Part 1 London Marathon

Surely destined to become one of the great events in history.

Tufa of Ethiopia, heading for victory. One of the greatest pieces

of running we have ever seen. Shoulders burning, fingertips

pushing. The London Marathon belongs to Eliud

Kipchoge. A sight to behold every single year.

Welcome to the Virgin Money London Marathon where runners of all

shapes, sizes and abilities are about to embark on this historic

26.2 miles journey. They have any reasons for running. Maybe they want

to inspire others, raise money, get fit or just have fun. They are

taking part in a day among the most special in the sport Canada. And for

one of the finish is today a place in history awaits.

-- one of those finishing. They go to finish together.

The fastest time by a woman in history.

I have been doing my exercises. With salsa dancing.

It is nice to have a challenge. There is the physical side, but it

is really believing you can do it. I am running to make sure kids have a

voice. Every step will help young people.

To raise as much money as we can, that is it.

The best in the world are here, but he is the champion.

The biggest win of her career. Best of luck to all those incredible

runners, just over 35,000 of them at the start in Blackheath. So many

have arrived. In 90 minutes the masses will begin their long journey

after the elite wheelchair races, IPC athletes and best men and women

in the world have got under way. What a fantastic day in store, and

the sun is daring to peek through the clouds. The rain has stopped. It

promises to be another emotional, historic and inspirational day and I

am at the bandstand in Greenwich Park. Behind me, everyday runners,

like you and me, they are getting ready, taking on board last-minute

snacks and high energy drinks. One of them could be the 1,000,000th

finisher of this incredible race. Maybe it could be this man, Chris.

One of the 12 ever presents, 12 men who have started and finished every

single London Marathon, you crazy man! You must love the race. I do

love it, a tremendous event. I could not imagine all those years ago

taking part and being here today, the tremendous atmosphere. The great

way the race has evolved and raised money for charity. And changes you

must have seen from the early race, which was almost unique at the time.

There were only 6500 runners and very few women taking part and

charity had not become the backbone of the event it is today. You are

with your son, Nicholas, taking on the family tradition. Are you

pressured in your family? You have to do this, a rite of passage? That

is a good way of putting it. I am the youngest of three and my dad and

my two siblings and my mum has done it so it was my turn. You are

raising money. A charity, a connection with someone local put an

advert in the paper, the Orchard Vale trust. The obvious thing to say

is will it be a race down the Mall for the two of you. You could be far

apart. Embarrassingly, I am 22 years old and I will be beaten by my

father. He has instructions not to overtake me! The best of luck to

both of you. We will follow the stories of many more inspirational

people throughout the day. This man Ben Smith is running 401

marathons in 401 days and we have been with him on his journey with

the finishing line many months away. She is a double Olympic gold

medallist, but Dame Kelly Holmes is entering new territory today. A host

of celebrities are running and throughout the morning we will meet

some of them as they line up. The best women and men in the world are

here and we will mark your card on who is likely to win, the Olympics a

price of the British. David Weir gets under way at 8:55am. And we

will meet inspiring people running for a reason close to their heart.

One goal in mind, to finish. That is what is coming up. These are

the famous landmarks the runners will pass today. After six miles

they gets to the historical Cutty Sark. Halfway they will see Tower

Bridge. Around 18 miles. The business end where they make their

way through Canary Wharf. Big Ben and then the greatest site

imaginable, the Mall. These are the landmarks, but at the start, a hive

of activity. Colin Jackson has managed to find a pretty decent back

three defending their honour, no doubt.

Good morning. I have wonderful defenders. You will be running

longer than 90 minutes, I can assure you of that. Tell us what it will be

like for you out there. I am so nervous, it is ridiculous. I have

heard about the brick wall. It sounds like the great Wall of China

we will be climbing today but I am looking forward to it. I am running

for the Bobby Moore foundation. I cannot wait to contribute. Gary, as

manager of Birmingham City, are you superfit? I would not imagine all of

them are superfit, but I did not stop playing that long ago so I have

an advantage. I am raising money for meningitis. I am sure they are going

through more pain that I am going through today. You are a bit more

experienced, why are you running? I am doing the Bobby Moore fund. The

50 year anniversary since he lifted the World Cup. I hope the crowd get

me round. Everybody at home, get out on the streets, supporters. I have

done one before. It was not particularly planned and it will

hurt. I have a lot of faith in you. You will have support. All of the

best. It certainly is a raise of two

halves, that is all I can say! This is the timetable with races

starting at different times. A stellar field has been assembled

once again for the women's elite race. And at 10am, the men and the

masses start. It does not matter when you finish. Incredible reasons

the runners are out here. And if you want to get in touch,

which is And if you want to get in touch,

start, they are in And if you want to get in touch,

inspiring the runners. Sending good luck messages to friends and family,

to comment on what you are watching, you can, send us a text. Get in

touch via Facebook and social media. The NSPCC is the official charity

and to mark their relationship with ChildLine, we have teamed ChildLine

running. You are looking very good. Big smiles, whether they will be

like that in a few hours, who knows. You have your own reasons for

running with teamed ChildLine. What is your relationship? ChildLine

supported me. I am trained as a ChildLine counsellor. And a

volunteer. How many children are helped by ChildLine? On average, a

child contacts ChildLine every 25 seconds. In the 30 years it has

helped almost 4 million children. 300,020 14-15 alone. When it started

there was a need for it, are you surprised 30 years later the demand

is still so great? It is shocking there are this many children that

need help but it shows the importance and value of ChildLine.

And also why we are running today. The problems children face today are

different from 30 years ago. You have used services, are you a team,

will you run together? We are not necessarily going to run together.

Most are running in pairs, in threes. We have kept contact using

WhatsApp. We are a team and definitely teamed ChildLine. Has it

been inspiring training to -- together? We are doing it for a

charity we all believe in and it has been inspiring for us. I cannot

believe it is 30 years. Well done. We will speak to Dame Esther

Rantzen, later, the founder of ChildLine. Colin Jackson has two

runners you might recognise, who are running for the NSPCC.

Two famous faces from Hollyoaks. Why are you running for NSPCC? We have

been working with NSPCC doing a child sexual abuse storyline at

Hollyoaks. We met young survivors who came to talk to us about the

trial process and they have helped us with the storyline. They have

been inspiring. It was a hard-hitting storyline that has hit

home. We have had amazing response from people watching this story. And

support from NSPCC, we went to see their work in the offices in

Liverpool. So we thought, let's give today a go. You have run a marathon

before, will you take her through? For the first couple of miles and

then I might leg it! You just take it and go for it. I wish you all the

best. The masses are arriving. Imagine the

nerves jangling, excitement, anticipation and for many it is

their debut. They will experience pretty good weather. We were warned

earlier in the week of snow but none of that. It will be pretty

consistently drive. Light rain seems to have gone away. Sun peeking

through at 10am. Temperatures will not be high. It will not really get

above 10 degrees. At least no rain, the layers might stay on longer, but

not bad conditions. I have two more incredible runners

next to me who are running for different reasons. Grace, tell us

your story. After two incredible years in your life. Two years ago I

was involved in a serious road traffic accident and broke 28 bones,

I split my liver in half, my spleen was bleeding, my kidneys failing.

You were broken. I spent a month in an induced coma in St George's

Hospital. I spent two month before going into rehab in Queen Mary's,

which my charity covers, those hospitals. Can you believe two years

on you are here and are about to start this incredible race? It was

two years today I was moved from intensive care a ward. When you see

the crowds, you under any doubt you can get through this? I will do it.

100%. Walking, crawling. I will not put any pressure on myself, I just

want to embrace every moment. Enjoyed a special atmosphere. Tell

us your story. You are running for Parkinsons. I am running for the

trust to raise money for Parkinson's disease. I was diagnosed eight years

ago. I am raising awareness for the charity, for people with Parkinson's

disease and to try to get fitter to achieve this. Tell me about how it

affected you and manifested itself. It started eight years ago. I was

getting a cramp in my foot. I anticipate that to happen today. My

right leg goes extremely stiff and it twists and bairns. It could

happen 50 yards in, at 26 miles, -- it and burns. There are a multitude

of symptoms. Does running help? It does help, my

walking has improved and my gait has improved so it's important for

Parkinson's. Whatever happens you will finish today? Yes, six hours,

one week, I will finish, definitely. Maybe not the week! Thank you, the

best of luck to you. Just two of the many inspirational stories and

figures that you will hear and see about today. David Weir is certainly

one of those. The Paralympian and wheelchair racer who has won six of

these London marathons, today he's going for an historic seventh, it

has eluded him so far but he is one of a very impressive field in the

men's wheelchair race and the women's too, Phil Jones is here to

talk us through the names. Canvas finally be the year for David

Weir? Six times a Paralympic gold medalist, the best of British and

also won the London Marathon six times, the last time in 2012 when he

equalled Tanni Grey-Thompson's record. The American beat George

Weah by a second last year, and he described himself as the most hated

man in London and took the world title in the bargain, George did

returns to defend it. The Swiss man was the champion last year. Marcel

Hug is a multiple world champion of outstanding quality. Brilliant and

dominant, Tatyana Mcfadden leads the women's wheelchair elite, the

American claiming 15 Marathon wins over the last four years, a fourth

straight London title is her gold today. Switzerland's 2013 world

champion Manuela Schaer has finished second to McFadden in London,

Chicago and New York last two years and was runner-up once more in

Boston last Monday. She again carries major threat. Written's

Shelly Woods saw her hopes punctured last year, but pulled's shining

light is twice a winner here including 2012 when she also won

marathon silver at the Olympics in London. She is raring to race.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Steve Cram are on The Mall today,

