but she looks comfortable.

The women are beyond halfway. Things are moving on now, the group is not

just running together now, Tiki Gelana is at the back of that group.

She made the big break at the Olympic Games. Let us give you a

look, using technology, to see exactly where they are. Approaching

14 miles. The men a little further back, there they are heading towards

Canary Wharf. They will then do that big loop and head back. The men are

moving towards the Cutty Sark, just beyond four miles, they have just

completed the quickest miles on the course. In there somewhere is Mo

Farah. There he is. I am sure he is getting plenty of support out on the

route. One or two people have been taking the Mickey out of him a

little bit about the fact he is dropping out halfway, but I don't

think you can really call it dropping out, it is planned. It is

not as though one day he is not going to be capable of running a

really, really good marathon. Let's face it, if they do go through in

61.45, Mo's best is just outside 60 minutes, he has only run a couple of

half marathons, he is going to be pretty tired at the end of that, it

is a good pace. It will be impressive to see that.

It is great to see Mo Farah, double Olympic champion, it thrills me to

see that. I think eventually this young man will win the London

Marathon in the next few years. I am sure before then he will win some

other big track races. It is wonderful to see a British athlete,

having won two Olympic gold medals, back in Britain, enjoying the

support of the crowd. He is doing it cleverly, drifting off the back of

the group, not amongst them, and I think that is the right way to do

I can tell you that the first five dormitories was run in 14.27 in this

race. As might the first five kilometres. That is a pretty good

time on the track. -- the first five kilometres. That is inside world

record pace, obviously very early. This is more than a taster for Mo,

he might have his eyes opened to what this is all about. That was my

concern, he is coming into this and it is not the same feeling when you

know you are going to drop out halfway.

You don't have as many nerves or as much at run on.

My worry is that Mo would be tired at halfway and would feel like he

had worked really hard and it will play around with his mind when he

comes to grace the full distance next year. Hopefully that will not

be the case and he will get a big lift from the crowd, certainly. He

will not have run in anything like this before. The Olympic Stadium

last year will come very close, but still, I don't think it can top the

streets of London on a day like this. That will help him, that will

lift him, and it will prepare them for next year. He will be taking

lots of things along this route he can store up for next year when he

attacks this properly. I think the important thing for Mo

is to enjoy this. You will get fantastic support and he responds to

that. He told me about running the 5000 metres, when he walked down the

back straight the crowd went crazy. When you are getting nervous and you

realise all these people are supporting you, it really does help.

I think Mo Farah has worked so hard to get to where he has got to, he

has enjoyed the European Championships, World Championship,

Olympic games double, and eventually his line is to move up all distances

and take on the challenge of the marathon, the champion enjoying

himself in this race and I think there are some dramatic happenings

in the women's race. We will have a quick look in a

second, just a word on the men's pace. The two fastest ever over 25

kilometres, that is the quality of the pacemakers, that is why they are

going so fast. On the women's race, as Brendan said, not -- reports are

not good for Tiki Gelana. There she is, Joyce Kepkirui has first of all

got rid of the Kenyan. The Olympic champion is now struggling. Was it

to do with that faulty mitral it could not have helped. -- was it to

do with that fall? That is not good for her at this

stage, that is a good group with good athletes, it has not been a

fast pace. She would not be tactically laying off it at all.

It is very sad at this point. To go to all of the effort to get the

Olympic marathon champion here running in good shape, then sadly to

have an organisational fault let it down, you have to feel for both the

athlete and the organisation, because the organisation is

absolutely fantastic. To have something go wrong like that that

may not have been able to be predicted is very disappointing,

particularly 40 gig Alanna, who is a great athlete and a very tough

athlete. Paula, you would be having to share that, wouldn't you?

We don't know it is related to the fall, but we can make a strong

guess. I am trying to work out if she is running heavier on the tip on

one side because it looked as though she banged her hip. They are going

over small speed bumps which will affect her if she has any muscle

tightness or a spasm then that side. She certainly needs to get herself

back together and decide whether she is going to carry on in this race

and close that gap. It has not helped her cause and what

may be more relevant is they have just run 15.59 for that stretch, by

far the quickest five kilometres stretch of the race. The contrast

between running 17.10 and then a 15.59, she is a good enough athlete

normally to cope with that. They have been running at a fairly slow

pace by her standards. She should have been able to cope with that

surge, but you can see that now that is perhaps the best part of 100

metres she is behind, falling further.

When you look at the group, you have the world champion, Olympic silver

medallist, the fastest 10,000 metres runner in the world, that looks like

Susan Partridge there. Amy Whitehead is ahead of her. Interestingly, the

field down year is splitting up, too. That is a bit concerning. There

you have for athletes and their is no way Tiki Gelana, the Olympic

champion, was planning on a race like this. She is not going to come

back and catch them. Just a word on the two British

women, Susan Partridge went through in 73 minutes and 50 seconds, Amy

Whitehead about a minute behind her, but the two are slowing down from

the pace set earlier on. Both of them are still on schedule to run

under 2.30, but they are slowing down.

Sorry, that was not Amy Whitehead, she is further down, as you said,

about a minute behind. Here they are now at the start, they

have been going for about 25 minutes, within half an hour the

whole field will be on its way. Running next to that man with the

cooker you would want to take it. Let me check my list of official

world records, there may be one for bouncing a ball and there is one for

a dodgy haircut, as well. Bouncing a ball in a yellow shirt, there is

world-record potential for that, I think.

