:00:16. > :00:27.Born in London today we have seen what is surely to become one of the
:00:28. > :00:32.iconic events. Jo Pavey, debut marathon.
:00:33. > :00:39.One of the greatest pieces of running that we've ever seen.
:00:40. > :00:49.Shoulders burning, fingertips pushing! Eliud Kipchoge, one of the
:00:50. > :00:52.fastest marathons of all time. The hand of friendship after 26
:00:53. > :00:54.miles. It is a sight to behold every single
:00:55. > :01:13.year. My name is Tanya. Hyam Vincent. This
:01:14. > :01:21.is my wife Laura. I got that wrong. Hi, my name is Pepe, I am from
:01:22. > :01:27.Mexico. From Canada. Wakefield. The United States. I am from South
:01:28. > :01:31.Wales. I am running for my father who is unfortunately suffering from
:01:32. > :01:36.pancreatic cancer. It is in memory of my mum. I have a point to prove
:01:37. > :01:43.having come back from a life-threatening illness. I am
:01:44. > :01:48.running for a premature baby charity. I'm running because...
:01:49. > :01:52.Frankly, I'm not! It is something I've always wanted to do. We are
:01:53. > :01:56.going to do the major marathons. This time last year I hadn't run
:01:57. > :02:03.more than five kilometres. People say I am over the hill and I am not.
:02:04. > :02:06.Why not do it now? I am running because I am a type one diabetic. To
:02:07. > :02:11.stay healthy physically and mentally. We are running together.
:02:12. > :02:19.Thank you! Hello and welcome to highlights of
:02:20. > :02:25.the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon, close to 40,000 runners
:02:26. > :02:29.were here at the start this morning, all with their own reasons for
:02:30. > :02:34.running. We will catch up with the masses later in the programme but
:02:35. > :02:38.first to go worthy elite races and the wheelchair athletes. It is
:02:39. > :02:44.always a special day here but all the more so for all of us because it
:02:45. > :02:47.will be the 37th and final time the legendary Brendan Foster will be
:02:48. > :02:52.part of our commentary team. Brendan, we love you, and thank you.
:02:53. > :02:57.He will be joined in the box by Steve Cram, women's marathon world
:02:58. > :02:59.record holder Paula Radcliffe, six time London Marathon winner,
:03:00. > :03:04.Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, and Andrew Cotter.
:03:05. > :03:09.At the blue start the elite women's and men's wheelchair race, there
:03:10. > :03:15.will be some noise for this one. Winner of London 2012 Paralympic
:03:16. > :03:20.golds, David Weir! His 18th London Marathon, six times a winner of
:03:21. > :03:25.magical four golds in the Paralympics in London. But last year
:03:26. > :03:32.finished third here and struggled in Rio, didn't finish the marathon.
:03:33. > :03:35.What can he achieve here? Helen Glover and Heather Stanning getting
:03:36. > :03:38.them under way. Tanni Grey-Thompson, we have talked about the vagaries
:03:39. > :03:42.and difficulties of this course, so different to Boston which they raced
:03:43. > :03:47.recently which for wheelchair racers is a quick course. This can be
:03:48. > :03:50.fiddly at times. The London Marathon course is quite twisting and
:03:51. > :03:55.turning, the profile drops in the first 10K which is quite fast but
:03:56. > :03:58.quite early on in the race you start hitting the roundabouts, there is
:03:59. > :04:07.speed ramps on the road in the first mile and a half and we have a really
:04:08. > :04:09.big pack of men on the right-hand side. Everyone wants to try and jump
:04:10. > :04:12.in the draft because it makes such an advantage. Marcel Hug has taken
:04:13. > :04:15.it out because he wants to control the race, Kurt Fearnley in second
:04:16. > :04:17.command David Weir needs to run a smart race, doesn't want to do too
:04:18. > :04:21.much at the front because he wants to conserve his energy. Just run
:04:22. > :04:28.through some of the main runners and riders. Look down the course, Marcel
:04:29. > :04:32.Hug is the favourite today, Ernst van Dyk is very strong, the South
:04:33. > :04:35.African. In the women's race it is all change without Tatyana McFadden
:04:36. > :04:40.because she's won the last four here so without her Manuela Schar is the
:04:41. > :04:45.one to look out for. Taking place today we have the IPC marathon World
:04:46. > :04:52.Cup races, different category, T11/12, men and women, away they go.