part of the fantastic commentary team. I saw him during the week at

XL when he was getting his race number and registering and he said

he was tired after Boston and finished fourth, he couldn't read

too much about his form, can you read anything into his performance

and will the seventh win come today? Could come today but he doesn't

normally race Boston Marathon where the other top ten guys are used to

doing marathons so close to each other. He will hope for a bit of

rain, wet conditions releasing David Weir. It will be close but he will

have to watch out for Marcel Hug and his other opponents who will race

against him together. With Rio looming in a few months' time is it

difficult for the wheelchair racers to be peaking at various times in

the season, or is this something he is fairly adept at? Wheelchair

racing is more like cycling and running so they can quite easily did

ten or 12 marathons a year and go and race on the track and come back

on the road. It is unusual Dave is choosing to do so many races this

year, but I think he needs that going into Rio, he needs more race

practice and he has had for the last two or three years. Tatyana Mcfadden

is chasing your record. Tatyana Mcfadden is amazing. She did really

well in Boston last week. She is very strong. It is hard to see who

will come close to her. London is quite a flat course and she doesn't

like going down very steep hills so if the women are going to break her

they will have to do it early in the race. Stephen, the elite race is

interesting for the British athletes because it is effectively a trial

for Rio. Explained to us how it will work. It is pretty straightforward,

the qualifying time for the men, two hours 14 and two hours 31 for the

women and you have to have a qualifying time to finish in the top

two to guarantee selection. Callum Hawkins and Scott overall already

have the time so they will try and make sure they only finish in the

top two to be guaranteed selection -- Overall. Samuels and Dixon also

have to qualify within the period for the women. If they finish in the

top two it is pretty straightforward for the selectors. They can take

three so there is a bunch of other British athletes hoping to come

today and get inside the qualifying times and hope that tomorrow when

they pick the marathon team for Rio that they will be selected. It is

loaded, isn't it? The elite race. You will enjoy a really high quality

field. Thank you, Steve and Tanni, more from them this morning. And

wheelchair race is about to go off, so let's go down and say hello.

COMMENTATOR: We are so excited about this, one of the great days of the

year as far as marathon running and marathon pushing is concerned. Here

is the line-up for the men's race. It is going to be so, so difficult

for David Weir to make it a magnificent seven. Not impossible

but Joshua George is the defending champion. David Weir is wearing 36.

Six times, the Paralympic champion. But they will all be out to stop him

making history here. Speaking of history makers, Tatyana Mcfadden

going for four in a row here in London, although her winning streak

was brought to an end by Waikato Toshiba recently. The Japanese

athlete is nine times a winner in Tokyo and will fancy she can put

McFadden under some kind of pressure. So, just the last few

seconds ticking by. Dave Weir has said he is fit this year than he has

been in previous editions of this race. He hasn't won this since 2012.

There is Tatyana Mcfadden, the most successful female wheelchair racer

in history. Multiple world champion, multiple Paralympic champion, going

for four in a row in London. The crowd realise they are witnessing

some great, great racers. Waikato to Cedar, included the first defeat on

Tatyana Mcfadden in three years. Can she do something very special again,

or can Shelly Woods make it a third victory here in London? Double

or can Shelly Woods make it a third back to form. The defending champion

said he was back to form. The defending champion

people in Britain last year, Josh George, four times a winner in

Chicago, faces a huge challenge to defend his world title but he won

here 12 months ago. Marcel Hug, multiple world holder, multiple

world champion, a little bit tactically naive last year at the

World Championships in Doha but a huge performer. Listened to the

reception for the Weir Wolf. Six times a winner, six times a

Paralympic champion, can he make it the magnificent seven? This is going

to be one of his toughest challenges to date.

They are under this is without doubt one of the most eagerly anticipated

wheelchair races we have had in the 36 year history of the virgin London

Marathon. David Weir has it all to do here, he finished fourth in

Boston last week, although that was his first outing on that particular

course and they do say you need to push Boston three, four, or even

five times to give yourself a chance of winning.

So, you can just see how quickly the field is stretching out. There will

be some tactics here. We saw it all those years ago, is it really almost

four years since David Weir completed those four golds at the

marathon on that occasion they tried to work together to deny Dave the

fourth gold, the best of the rest, and it work then. We have some very

experienced and very inform rivals to put Dave under pressure here.

Ernst van Dyk is pushing really well. It's not just about Kurt

Fearnley. Marcel Hug. Hug leading at the moment, a long way to go, and

there will be some real cat and mouse here. We've been speaking

about David Weir aiming to become the most successful wheelchair racer

in London Marathon history. We were catching up with him earlier this

week, he's been a man in demand in the lead up to the race, as you

would expect, and he has spoken about what it is going to take to

win. It will take beating Marcelle, Kurt

and Ernst and they are pushing really well. I've had a really good

winter, I've had a solid lot of mileage, back in the gym, I don't

know if it is because it is Olympic year and you get the buzz again,

We have you back in the commentary box, Tanni Grey-Thompson, this is a

huge task for Dave, we don't want to play the chances down but we should

not underestimate the size of the challenge in hand because some of

his biggest rivals are in cracking form. Marcel Hug has had renewed

confidence in the last 18 months, probably two years ago a lot of the

male athletes used to let Dave make all of the decisions on the road and

Ernst van Dyk, Marcel Hug and Kurt Fearnley from Australia, I wouldn't

be surprised if they try and race together a bit in the first 15, 16

miles to make it a real challenge for David Weir. Marcel Hug leading

at the moment. Remember he won this two years ago, but last year when he

was in really cracking shape he dropped out. He had a puncture

somewhere around Tower Bridge. We kept looking for him 12 months ago

but he has some unfinished business as far as this race is concerned. He

will be disappointed by how he performed on the track in Doha at

the well Championships last autumn. It's difficult because the guys race

week in and week out and they want to come out and win. Biggest

challenge for the guys today might be how much it rained in the early

hours of the morning, it washed up a lot of grit onto the road and it

would be a massive shame if any of the leading men didn't get to the

finish line. Marcel Hug indicating he'd like some body to come through

to the front, there is a big difference sitting on the front, you

take a lot more of the wind and obviously Marcel doesn't want to do

all of the running. Yes, it is really intriguing to watch the

tactical battles unfold in wheelchair racing. A lot more

changes of lead you have in the wheelchair is compared to the

able-bodied runners. Still preparing to do battle. So, we have a number

of IPC athletics World Cup races, T51/52, the athletes with the least

upper body function, Santiago Sans against Ray Martin, Ray Martin is a

very talented athlete from the United States and he will be the

favourite. ANNOUNCER: We are 30 seconds away

from the next start, stand-by. COMMENTATOR: Here are the rest of

the IPC athletics World Cup athletes, a mixture of visually

impaired and we have arm amputees as well. Many of these athletes running

with guides. That is a story for another day actually. The

relationship between the guides and visually impaired athletes is

incredible. They run in sync, it's the epitome of teamwork. Some of

these athletes are completely blind. Some have very limited vision which

gives them the option of running with a guide and you will see a few

wearing sunglasses who have just enough vision to be able to run on

their own. But still something under 15-10% overall. It is a great

feature of the London Marathon now that we have an opportunity for some

of the leading Paralympic that we have an opportunity for some

to compete on the same course as the able-bodied athletes. They don't

have too many chances to run in front of such huge crowds. It's

brilliant to see. You can just get a glimpse of, with his arm in a sling,

Derek Rae representing Fife. We will keep ROI on him as the morning

progresses. Moreno, T11/12, 11 is blind, 12 is visually impaired,

could this be Moreno's chance to seal gold, multiple silver-medallist

in the Paralympics, and in previous editions of the World Championship,

and the Colombian Wylfa see his chances. -- will fancy his chances.

This is the women's race, visually impaired and blind athletes, great

representation for the Japanese. She was fifth last year, she is 50 and

still running outside three hours, there is hope for us all. T13,

visually impaired, bass and toss will start as favourite, Prendergast

will have plenty of friends, the New Zealander who now lives in Maida

Vale, representing Wood Green. 45 and 46, these are the arm amputees,

or equivalents. The Italian will hope to recapture the title in fine

style that he won a few years ago. Watch out for Derek Rae, he lost the

use of his right arm through nerve damage in a motorbike accident and

he is flying. He is down at two: 14 these days. Magnificent day, it's

one of the world's great marathons. Backed with the glamour boys as far

as the world of wheelchair racing Backed with the glamour boys as far

concerned. Ernst van Dyk is in cracking form. Second in Boston this

year. A big sprint for the line. He has had good

year. A big sprint for the line. He finishing on the podium two years

ago and 2013, and he will hope to put Dave Weir under pressure. Dave

Weir is put Dave Weir under pressure. Dave

is not coming to the front. He has let Ernst van Dyk and

Fearnley take the league. Marcel Hug at the back of that quartet of

athletes. I am interested to see how Marcel Hug will cope. He is

brilliant when he is the favourite and does not have anybody else to

compete against. His string of world titles in Lyon were fantastic. But

when he is in a race, with loaded opposition, he can sometimes spend

too much time focusing on the other athletes and not his own race.