It is not even a basketball. You are supposed to double football. -- to

dribble of football. There is a woman league one sort of

dribbling you do these days and it is not -- there is only one sort of

dribbling you do these days and it isn't with the ball. Taking their

time, as David says, start slowly and get slower. If he is watching,

our best wishes to you. The last of this year's London Marathon runners

about to cross the start line. He will be enjoying this thing, he

was the man who captured the spirit of the first London Marathon, right

from the beginning, he captured it on the first day, the hand of

friendship with his Norwegian competitor crossing the line. That

was the spirit of the London Marathon on its first running. That

We will keep an eye on the ten kilometres time, in the women's race

it is hotting up. Meselech Melkamu is the latest to drop off. Edna

Kiplagat won the title debut two years ago. Priscah Jeptoo felt as

though she should have won last year. Mary Keitany, her team-mate,

was the favourite going into the Olympics, but it was Tiki Gelana who

took the title. I was watching Mary Keitany, she did not cover the move

of Tiki Gelana well. She is running a good race today, Priscah Jeptoo in

great shape. Florence Kibler Gatt, also looking pretty comfortable, but

this surge, this constant pressure that is being applied.

For me in the Olympic/dear, I felt that Priscah Jeptoo was the third

swing Kenyan, put in there to do the work for Kiplagat and Tiki Gelana.

She could have done better had she ran her own race. She will have come

today ready to run her own race. All three of them looking comfortable.

Kiplagat is dropping back, the two young Kiplagat girls, no relation

between them but they do train together, they will be used to

running as a team. The other two do give Priscah Jeptoo a wider berth

because of the flick out she has with her legs, which can be

dangerous and you want to make sure you stay clear of that and we don't

see any more falls in this race today.

This race is not going to plan. The plan -- plan was to run fast at the

beginning. We can see the men coming through the Cutty Sark. The men are

responding, there is a big group layer, the crowds are going crazy

here. The crowd is as big as I have ever seen it before at the Cutty

Sark. This is wonderful to see. There they are through that first

point. Mo Farah at the back of that sensible, Mo. Go on the outside,

let them see you. He -- the London Marathon in all its glory hair.

just looking at this group. I can't see Patrick Makau in that group.

on the clock, I have got him about 40 seconds back. Unless that is him

back down the road. I don't think he is in that group. It happened to

him last year. He broke the world were Col, he came to London 22 --

the world record, he came to London and was not able to compete. The

Kenyans had a pretty tough job in trying to pick a team. In the end,

it was Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda who won the gold medal. Makau could

be the first casualty of the pace. That is surprising. There were no

reports of any injuries. He said himself that he was fit and ready

to run. It is a surprise. We were expecting a lot from him. We are

witnessing a bit of history here. At the back of the grid, you have

got the cream of world distance running. -- the group. You have got

Kiprotich and Mo Farah running together. It is a side we have

never seen before. Those two, between them, won the gold medals

at the Olympics. Mo Farah there in the black vest. Behind him, Stephen

Kiprotich. Can the Olympic champion make this a glorious return to

women's race. The Olympic silver medallist and the Berlin Marathon

winner. The second part is going to be faster than that. You can tell

even by the cadence. Maybe Kiplagat is not even able to cope with that

pace. Susan Partridge is sticking to her task well. This is a loan

race for her now. The gaps in the women's race have got bigger and

bigger. She has got to work hard now. She wants to run inside to

0.30. -- 2.30. She has to maintain pace into the last mile. She has to

hope the early, quick miles don't make her pay later on. Approaching

17 miles. There are big gaps. That is the risk of running in the elite

field. This is what you face. Absolutely. But when your eye in

the front, you face it as well! -- you are in front. She will know the

pace she is training to run at. She will be retreating into her own

world and trying to stay at the pace. She will be doing or she can

to remain focused and keep her brain away from the pain and how

far she has to go. That was Gelana that we just went past. She has

been passed by the group of three, who are the second group. She looks

as though she is going to keep running. She is not in a huge

amount of pain but she is not getting the turnover she was hoping

for. The gap was covered by the bike very quickly. At the front,

they are trying to forge further ahead. It is not looking so good

for Florence Kiplagat. The gap is building. She are starting to look

tired. The front two are looking comfortable, the pair of them

working well. Don't be put off by Jeptoo's action there. That is how

she runs when she is fine as well as when she is tired. 18 miles

being approach. The pace is getting better. It is nothing like the

men's race. They are well inside the world record race. Maybe it is

why Makau has been a casualty. These two, the world champion and

the Olympic silver medallist, they are not from the same training camp.

Jeptoo is trained by the young Italian coach based in Kenya. One

or two going in the men's race as well. They were saying that Jeptoo

is going well. Her training partner one D -- came first in the Boston

Marathon last week. That is Rita Jeptoo, not a relation. What a

story that would be if they could win the Boston and London Marathon.

There's the world record holder, Patrick Makau of Kenya. He came

here last year as the favourite. He dropped out. Then he was not

selected for the Olympics. Here he is today, not running as well as we

expected him to. He is not able to stay with the group. The group are

doing extremely quickly. Some athletes will fall off the back of

that group. Here is the world record-holder, Patrick Makau. He

did a fantastic race in Berlin when he broke the record. Here, today,

he is not going to enjoy London. He has not enjoyed London. He has