:04:53. > :04:55.Also you have T11 12 for para-athletes with a severe visual
:04:56. > :05:01.impairment who run with guides, that is a race for men and women. T13,
:05:02. > :05:06.para-athletes with a visual impairment who reach the minimum
:05:07. > :05:12.criteria. And also athletes with lower and upper arm in --
:05:13. > :05:16.impairments. It is probably the greatest women's field we have ever
:05:17. > :05:20.had gathered. These are the ones who may be contending, all will be
:05:21. > :05:27.contending, to win the London Marathon. Mary Keitany who has done
:05:28. > :05:31.it before there. Mare Dibaba, the world champion. Some great names
:05:32. > :05:35.from the track. Tirunesh Dibaba and Vivian Cheruiyot, running her first
:05:36. > :05:39.one. Those other British athletes, Alyson Dixon who represented as in
:05:40. > :05:42.the Lubitz last year, Charlotte Purdue getting onto the team to do
:05:43. > :05:46.what she didn't do last year, perhaps the favourite amongst the
:05:47. > :05:49.British contingent. Then favourite is Mary Keitany, two-time winner of
:05:50. > :05:58.the event, coming back into some really good form in 2017. The world
:05:59. > :06:01.champion from 2015, Mare Dibaba, Ethiopia's first-ever world marathon
:06:02. > :06:04.champion, that is a surprising fact, isn't it, considering they have had
:06:05. > :06:09.the likes of Tirunesh Dibaba to cheer over the years. Just still
:06:10. > :06:13.getting to grips with the marathon event. So here they go there and.
:06:14. > :06:22.2017 elite women's field ready to go. Our two Olympic heroes look down
:06:23. > :06:26.on this stellar field as they had off on their own private little
:06:27. > :06:32.quest, of course. The elite women get the roads to themselves.
:06:33. > :06:37.Meanwhile, in the wheelchair race, Tower Bridge, the men's wheelchair
:06:38. > :06:41.racers are somewhere through Tower Bridge now. We thought there was a
:06:42. > :06:44.crucial break at Tower Bridge and beyond where the three main
:06:45. > :06:49.contenders, Marcel Hug and David Weir and Kurt Fearnley broke clear
:06:50. > :06:52.but then they were reeled back in. This is at it stands now as they
:06:53. > :06:57.head through whupping and out towards the I love dogs and Canary
:06:58. > :07:00.Wharf. Everyone is back together, there you can see Marcel Hug, the
:07:01. > :07:03.favourite, defending champion tucked in beside David Weir and going
:07:04. > :07:07.through Kurt Fearnley, still connected and in with a chance. Will
:07:08. > :07:13.we get a world record from our elite men? Here is the line-up headed by
:07:14. > :07:16.Kenenisa Bekele, perhaps the greatest ever distance runner,
:07:17. > :07:21.certainly on the track. Looking to cement that on the roads nobody has
:07:22. > :07:25.held a world record for the 5000, 10000 and marathon, can he do it?
:07:26. > :07:31.Kenenisa Bekele, so many gold medals and records on the track. The third
:07:32. > :07:40.fastest marathon runner of all time. How quick can he go today? Chris
:07:41. > :07:46.Thomson, Scott Overall, Tewelde, Johnny Haynes, all men in contention
:07:47. > :07:48.for two British spots for the Great Britain team.