Especially the speed they are going. They are getting close to 30 miles

an hour coming down the hill. The sprint speed is almost identical and

sometimes it is who has the sprint speed is almost identical and

nerve and who goes first. Ernst van Dyk is probably the heaviest man in

the pack, and he is normally quick going down the hills. He takes risks

and has crashed a couple of times in the past. It is interesting to see

how Dave is going down the hill, making distance on them, but it will

come back together as soon as they hit the flat. There is the angle

from the helicopter. Clear skies at the moment. Looking out from the

commentary position. The helicopters will be flying high. This view to

pursue an indication as to just how fast they are pushing, albeit that

it is slightly downhill. We expect the winner to come home around an

hour and a half, very fast pushing, indeed. To give you an indication as

to how fast the races are, David Weir said earlier this week they can

get up to 45 mph. Somebody has gone down. I think it shows, on the

slippery roads, you have to be careful. They will have made

decisions on what tyres to put on. The slightest hit on the road, you

can go out. Lucky they did not take more athletes stand in that crash

because they are going really quickly and they are tight turns.

And there he goes. He was on his own and so it was lucky that nobody else

went with him. Early drama in the wheelchair race. Plenty more to

come. It is cat and mouse. The big names are in contention. There is a

long way to go. The wheelchair and IPC races are

under way and if you want to watch continued coverage and all the elite

races, press the red button. The red button will be dedicated to those

this morning. The masses are gathering and we are just under one

hour away to the start. I am sure you know someone running today. One

of the best sporting days. The countdown clock tells you we are

coming up to 53 minutes away from the start. The lady beside me cannot

wait to get going, she has won Olympic gold medals and achieved

more in her sporting life we can dream. Dame Kelly Holmes, I get

feeling that this is as nerve-racking as all of those. You

have huge support. I have been trying to switch off, but like

everything out, but you can't. This is the best thing. Being with all

these people. It really is. It is so exciting. Everyone has energy.

Everybody seems happy. You can master 800, 1500, but the marathon,

how has the training on? The last five weeks I have had steady runs. I

find the process of the distance... I am trying to get into my mindset,

not to go off too fast. And hit that wall. I am not used to running with

people. I run on my own in the countryside. I am feeling anxious

about how I will be with that. You are doing it for great causes and

they will keep you going when you hit the wall. And I got my nails

done. Red, for Eddie Izzard the Union Jack for the Queen, of course.

They will keep me going. Five charities. I want to get awareness

and a hospice. A cancer centre, which is a centre for respite. And

the Dame Kelly Holmes trust. If anybody wants to sponsor me, please,

I am trying to get ?250,000. You have dug deep into your contacts

book and a close athletics friend, Paula Radcliffe, has given you

advice. It is not what you know, it is who you know, what has she told

you? Paula is great. She said to have fun. She is talking about

hydration. Do not just drink water, take salts. The mental attitude. Try

to pitch into it. Half of it you take, because you think it is good

advice, and half of it you think, you are world record-holder, it does

not apply to this! She can run this rather quick, as you mentioned. I

know you do. Want to give an absolute time, but a ballpark area.

I would like to run under 3.30. James Cracknell has you down for

something closer to 2.40 five. Best of luck. You have plenty of people

to run with. Paula Radcliffe you will hear from later, she is part of

the commentary team for the elite races. The women will go off in a

few minutes. Here is Phil Jones to talk you through.

Ethiopia's Tigist Tufa won last year, ending a run of four

consecutive Kenny Wiggins and she will defend her crown. Her team-mate

won the championships in Beijing and now wants London glory. Aselefech

Mergia. Mary Khatami is the second is fastest woman of all time.

Her compatriot also triumphed in London in 2013 and won Olympic

silver in the previous year. Twice a long distance world champion,

Florence Kiplagat's London's best was a runners-up spot. She will try

to top that. Jemima Sumgong can complete the Kenyan quartet.

Gathered in London once more, an elite field of a standard so

supreme. It will be a fascinating race with a

lot at stake. Let's go over to the commentary team, Brendan Foster,

Paula Radcliffe, and Steve Cram. Good morning.

It is fantastic. The sun is finally coming out. I hope everybody is

keeping warm down at the start. You are in for a treat because the women

will set us off on what promises to be a fantastic day's racing. As well

as the 37,000 who will be starting at 10am. The elite women go first.

You can see some of the British names trying to make their way into

the Olympic team. More of that once they get going. A big day for the

international field and a massive day for British athletes. This is

Priscah Jeptoo. Winner of the London Marathon back in 2013. I had one of

those earlier, that looks good! A famous name, Mare Dibaba, Ethiopia's

first world Harrison, female world marathon champion in Beijing. Watch

out for her. Florence Kiplagat is a regular visitor and has not won yet.

This is the fifth attempt. World record-holder in the half marathon.

Another great athlete from Ethiopia. The winner in 2010. Aselefech

Mergia. Fourth here last year. For many, the favourite, Mary Khatami.

Only Paula Radcliffe has covered the marathon distance quicker. --

Keitany. Last year, Tigist Tufa won, to the surprise of most people.

Finished sixth at the World Championships and followed that with

a third in November. A great field. Championships and followed that with

Let's not forget the British athletes. Sonia Samuels and Alyson

Dixon. Friar Ross is hoping to make the team she did in 2012. A big day

for the British women with only two guaranteeing their Olympic selection

today. Waiting for the last countdown. Down

in Blackheath. The street saying "London ahead those quote await

-- London ahead awaits them. There is not much breeze. The sun is

trying to come through. Around about 7-8d, perfect.

The London Marathon elite women under way in Olympic year, the great

champions are here, and those wanting to make their own mark and

try, perhaps, to guarantee Olympic selection as well as complete the

great London Marathon on this pretty fine Sunday morning. Joining me in

the commentary box as ever Brendan Foster. You've been here many years,

we all have, but every year the excitement seems to ratchet up,

great field again and great British interest as well. This is a

particularly good one as you mentioned, it is Olympic year, the

British athletes in the second group with the pacemaker are aiming for a

race between them and I would think the first three have every chance of

being selected for the Olympic Games. At the front it is looking

like a competitive race and similarly the Ethiopian and Kenyan

athletes looking for Olympic selection, so we virtually have two

races, the elite race to try and win the race and as we come into shot,

the elite athletes running together, you just look at your competitors

and the first one across the line will go to Rio. The race for Rio is

the second group. Kota Hokinoue we has gone to the front of this

fascinating men's wheelchair race. It was the big four for quite awhile

and they decided slow up and you can tell, even if you are not an expert

in wheelchair racing, just how steadily they are taking this

section. They put a real injection of pace in about a mile or so ago it

was looking pretty fast with the likes of Ernst van Dyk Kurt

Fearnley, Marcel Hug and David Weir, and all of a sudden Marcel Hug sat

up, stretched his shoulders and the chase pack chased down and it's Kota

Hokinoue taking them through one of the iconic landmarks of the London

Marathon, anybody sitting at home who have run the London, it's a nice

feeling when you see Cutie suck, six and a bit on the clock, you see

loads of people on the crowd, and you think, OK, the race is

unfolding. We are you think, OK, the race is

of the way through the race but it is Kota Hokinoue we who has taken up

the reins in the men's race but it is very tactical it looked like the

big four were going away and the second group caught up. A lot more

tactics to unfold in this race. Written's Simon Lawson just went

through in the second pack, it's a surprise some of the Japanese

athletes were not closer to the front in the first ten kilometres

but that the fastest part of the course for the wheelchair athletes,

especially down Shooters Hill Road where we saw them go down at 30 mph.

This road is quite bumpy, so it breaks up people's pushing technique

coming round, so I would expect to see a few more breaks at the front

of the pack. There they are at Cutty Sark, and if you miles back down the

road, about five miles, to be honest, all the way back through

Greenwich, a quiet part of the route in terms of spectators, but a really

important first few miles to set you up for the rest of the race. Here we

have the British women, and let's talk about these for a women,

Charlotte -- for a moment. Lee Dickson on the far side of the curb

next to Freya Ross, Susan Partridge in the dinky vest, if we describe it

that way. This is not just about Times today, it's about position and

watching the other British athletes, they have to run under 2.31 and the

top two are guaranteed selection. Absolutely and the only two with the

qualifying time Sonia Samuels and Ali Dixon in the sunglasses on the

far side, the other girls need to run a faster time and finish in the

top two. The options are there for Alyson Dixon and Sonia to finish in

the top two whereas the onus is on the others to try and run the

quicker time. I should point out the pacemakers are in the black and

white striped vests. Karen Jones and Charlotte Ahtoug are helping them in

that pace group and another pace group is set to run 2.21, 2.26 pace,

a wide margin, they will look to the girls who are meant to be in that

group for guidance of what pace they should run at. But the first few

miles I just about getting into it, relaxing into it, seeing how the

body feels and hoping the body feels as it should do and backing up the

training they have all done, letting the nerves settle, checking who is

around you and not getting too carried away in the early stages.

Charlotte Purdue closest to the camera, a big day for her, big

junior career but lots of injury problems. She said, I think this is

my distance, this is the distance I felt destined to run. She did say

that, she has all was wanted to run a marathon and she has been a

talented athlete all the way through and had serious injuries en route,

it looks like she could be a very good distance runner. Can she

translate it to the marathon? She is here to find out today and that is

why we are here. From my point of view it's interesting to see the

whole group of British athletes racing, but looking at other

athletes in this competition looking for best times and fastest times, we

are looking at a real race and it will be fascinating. They are all

there. I was watching the Susan Partridge at the back just behind

the leaders and you could sense she was anxious to get amongst the

pacemakers and get moving, she is very experienced, she was the first

written in the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and just behind the black and

white stripes, I will not say any more about the black-and-white

stripes! Sorry! More about that later. All and I were at the press

conference earlier in the week and Susan and Alyson Dixon and they said

I think we will all run together and looked at everybody else and there

was a chuckle from the audience because Sonia and Ali looked at the

floor as if to say we will not let you know what we are doing. It is up

to Susan, she's the one who doesn't have the qualifying time, just

missed it in rather unluckily, she has done it in the past, so the onus

is on her. Yes and she learned lessons in Chicago and said in the

press conference she didn't realise she was as close as she was to the

qualifying time. Hopefully she has been times in her head she needs to

hit and she can work it out and that she won't go too quick to early

which is a danger, sometimes Susan can be too aggressive in the first

half and pay for it in the second half. She will rely on Charlotte

Arter and Carol Jones among those two setting a good pace. I'm not

sure how far the pacemakers will be able to go, they will be on the

verge of their own half marathon personal bests to get halfway at the

time requested, 2.28, I think 2.28 is a bit quick for Susan to aim at

but you can see already the is there. Susan Partridge at the head

of the British contingent, the others just having a look behind,

and they themselves are probably already 15 or 20 seconds behind the

lead group. Susan Partridge already 15 or 20 seconds behind the

be running well with the leading group. She's been in Boulder,

Colorado, with her coach Steve Jones, still the British

record-holder, set in 1984, 2.08, the world record them, and Steve

Jones is a former winner of this event and a very good coach bringing

on his athletes. Now we look at event and a very good coach bringing

leading group, some of the talent, Dibaba in the purple vest just

behind the two leaders, that's the world champion, won last year in

Beijing, and has every intent here to run fast and run well.

Well, early stages for the women, they went through the first mile in

around 5.25. And then they have a couple of quick miles coming up

shortly. It's only after the first 5K that things start to settle down.

Meanwhile, you can get an 5K that things start to settle down.

is the leading contenders are in the men's wheelchair race. It is Marcel

Hug who is leading at the moment. There is a group of about eight or

nine. There is Hug with that distinctive silver bullet helmet and

it has all got a little bit tactical from the British perspective, Dave

Weir tucked in behind his great rival. They have had some epic

battles over the years. They have been, and their arrival has been, a

fabulous advert for wheelchair racing. But don't forget about the

likes of Ernst van Dyk and Kurt Fearnley, and remember, Dave Whelan

was beaten into fourth place in Boston, Dave is just on the right of

the picture, in the long white sleeves, Hug leading, Dave was

fourth in Boston at the start of this week, so a win is by no means a

given here. They take different lines across the various

roundabouts, still cat and mouse here in the men's wheelchair race.

. Forget the elite races continue live on the red button if that what

is like to see. -- don't forget. In half an hour over 30,000 people of

all shapes and sizes will be racing 26.2 miles for so many worthwhile

causes and reasons. As we watch the elite flyers to the 80-year-old

triers, as some of you may well know, it is worth remembering

everybody has their own special reason for running the.

Marathon. When he was just five, Stuart Eggleshaw lost his mother to

pancreatic cancer, today the 44-year-old from Mansfield is

running for the charity Smiles and Cancer Research UK after beating his

own health battles. Following a car crash in 2012 he lost a staggering

22 stone and nine lb through the Body Magic programme that promotes

healthy eating and exercise and he's making his marathon debut. Heather

Duff was 12 when she ran the mini London Marathon in 1999 and promised

herself she would return one day to complete the full adult course. Two

years ago the 29-year-old from West Lothian was diagnosed with a rare

form of cervical cancer, so rare in fact it was only the 19th reported

case. Now in remission Heather will fulfil her marathon of our today

while raising money for Cancer Research UK. Lewis is running in

honour of his son who age six in 99 received a life-saving stem cells

bone marrow transplant, Daniel beat leukaemia, but after further health

complications sadly passed away in 2008. This year marks the 20th

anniversary of the African Caribbean leukaemia trust, created in Daniel's

memory by his parents. The 58-year-old from Bromley hopes to

raise ?20,000 for the charity on his marathon debut and as a tribute to

his son. Your stories are also inspirational

and incredible and so different. When you are out there today,

keeping Daniel's memory live and the money that you raise will keep you

going through the 26.2 miles. Definitely, it's about keeping his

memory alive, I will have tough moments. Raising money for the

charity is what it is all about and inspiring young people to fight for

the gift of life. If you want to give, go to Virgin Money giving. I

need all the help I can get. I'm sure lots of people will be

inspired. Heather, you are a example of a lady whose life took a

different turn after you thought you would come back and run the full

marathon. You didn't know it would be such a tough journey. I always

said to myself at some point I would run the full marathon, I never

counted I would have cancer to overcome before I got here. That was

two years ago and it has been a long journey. I suppose what it has

taught me is anyone can get cancer and to get to this point was a huge

personal challenge but a great about unity for me to give something back

to cancel, as if it wasn't for Cancer Research UK I genuinely

believe I would not be here today -- give something back to. The visual

images we have seen of what you have achieved phenomenal. Can you believe

that that person who had so much weight to carry around, and I

imagine walking down the road must have been a struggle, is about to

embark on 26 miles? It is an absolute shock. Thinking about it

when I was walking 50 yards and having to stop and get my breath

back. Today in front of these amazing people here I'm joining in

with them rather than sitting and thinking I would love to do that

watching it on television. You will be out there with all kinds of

incredible people and pace, doesn't matter what time you finish, the

fact you are here is an incredible achievement, Stuart. It is indeed

and as Heather said it's that thing that shows I can get through

adversity, I can do this and I'm here today. If you can then others

can too. The best of luck to all three of you. Enjoy it.

If these amazing people do not inspire you then I don't know who or

what will and you can send your good luck messages to friends and family

and loved ones, the details are on the screen, don't forget you can

text on 81111. The runners are gathering at the stats and among

those running our affair number of celebrities. We've picked ten for

what we like to call the Face Race. These are the stars of the Face

Race, Dame Kelly Holmes winning double gold at the Olympics. If

Nadine Muller Keren can handle Hollyoaks she can handle the

marathon in under five hours. Natalie Dormer hopes her latest

block buster hit is a marathon finish of three hours 45. Former

footballer Clarke Carlisle has tackled countdown, Question Time and

now this, for the half hours is the goal. BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth

hopes seventh Heaven comes in her seventh marathon courtesy of a sub

four hours' time. Radio 2 Buzz sevens would exactly need to be in

Top Gear all the way round to reach the foreign half-hour target. An

early start is not a problem for Good Morning presenter. Rob Trinder

has some pedigree, hence his three-hour target. Making his London

debut aiming for a four hour finish. Distance is no object for British

astronaut Tim Peake to become the first man to run a marathon in space

using a treadmill on the International Space Station. These

are the Face Space runners to watch today.

Surely I have the best job this morning. Look at these smiling

faces. Please tell us, your family have been watching. Normally you are

a critic on Gogglebox. How will you do today? Fingers crossed I should

be doing all right. Dad will be watching and will be bragging about

the fact he is not doing it. I will get him doing it next year. You have

one under your belt. I was a lot fitter, it was before Gogglebox, now

I sit down watching TV, I am not as fit. You are up early in the morning

for Good Morning Britain. No make up. This is me, I am afraid. I am

excited and nervous. I thought of the 64 million people and we will be

in the one in a million who have done it. I am nervous and excited.

My first marathon. I just want to get through it. I am doing it for an

amazing charity and cannot wait. Will you run together? I am so slow.

They will be ahead of me. I will be running with -- Iva Barr, who is 88,

the oldest runner here. Give us a piggyback if you see us!

Colin and the guys at the start. If you are not there, you must get a

move on, 10am for the mass race. And London even on a day like today

looks beautiful. The first water station, the elite women. This is

always a scenario that can cause consternation if they are not

organised. Paula is always animated about people at water stations.

Early stages. The pacemaker is trying to force it along a little

bit. They will be watching Mary Keitany.