:07:49. > :07:51.The official charity of the London Marathon is heads together, campaign
:07:52. > :07:55.which aims to raise awareness and understanding around mental health
:07:56. > :08:00.this use with the priority to remove the stigma around it. It is led by
:08:01. > :08:03.the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The three of them
:08:04. > :08:16.were here to start the men's elite and masses race. The 37th London
:08:17. > :08:24.Marathon gets underway. They could be the greatest ever. Perfect
:08:25. > :08:30.conditions. A sight to behold as ever. The greatest runners from
:08:31. > :08:37.around the world gather in London once more, and followed by 40,000
:08:38. > :08:42.special people, all running for all sorts of causes. But this year Heads
:08:43. > :08:47.Together in particular, very much to the forefront. It's a very familiar
:08:48. > :08:51.course from most. It has changed a little bit over the years but has
:08:52. > :08:54.always started here in Greenwich, Shooters Hill Road, there was
:08:55. > :08:58.Greenwich Park where we saw the Red Start, the masses getting underway,
:08:59. > :09:02.and they all eventually meet roughly about three miles in, the green and
:09:03. > :09:08.blue join earlier than that, then they run the fast miles down towards
:09:09. > :09:11.the Cutty Sark area where the big crowds are. We expect so much
:09:12. > :09:32.support on the roads. Grey weather today. Through the
:09:33. > :09:36.Rotherhithe area, past ten miles, and then they will be able to see
:09:37. > :09:38.Tower Bridge, the Shard and know that halfway approaches -- great
:09:39. > :09:41.weather today. Heading towards the Canary Wharf area there has been a
:09:42. > :09:43.few changes to the route over the years, a little bit twisty antennae
:09:44. > :09:46.and that is where you can start to feel as you go through 20 miles,
:09:47. > :09:49.down to the embankment, and able to see in the distance Big Ben
:09:50. > :09:51.beckoning them home, and the last mile, turning a bird cage walk,
:09:52. > :09:54.around the corner and the last 250 metres or so to the finish line, one
:09:55. > :09:57.of the most famous sites in world sport. So far I can tell you that
:09:58. > :09:59.this young lady here, Mary Keitany, two-time winner of the London
:10:00. > :10:02.Marathon, has set out, and I'm going to sell say it is crazy pace, she
:10:03. > :10:06.has a pacemaker and a training partner there, and they have been
:10:07. > :10:11.going at a pace which will take them not only inside the women's only
:10:12. > :10:17.record which Paula has, but also the world record which Paula set in 2003
:10:18. > :10:21.here and we are heading at a pace for a time that will result in one
:10:22. > :10:25.thing, I know that Paul is getting nervous but I think this is too fast
:10:26. > :10:29.even for Mary Keitany. She looks like she is working hard but not
:10:30. > :10:33.like she's falling apart yet. The chase group behind her are also
:10:34. > :10:37.running really quickly. It looks as if we had a calm and tranquil pack
:10:38. > :10:41.moving along in the men's wheelchair race but this has just settled down
:10:42. > :10:47.into this path because Marcel Hug, the favourite and defending
:10:48. > :10:50.champion, on the right half of the picture in the famous silver helmet,
:10:51. > :10:53.put in a hit over the last kilometre and was clear of the rest, he had
:10:54. > :10:56.David Weir for company but they had a long gap to the rest of Tanni
:10:57. > :10:59.Grey-Thompson, but they have been swallowed up by the rest of the pack
:11:00. > :11:04.again. Was he just saying this is what I've got and trying something?
:11:05. > :11:08.Marcel Hug wanted to make a serious break because he's really wound it
:11:09. > :11:12.up to his top speed and had his head down David Weir sat on his back
:11:13. > :11:17.wheel and then you saw Hug indicator David Weir to say, come through, and
:11:18. > :11:21.David Weir declined to come through. He is making Hug work for it.