She is the only one I did not see take a drink. Maybe she did not

notice it, Mr bottle, or felt she did not to take one that early. She

is controlling it, but not showing willingness to go with the

pacemakers, who are up ahead. Good pedigree for the pacemakers,

pacemaker number one is a world medallist, Roddy in the race won

pacemaker number one is a world Mare Dibaba. -- running in the race

won by Mare Dibaba. Dibaba winning when she got onto the track at the

end. Will we see a sprint finish? Priscah Jeptoo is already off the

lead group. So far, the British women and one or two other

international athletes. They are all locked together at the moment. Susan

Partridge, Charlotte Purdue at the front of the British contingent.

Charlotte Purdue moving through the group. She took time to settle. It

is a big step, up towards the marathon. So young and coming from

the background of serious injuries in the past couple of years but she

is in good shape, happy with the way preparation has gone. Happy with

is in good shape, happy with the way volume and intensity she has

absorbed in the training cycle. She will always race aggressively and

give 100%. If this was a half marathon you would think Charlotte

Purdue in good form would be able favourite but the question is

whether Charlotte Purdue can stay with this pace on her debut

marathon. 20 of track runners who step into the marathon do that

conscientiously and run good marathons -- plenty of track

runners. We have the rubber in 2012, stepping in and running the marathon

when Paula was injured. And friar Ross took Paula's place. She was at

work on the Monday and running the marathon at the weekend and had no

chance to tell everybody she would do that. It was a secret you were

injured. She left a note on the computer, saying out of office and

she said I will be away for a few days, I am running the Olympic

marathon! The British women are already around one minute behind the

leaders. Keitany taking water this time. It is not particularly warm

but it is good conditions for quick running, as long

but it is good conditions for quick not pick up in the later stages. We

expect a breeze to pick up but nothing too bad. Keitany forcing

things. The group is more spread out nothing too bad. Keitany forcing

now. The cadence has picked up a little. Dibaba, Tufa, Florence

Kiplagat. Feyse Tadese. Meanwhile the wheelchair races

coming up to Tower Bridge. Once you have done Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge

is the next major target. It is a magnificent sight. You know when you

get to Tower Bridge the race is about to begin. You have knocked off

the first 12 and a half. This is where the training begins to pave

dividends. Marcel Hug has gone to the front with Kurt Fearnley behind

him and Dave Weir in third. They have not been among the leaders in

the past couple of miles. With elite wheelchair racing, the lead changes

more frequently than it does with traditional able-bodied athletes.

The big three have decided to make their presence felt at the front.

Marcel Hug, every time he makes a move he looks over his shoulder to

Kurt Fearnley, who looks over his shoulder to David Weir. They know

who is in contention. Dave Weir is running a smart and tactical race.

The climb over Tower Bridge is steeper than you think and the

run-off down the other side is very nice. They are in great position.

They will snake around to their right-hand side. This, perhaps, is

the beginning of a fascinating second half of this race. Kota

Hokinoue was involved in setting the pace but the big three are out front

in the elite wheelchair race. The sun is out, the choir in fine

voice and we are getting ready, 20 minutes away from the masses and the

men's elite runners taking to the streets of London. Conditions a

little bit cold, maybe no world records in the men's race today. But

many people going for their own world records. If you could tell me

what the record is. My name is leave from London Fire Brigade. There are

five representatives -- Lee. Different people from the Fire

Brigade, cadets, a firefighter and a group. The world record is four

persons in a costume and the current record is six hours and 23 minutes.

We are absolutely going to smash it. I bet you had fun coordinating

training. It has been a little bit wild. We are raising money for the

firefighters' charity. A big shout out to the Water station. Well done.

Best of luck. Tell me your record. I hope to set the world record for

appliances. White appliances, any kitchen product over 25 kilograms

and I hope to set a five hour record. It weighs 26 kilograms. It

is real, as well! Raising money for kidney disease which my nephew has,

any thing to find a cure. How did you decide on which white appliance?

It was in the kitchen and we had nowhere to fit it in the kitchen!

What are you? Good morning. I am Ian Bates running the Guinness World

Record for the fastest dinosaur. It will take probably all day.

Hopefully within seven hours, we will be happy. A very handsome man

under that. Best of luck. What is your record? My name is Jill, I am

running for Cancer Research UK and hopefully I am the fastest animal

running the marathon today. Show us the head. A polar bear? Absolutely.

Snow-white. Fastest book character. I am running for action on hearing

loss. Best of luck. I am Jonathan Scott, fastest marathon dressed in a

replica astronaut suit. You have quite a lot to do with astronauts. I

am lucky enough to work as part of the team for the European Space

Agency who helped prepare Tim and other European astronauts for their

missions. We helped Tim prepare for his marathon. He is starting the

race in space. Incredible. Are you hoping to beat him? Maybe, maybe. I

will let you know at halfway. Best of luck, all of you. You are

absolutely brilliant. We can get back out on the course.

You can see where the wheelchair athletes have reached and the elite

women, not too far away from Cutty Sark, after going through a swift...

Just gone through five miles, the elite women. It is a quick part of

the course. Paula Ratcliffe, 5.11, 5.2. Meaning business. A few are

going quicker than 5.2. Meaning business. A few are

done. I think Keitany took time to settle. Let the first two tick by

and then decided to run quicker. She moved through on the slightly

downhill third mile. 5.2 on the next mile, not so downhill, and looks

like she is maintaining pace and asking questions of those in the

group who are in single file behind her. Mergia looking back. A long way

down the road, I cannot see Priscah Jeptoo. The next group are not even

in sight. Really pushing on. Cannot even see the pacemakers ahead. She

is not really getting... She does not need much protection because it

is not windy at the moment. I think they are anticipating a pick-up in

wind towards the end of the race. The elite women are at Tower Bridge

and Tatyana McFadden is back in the lead and early on we saw a break

from the athlete who brought Tatyana McFadden's winning streak to an end

early in the year. Now back at the front where she believes she

belongs. The long white sleeves. She has the ponytail, as well. A big

opportunity for Tatyana McFadden to go four in a row.

She is back with the lead group and it's a different dynamic we have

seen in the last three years when she was way out front in her own,

four together at the front of the elite women's wheelchair race. Aaron

Pike has been at the front for a couple of miles. We did have fun

dyke and firmly and Marcel Hoog and Dave Weir but Aaron Pike is a rather

surprise leader -- Van Dyk. Plenty of drama to come in the race.

Uninterrupted coverage of all of the elite races, press your red button

and if you want to get in touch with us at Virgin Money London Marathon

you can via the social media platforms, 811 11 two text your

messages. The atmosphere is building down at the start and it is getting

tense as runners of all ages and abilities get ready to line up on

the grid. Colin caught up earlier with a group of familiar faces

hoping to reach not just Top Gear but any year would do.

I'm here with the radio to running team, good morning. Good morning!

And the fully fledged member, Chris Evans, Mr Top Gear himself. Glastir

Uran 4.53. That is very respectable. -- last year you ran 4.53. We have

Virgin Money London virgins, we have a couple of veterans, someone did 14

marathons, somebody did a 200 mile race, Jules overhear, but a great

mixed bunch, they all have different secret agendas they are not letting

on. My watch says Sunday the first, 3:43am and I can't get a signal,

that is my excuse! They've raised loads of money for Children in Need,

they've been to Steve Cram's training camp in New York and lovely

bunch of people. Is there anybody I should specifically watch out for,

bunch of people. Is there anybody I Watch out for the dark horse, my

wife, who is giving nothing away! I've no idea, we live in the same

house, we have the same Georgian, I've no idea what she is up to but

something is going on over there. People don't like to let on about

their own agenda. What do you all think? I'm looking forward to it,

excited, I'd like to get a half decent time, I just hope my wife

doesn't punish me because she had never run in her life until January

and I slipped her in in your auction. All the best out on the

course, I wish you the best. I'm with a special man indeed,

33-year-old Ben Smith running the 26.2 miles today, but just one small

step on an incredible challenge. For most people doing one marathon

is the pinnacle, the ultimate ambition, but in September 20 15th

Ben Smith took the first steps on a journey that will see him run over

10,000 miles, or more accurately, 401 marathons in 401 consecutive

days. Ben was bullied at school Milli school to such an extent he

suffered a nervous breakdown and try to take his own life. Three years

ago, depressed and overweight he started running and has not looked

back. Now he is travelling around the UK raising awareness about the

impact of bullying. Do we think bullying is good or is it bad? Bad!

The challenge will take him from lands end to John O groats meeting

and running with masses of people along the way. London will be

marathon to have 37 for Ben. Only 165 to go for this incredible

marathon man. The stories get more and more

amazing, the people more and more inspirational, Ben, you are a

phenomenon, to do what you are doing a to undertake it at any point, at

the other thought this was a crazy idea, enough is enough? Crazy idea,

yes, enough is enough, no. When you are extremely passionate about

something you want to achieve and wake up every morning happy it makes

it easier. You are putting a smile on lots of people's faces, but you

are running with quite a few people then you have so far. It is a little

overwhelming this morning, I've been up since five o'clock, and it's

amazing and I've already heard incredible stories and I don't think

I will get through today without crying. You brought a tear to my eye

when I saw your story yesterday. Toll is a bit about why you're doing

this. I was badly bullied at school for eight years of my life and that

led to me taking trying to take my own life at the age of 18 and I'm

passionate about not letting this happen to kids any more. Hopefully

with the money raised it will go to support the two charities in

tackling these issues. You've gone out on your way and talked to kids,

so important, it was a dual attack. Definitely and it's important for

our kids to grow up in a society where they know they can be who they

want to be. It took me 18 years to figure out who I was, let's not make

the same happened to them. Do you have a time in mind? I don't know,

it depends how much fun I have. It doesn't matter, just go out and have

a great time today. Whatever time you do it will not be up there near

two hours or so, which is what the elite men will do, they are

sprinting for just over two hours and it's an impressive field. Who is

Phil Jones having a look at the elite men.

Eliud Kipchoge is the sixth fastest marathon man of all time, his record

since 2013, six marathon stars, five wins, won second place, he defends

his London Crown. Wilson Kipsang was defeated in a sprint finish last

year, twice London Marathon champion and the course record-holder, he's

back to resume the Kenyan dual. Another Kenyan Dennis Kimetto is a

world record holder, the first man to go under two hours and three

minutes for a marathon and he hasn't won race since the staggering record

in Burlington 17 months ago, he was third here last year. Stanley Biwott

is a fourth Kenyan of our standing pedigree, reigning New -- New York

Marathon champion, fourth in London last year and run up the year

before. Ethiopian distance legend makes a comeback after an injury

wrecked 2015, princely three Olympic golds on the track, also a world

cross-country King hoping he is ready to take it. Get breast lassi

is the reigning world champion, sensational teenager winner last

year, the youngest gold medalist in history, he makes his debut. The

men's elite, another Stella Quast on show on the streets of the capital

today. -- Stella Billy Bakker stellar

we will follow them closely. The start is minutes away for the

masses, just over 35,000 will begin their quest and one of them will

become the 1,000,000th finisher and earn a place in history. Who that be

and what time, who knows? The London Marathon organisers will announce it

in a couple of weeks' time, they want to be absolutely sure of that

important person. We won't know either until then but what a

landmark for this race, race that the best want to win and so many

want to take part in. It all started 35 years ago on the 29th of March

1991, 6747 runners were accepted to take part and 6225 crossed the line

on Constitution Hill, the elite men's race won in a tie between the

American and the Norwegian. Since then the race has grown so much at

elite and mass participation level. The race's co-founder and former

Olympic steeplechase champion died 13 years ago and sadly this year the

London Marathon's other co-founder passed away in February aged 87.

John was born in Gwyneth, Wales and competed for Great Britain at the

1952 Helsinki Olympics winning the bronze medal in the 3000 metres

steeplechase, he was a PE teacher and set wealth wreck -- Welsh

records. His legacy, like Chris's, will always live on with the London

Marathon. It is now fitting before the elite men and masses given their

race, everyone will pay their respects to John, a visionary, an

innovator and a true gentleman. ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen,

debris this year the London Marathon's co-founder John Disley

CBE died aged 87. He was an Olympic medallist and a pioneer of mass

participation in sport, who along with crisp ratio dreamt and

delivered this incredible event. He also designed the course you run on,

which today will see the 1,000,000th finisher complete the race will stop

to commemorate his place in athletics history in the company of

his wife Sylvia and daughters Emma and Kate, let's joined together in

applause to remember this remarkable man.

thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, great tribute to John

Disley. We are a few moments away from introducing you to the final

line-up, and you can see the masses, 39,000 runners getting ready to get

underway on the 2016 virgin London marathon.

Wonderful moment commemorating John Disley and lovely to see his wife

and daughters here. The start of a 36 London Marathon is almost upon

us, Gertje 5000 runners are ready, so let's handover to our, to Tom

Derrey team, Rob Walker, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Steve Cram. --

commentary team. COMMENTATOR: There was a wonderful memorial service on

Thursday which so many attended and indeed some of these Olympic

athletes, great man and a great tribute to his work. Those are some

of the names going through, we will introduce the top names in a moment

for the British men as for the British women, a big day and a big

day of selection for them. Scott Overall and Callum Hawkins have the

qualifying time already and it's good to see Chris Thompson back.

This man became the youngest ever world champion in Beijing last year,

Ghirmay Ghebreslassie could be the youngest winner ever if he triumphed

today. 22 champions a world champion and three times and Olympic

champion. Kennedy said the Kelly -- candies of the Caley, could you

produce something special today. -- Kenenisa Bekele. From New York,

Stanley Biwott, from Kenya. He knows how to win in London. As the Olympic

bronze-medallist and course record-holder Wilson Kipsang.

2:02.57, the incredible world record held by

Dennis Kimetto, which he managed to do in Burlington over 18 months ago.

Great track career and then moved onto the roads and he's having a

wonderful marathon career. He's only ever been beaten once and that was

in a world-record race in Berlin when Kipsang broke the record before

in a world-record race in Berlin Kimetto, Eliud Kipchoge, last year's

winner coming to try and get the victory today. What about the Brits?

Chris Thompson there. He has done the time in the past, Callum Hawkins

as the time this year with Scott Overall as well. So the British men

will be following and we will follow their stories as they try and gain

selection for Rio. They are lining up with the thousands of runners. In

the year when the millionth finisher will cross the line it's at this

most powerful and greatest of human races begins with a start that is

out of this world. Joined Tim Peake at the

International Space Station. RADIO: Three, two, one. Hi, I'm

astronaut Tim Peake on board the International Space Station. It's a

huge honour to be asked to be the official start of the 2016 London

Marathon. I'm excited to be a per joined the runners on earth from

right here on board the space station. Good luck to everybody

running and I hope to see you all at the finish line.

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three 02, one, go! We have

liftoff. Liftoff for the London Marathon

2016. The elites on their way, cheered by those in the grandstands,

and I'm sure by everybody watching around the world, and indeed in

space. Tim Peake will be setting off on his own quest to complete this

most traditional of distances. On a weekend when we

most traditional of distances. On a birthday of Shakespeare his words

are pretty apt, now bid me run and I will strive for things impossible.

36000 and more setting great journey. And, this year, it

will be the year the 1,000,000th finisher will cross the finishing

line in the London Marathon. The blue start and green start will

come together after around one mile. The redstart and Greenwich Park on

the right. They will head on their path towards a meeting point at

three miles, when all three come together. There they are in

Greenwich Park. It will take a few minutes for most of them to

eventually cross the line, but it happens incredibly smoothly. The

organisation, as ever, all of the planning, ensuring that everybody

will get their turn. Brendan, it is a site that never fails to inspire

all around the world. A special year for a special event. It is, I have

sat here 36 years in a row watching the London Marathon and that was the

most dramatic yet, a start from outer space. What a week so far in

London with the Queen's birthday celebrations, we are having the

Shakespeare 400th anniversary celebrations and, today, the biggest

mass participation marathon in the world will celebrate its 1,000,000th

finisher. Who would have thought all those years ago when 6000 runners

lined up at Greenwich Park we would be looking at an event where 1

million people have taken part. If you think back when they watched the

first marathon in 1981, only a few hundred people in Great Britain had

had experience of running a marathon. People watching today will

see that colourful site and over 1 million will have experienced the

modern phenomenon that is the marathon. The crowd is excited at

the start. The runners hopefully not too excited at the start. They have

to take it carefully, start slow. These are great conditions for

distance running, Paula. They are very good conditions. A great cause

and a great place to do it. They are at the start, but the whole way

along the route and at the mall, waiting for the runners to finish

their journey and arrive at the finishing line that little bit

stronger. Where would you rather be now? In the fitness right now, that

I am being, I would probably rather be sitting here but I always want to

be out there running. There are thousands and thousands of stories

that have helped people get to the starting line. So many are running

for charity, it will be another record year for charity. The event

organiser telling us this week that that continues to grow and grow. A

couple of friends of mine are out there. Graham, running for the

benevolent fund. Luke, running for pancreatic cancer. We have seen

radio to's Chris Evans. So many great stories. We will try to bring

you as many of those as well as the story of the elite race. It has

become a British institution. Springtime in Britain, the London

Marathon. This is what 40,000 people looked like, with the same

intention, the same idea, and that is to get over the finishing line.

If you think of the hours of training to get here, millions of

miles and millions of hours, thousands of hours is of people

doing it. If you are not inspired by this, what would inspire you? When I

think back, the difference between the first marathon and how it has

changed. The first thing that strikes me is the colour. We saw

shots of the first, it was great and raining. It is nice now, it was

raining early on, and a colourful array of runners. This is a modern

phenomenon, a wonderful event, a great event, the London Marathon.

Good luck to you all. We will be scrolling messages across. That is a

nice outfit, well done. I hope he wore a coat on the way there. Good

luck to David, for the British Heart Foundation, raising ?10,000. It does

not matter if you raise 100, tens of thousands, well done to you all. We

will take a few minutes for those to cross the starting line. Exit, turn

left, then they get running. The official starting line outside the

gate. Overseas competitors, celebrity competitors in the blue

start. Club athletes. All of the running clubs in the UK are there.

And the green, the blue, those starts come together fairly quickly.

About a mile and a half down the road, and then everybody comes

together after about three miles. We can have a closer look at exactly

where they are heading. We are at the finishing line waiting patiently

for them but the 26 miles, which has become familiar to a lot of them.

They have never been here before. People have come from around the

world. They come together at three miles through the quickest part of

the course and then heading towards Cutty Sark, where the big crowds

will be gathered at around six miles. Always a popular place. Then

310 miles and they will see Tower Bridge in the distance. Across Tower

Bridge, big crowds, heading out towards Canary Wharf, as they manage

to get through the halfway point. 15 miles and through the twisting,

turning parts of the cause, and then the long run for home, back towards

the Tower, along the bank and in the last two, three miles. Some of the

great sights of London, you can see Big Ben down the embankment.

Buckingham Palace and into the mall. Passing in front of us. And the 250

metres to the finishing line. Meanwhile, making her way around the

course, hoping to hone in on a fourth title, Tatyana McFadden,

followed by Manuela Schar. A great race developing as far as the elite

women are concerned in the wheelchair confrontation. Early on

there was a lead for Tsuchida. Moving towards Canary Wharf. Tatyana

McFadden with Manuela Schar for company. While that race is going

well, disappointment for the double Paralympic silver medallist Shelly

Woods, having to bring her race to a premature end around Tower Bridge. A

great competitor. It looked as though her season was progressing

reasonably well with a win in Lisbon but was only ninth in Boston and she

said she did not have a great race and so that is a sad end to the

aspirations of Shelly Woods for a third London title. And you never

know when a puncture and flat tyre is going to cause you problems. That

was certainly something that happened to Marcel Hug 12 months ago

was certainly something that but so far, so good, as far as he is

concerned. Talk about cat and mouse, we have watched this while enjoying

the pictures of the mass start. So many have taken a turn at the front

but again it is Marcel Hug. This is absolutely pedestrian for these

guys, pushing well within themselves. Turning into a tactical

race. The paces up and down. -- is up and down. This is playing into

Dave Weir's hands. He is in a great position. Marcel Hug has decided to

put a kick in. They were probably pushing 11, 12 mph, they will pick

up to 18, 19, but Dave has covered it. Note issue at all for Dave Weir.

The only pattern is whenever there has been a break from the front,

these three have responded in the fastest manner. Marcel who, Kurt

Fearnley and Dave Weir. That could indicate when the definitive break

comes, it may be those three battling for the title. They have

all won it. Just beginning to gear up to a big finish but a long way to

go as far as the able-bodied athletes are concerned.

The leader of the women's race America Tani, setting a pace but not

as quick as early -- Mary Keitany. America Tani, setting a pace but not

Paula Radcliffe is sitting next to me. She is worrying about her course

record, but the last couple of miles it has pegged back. After setting a

vast pace, Keitany is sitting back in the pack. I

vast pace, Keitany is sitting back she wanted to see if anybody else

wanted to take the pace on. Mergia came to the front. It then slowed

down. The pace kicked came to the front. It then slowed

Keitany responded. The trio came to the front. It then slowed

Kenyon is back in the front after a brief spell of Ethiopians trying to

lead. When they have a class field, looking at the British battle for

Rio, who will come out top? Fryar Ross at the back, Susan Partridge at

Rio, who will come out top? Fryar the beginning, and followed by

Charlotte Purdue. Alyson Dixon. the beginning, and followed by

Sonia Samuels. Three English athletes and two Scottish and

between the five you are looking at the three who may represent Britain

This is an interesting race. You leading group.

This is an interesting race. You will come out on top. They have lost

their pacemaker, which is a problem but they need to keep going at a

strong pace otherwise the qualifying time will be missed. What is

happening is Charlotte after is running at the pace she was asked to

and they have dropped off at 2.28 pace and we knew it would happen

because if Susan does not run 2.28, Sonia Samuels and Aly Dixon do not

need to go at that pace. I think the pacemaker is keeping to what she was

asked to do but unfortunately she is running on her own and these five

are locked into a real race. Meanwhile back at the start, that is

the blue start. They are still crossing the line. I wanted to

mention a special case. Marcus was meant to be running this year but he

lost his battle in February aged 36. The organisers sent his number to

his family. Newmarket joggers are running in his memory. Wearing run

for Marcus wristbands. So many people running for causes very

personal to themselves, or sometimes wanting to help other people. John

Philpott, and to big group, 100 runners, from Sydney runners club.

They have their runners on the course that they are manning the

station at mile 23. -- City runners club. Ryan Burnett, radio

commentator from Scotland. -- Brian. Running the race instead of talking

about it. Good luck to Victoria French coming

from Sunderland. She will be cheering on Aly Dixon, I am sure.

And the Mercedes F1 team are running for air ambulance today. Well done

to them. A little slower than F1 racing but surely setting a good

pace today. The costumes are great. When you look back, that is what

arrived British style. The first London Marathon, 6000 athletes

trying to get to the finishing line, but when the event took off after

that first occasion, the costumes came out in force and if you look

around the world, not all of the mass races followed the British

style but we take it to an extreme. I remember in the early years

watching a guy, at the tube station, with a ladder. We talked to him and

he said he was going to run the London Marathon. Why on earth would

you want to go to the London Marathon with a ladder on your back?

And that sets the tone. It is incongruous when you see them out of

context. We drove in this morning along the embankment, people putting

up barriers, nobody there, and there was a loan guy dressed as the jolly

green giant. Bless him. He did not have a care in the world. Because he

was not surrounded by the thousands of others he looked a little odd. Do

they go home in the costumes, or do they get changed quietly at the

village? ! -- at the finish. He's been in a scrap already.

Showing his guns, the Hulk, the Hulk rules. I hope he's doing that at the

end. We will find out a little bit later on. More people than ever

registered at the exposure over the last three or four days, which means

we may well have a record number of finishers. That remains to be seen.

All eyes will be on the millionth finisher, which as Gabby said

earlier will be announced in a couple of weeks' time. They are

having a party at the start. Taking their time to get to the start line.

When they cross the start line the transponders will record the start

time and that will give them their own particular time on the route.

The modern technology they use nowadays is fantastic. As we look

down, what a beautiful shot of London. We are

down, what a beautiful shot of start line and so are the elite men

wheelchair racers. We saw Kota Hokinoue and 15 seconds before you

joined us putting on a little sprint at the front. It is the triumvirate

of excellence of Hug, firmly and Weir with Kota Hokinoue you in

fourth, one or two others still in touch but as we said the last time

you joined us, every time there is a break it's the same three who get to

the front -- Fearnley. I guess the question, Tanni, the way the race is

playing out, does it play into the hands of David Weir, in search after

all, let's not forget, after the seventh title that would make him on

his own, sorry about this, the most successful wheelchair racer in

London Marathon history? Is this the way David would have envisaged the

race panning out in an ideal context? This is playing into David

race panning out in an ideal Hug, firmly and Van Dyk attacked

early and made it hard, but Boston is a hilly course and different to

London. They have not actually damaged David Weir at all. Hug will

be thinking about tactics, only a few miles left, they will be on the

embankment shortly with a tail wind, at what point will they kicked? They

don't want to be waiting until the final right turn. Quick look over

his shoulders to see where everyone is, David Weir is in a great

position and looking comfortable now. Kota Hokinoue is the athlete

towards the right-hand side wearing 27, Dave is just

towards the right-hand side wearing and stretching out his back and

looking over his shoulder. It is worth pointing out... There is Kota

Hokinoue we on the right, it doesn't always work out Dave's way when it

comes to a sprint, Hug beat him by inches are few weeks ago, Josh

George last year. The man in the black beard, he has had a couple of

goes on the front. He has been dominant for such a long time,

indicative of the fact he has won on six occasions, it was inevitable

there might come a day when the dominance would be challenged and

questioned. He will have to earn this the hard way for the

record-breaking seven. They will not make this easy, on the final turn

you can push people wide. Two or three years ago Dave had a much more

acceleration and top end speed. This season and the back end of last

season it is very even. It is actually about how far the nerve can

hold out and who will go first. Hug is controlling everything but he has

to be thinking he has to break soon because you don't want a sprint

finish, they have the whole width of the road. Ernst has crashed a few

times in the last couple of hundred metres as well. You have to have a

clear line for the finish. Hug is still driving the pace, firmly in

second, wearing the sleeveless vest top, David Weir in third as the long

white sleeves on with that distinctive stripy helmet. Pierre

Fairbank is going well, he just drifted off to the right-hand side.

There he is, the French man, 44 years of age and still going strong,

fourth in last year's race and he's decided he doesn't want this to come

down to a real burn up in the closing stages. Bronze-medallist

last year in the world champs over the 100 and 800. So no

last year in the world champs over the Frenchman. He's deciding perhaps

the very closing stages of the race. No sooner has the Frenchman gone to

the front Marcel Hug has closed him down and that means Fearnley is

right behind and so is David Weir. It looks like

having a problem with his gloves. You can see him keep trying to fix

the plastic. Without that strapped tightly on he will not be able to

sprint so I guess he got to the front to give himself some

clearance. This men's race is heading towards a climax. At what

stage will they make the move? The other point about Dave is he is a

six time Paralympic champion, whatever he does in Rio will surely

six time Paralympic champion, never eclipse the four golds he won

on his own city, especially finishing off with the fourth gold

on the roads, which was a special win for him. Does it get to a point

where he is struggling for motivation? I don't think so, Dave

wants the seventh London Marathon win and he said he will keep going

until win and he said he will keep going

this position in the top three because they are onto a nice bit of

the course now. Pierre Fairbank leads all the main contenders, it

may come down to a sprint for the title. David Weir is still in for

the hunt for the Tower Bridge and the elite women in

the sunshine. The pace has been up and down, very fast through miles

and it has slowed down and steadied and it has slowed down and steadied

into this slower pace. Having a check to see who is in the group,

Keitany has been leading things as ever. Not much change in the last

three or four miles. They have just let the pace drop a little. Paula,

that will be interesting because it looked like Keitany meant business

today but for whatever reason she has decided to back off. I'm

intrigued as to what the reason might have been, she looked to be

running really well and was full of running early on, and pushed the

pace and settled right back, obviously nothing too serious, maybe

she had a stomach cramp, maybe because she missed the drink at the

first drinks station, or maybe she decided today is a date when she

doesn't want to run fast and she wants to concentrate on winning the

race. She sat back to see if anybody was prepared to keep the pace

pushing along, so she was happy to settle in and around the 5.30 mark.

There is something about those athletes, the world champion is

there and last year's winner, Keitany was second last year, and

sometimes you sense that unless they really personally want to go for a

record time, you sensed there is safety in numbers and settling into

that group for Mary Keitany, an outstanding athlete and

second-fastest marathon runner ever, she is happy and safe there with a

group of athletes around her because she knows there is some talent, some

real talent there. The other thing on her mind is selection for the

Olympic games for Mary Keitany could be as a result of her position today

blizzard is the other Kenyans. You've got the bunch of East

Africans, you have four Kenyans and three Ethiopians in the group and

that could be the Olympic team for both of those countries if this race

goes well enough. It's an interesting race from every point of

view. -- VZV. Fast times have gone out of the window and who will win

this one is more the measure. That is a talented field of good athletes

and the British athletes are running in a group of five on the road from

this leading group. From the huge pack of leading elite

women to the loan leader in the wheelchair race, Tatyana McFadden

going for four in a row. Every single year she has won this title

she has broken her own course record. She saw a three-year long

winning streak come to an end earlier this year at the hands of

Bouchicha Toshiba but Tatyana McFadden is looking good for London

Marathon title number four. The American has to race under control.

-- Lukaku -- Wakako Tsuchida. It is warming up but they are

slowing down. They've let the pacemaker go, these five women

locked together, Susan Partridge with Dixon, Freya Ross, Charlotte

Purdue still together and this has already become a tactical race. They

have still got 14 miles to go, Paula, but nobody really wanting to

push on at this point. No, that's the danger we talked about in the

elite women as well. It's so important to be in the winning

position or the first two positions, you don't want to risk too much

early on, you don't want to risk going out a little bit too hard and

see if you can hang on, you want to make sure and conserve effort and

these women are looking at each other and it's going to be a huge

test of nerve. The reason Aly Dixon and Sonia don't want to run fast is

not because they don't want to run a personal best and lead the others to

eight time, they want to save energy for Rio hoping they will qualify and

finish in the top two positions with the time already run in Berlin.

Incentive for Aly Dixon and sombre Samuelsen would be to go to the

front and slow it down even more -- Sonia Samuels. We are looking at the

five British athletes come and hear the wheelchair athletes coming

around the bend. The athletes at the front are interesting in terms of

where they are. We are now into the closing stages. There are so many in

touch, still in with a chance of taking the title. Pierre Fairbank

had been leading. Dave Weir is still there but this is going to be very,

very tough indeed in the last one mile. Who has the strength? Who has

the drive? He's decided he needs to make a break early and doesn't want

to wait for the sprint finish, he's been off the pack for most of the

race and in the last two Miles has caught back up with the lead pack.

Great position from behind, Curt firmly. Dave Weir has hardly been to

the front of the pack but the chairs are long and if you want to come up

for the sprint finish you have a long way to come round and Dave

Whelan needs to think about coming out to make sure he has a clear run

because if he kicks it takes a while to respond back. James Senbeta, the

29-year-old, sixth in the New York Marathon in a couple of years ago,

he has played a very canny race and they're very canny game, sat at the

back of the lead group, he is in control at the moment. They have put

an injection of pace in. All the rest have begun to be spat out the

back. James Senbeta leading, that's my code in second,

back. James Senbeta leading, that's David Weir in fourth, and van Wyk,

the hugely experienced talented South African is fourth. -- Marcel

Hug in the second and Kurt Fearnley in third. Weir is beginning to mount

his challenge but Marcel Hug is blocking him. He moved across ever

so slightly, didn't impede him in anyway but Dave needs to ensure he

has a clear run round. There is is like line making the final couple of

turns, they will potentially have to use steering but every push them is

they can lose half a second. Round the final corner, David Weir is in a

great position but Marcel Hug is leading. Weir driving those

shoulders on, working those fingertips, the big three are going

for it, they have all won before but who will take the title in 2016?

Weir trying to come wide on the outside but Marcel Hug is holding it

at the moment. Marcel Hug looks as though he's in the driving seat

here. Firmly in second place. Hug takes it again, Kurt Fearnley

second, David Weir finishes third. He is still on the hunt for that

elusive seventh title. Marcel Hug copied and followed every move, and

when the moment came to strike nobody, not even the great David

when the moment came to strike Weir could respond. Hug has taken

the title, as he did two years ago, and that is a very, very important

stepping stone on the road to Rio for the man from Switzerland. The

only colour medal missing from his collection is a Paralympic gold and

he has laid down a marker to Dave Weir and all the best of the rest

that he is the man in form moving ahead to Brazil in a few months'

time. It is Hug who strikes the psychological blow on the streets of

London, that was class. That was a fantastic race for Marcel

Hug. Towards the end he looked like he wanted to play games, he did not

make decisive kicks. But at the finish he looked like he had a lot

left in him. That will give him so much confidence to go to Rio and

left in him. That will give him so rest of the road racing season. And

I guess you can argue it the other way from Dave Weir's perspective. He

will be disappointed not to have won on the streets of his home city, but

a huge motivation for David. He has had a reminder the six gold medals,

well, they were hard earned. If there is to be a seventh, eighth in

Brazil, he has real work to do over the coming months. He will have to

have a strong track racing season. At the moment it is not ideally

where he wants to be but it is massively motivational. He will have

a couple of days of training and be back on the track in two weeks. I

would not write off his gold medal chances just yet. Dave just going

off for his interviews. And just to get some sustenance on board. Plenty

more to come from him this year but the title and the elusive seventh

win still yet to be in the possession of Dave Weir. And still

they are moving over the starting line.

That is back at the start, but the race has been forging on in the

elite men. A cracking pace. They are banning an incredibly fast pace.

Through the first ten kilometres we covered the wheelchair race, of

course, and while that has been happening, in the men's race, they

have gone through ten kilometres in an incredibly quick time. 28 .37,

which, well is incredible. Which is a sub to -- two our pages.

-- our hour pace. It is incredibly too quick. One of the great races of

all time, Kenenisa Bekele. People like him, and some of the others

will pay for it. This is a race, take a picture now and take a record

of where they are and who was in that group and the only thing you

can say for is certain is it will not be like this towards the finish.

Some of these athletes will pay for that. Some are not in that shape.

Wilson Kipsang, in the green vest, the course record holder here, he is

travelling faster the course record holder here, he is

record today and next to him, with the yellow headband, Eliud

record today and next to him, with last year's winner, and behind those

record today and next to him, with two, Kenenisa Bekele. We wonder what

pace he is in. He would not have wanted to go this quick, this early,

especially when he is not sure of his condition and so a lock to

change, that is for certain. Earlier on, at the drinks station, that

looks like Kipsang who took a for. This happened a while back. We have

seen him back in the group, no problems. If any are watching the

world half marathon championship in Cardiff when the training partner of

Kipchoge fell, he's still got up and managed to win in brilliant style.

Kipsang taking a tumble, but he looks absolutely fine. The British

race is interesting. We have a group with Callum Hawkins, Scott Overall,

who have the qualifying time already, but they are behind

Jonathan Hay, who started already, but they are behind

got through ten kilometres in 30 minutes and 40, a fast pace

got through ten kilometres in 30 man who has yet to run anything like

that. Really embarking on his marathon career. Arne Gabius

breaking the German record in Frankfurt recently on the far side.

Serhiy Lebid, a great figure. Jonathan Hay is not the lead British

athlete. Ahead of him, almost 30 seconds ahead, Sigala to -- Tsegai

Tewelde. He is the man who is eligible to compete for Great

Britain now, wearing 35, all in the blue, there he is, currently the