:11:22. > :11:25.Meanwhile in the women's race further back down the course there
:11:26. > :11:28.is a minute lead for Manuela Schar, the Swiss athlete, the strong
:11:29. > :11:31.favourite, might be a Swiss double with Manuela Schar in the women's
:11:32. > :11:36.and Marcel Hug still looking strong in the men's but it's going to be a
:11:37. > :11:40.sprint finish in the men's race. Mary Keitany is being cheered, she
:11:41. > :11:44.has a pacemaker for company, she's running faster than anyone has run
:11:45. > :11:48.before. While we look at the statistics it looks a bit bold and
:11:49. > :11:51.brave and too aggressive, but seriously, when Paula was doing this
:11:52. > :11:54.we were asking the same sort of questions. Paula was being brave and
:11:55. > :11:59.pushing out into a new world and this lady is pushing even more so.
:12:00. > :12:03.At the end of the day, if you are the second fastest marathon runner
:12:04. > :12:06.of all time the only way you will possibly become the fastest marathon
:12:07. > :12:08.runner of all time is by attacking it.
:12:09. > :12:13.The final bend and the finish line weights, six victories in the London
:12:14. > :12:21.Marathon for David Weir, but the defending champion Marcel Hug has it
:12:22. > :12:23.at the moment is, David Weir drives and gets the arms pumping and is
:12:24. > :12:26.alongside and he is passing, does Marcel Hug have a response? David
:12:27. > :12:30.Weir dips his head and drives on and seventh London Marathon victory is
:12:31. > :12:36.going to come for David Weir and the Weir wolf roars again, one hour 31,
:12:37. > :12:40.Weir has victory number seven, beating the defending champion
:12:41. > :12:43.Marcel Hug, what a win for David Weir, victory number seven in
:12:44. > :12:47.London. That is a devastating sprint finish for David Weir, the top speed
:12:48. > :12:51.between him and Marcel Hug are similar but in that situation coming
:12:52. > :12:56.round the final bend I thought it was Hug's but obviously not, well
:12:57. > :12:59.done, David Weir, really proud. Aly Dixon leads the British contingent
:13:00. > :13:03.by about 30 seconds ahead of Charlotte Purdue. She went through
:13:04. > :13:11.the half quicker than she was planning to and she is heading for a
:13:12. > :13:16.sub 2.28. 200 metres remain for Manuela Schar and the course record
:13:17. > :13:20.of one hour 41 minutes here in London, which is held by Tatyana
:13:21. > :13:25.McFadden. Just looking for the time of Manuela Schar, because it has
:13:26. > :13:30.been her for much of the clock -- against the clock for much of the
:13:31. > :13:35.race. Second for the last three years but here Manuela Schar will
:13:36. > :13:39.take victory in just a shade under one hour 40, well, just over it.
:13:40. > :13:42.That is a course record and a victory in the London Marathon, a
:13:43. > :13:52.first victory in this event for Manuela Schar. The men are running
:13:53. > :13:59.sub 2.02 pace, 28.51 through ten kilometres. So, real intent here,
:14:00. > :14:03.big group. Again, Kenenisa Bekele has some legitimate right to go at
:14:04. > :14:07.that sort of place, most of the others don't. Various Tirunesh
:14:08. > :14:13.Dibaba, the three times Olympic champion working hard at this point
:14:14. > :14:17.in second place, the traditional form and style wheat seed, the
:14:18. > :14:22.calibre of this athlete, second to none in the world of distance
:14:23. > :14:25.running. Three times Olympic champion, numerous times world
:14:26. > :14:29.champion. Tirunesh Dibaba now without a pacemaker as she has been
:14:30. > :14:35.for most of the way, but running strongly and running well.
:14:36. > :14:43.Mary Keitany, what is she heading for here? Through 18 miles, very
:14:44. > :14:47.fast. She has just gone through 30 K and the time is slipping. The
:14:48. > :14:52.predicted time, if I went back to halfway, just before half way, it
:14:53. > :14:56.was 2.13, and then it was just outside 2.14 and then it was high
:14:57. > :15:01.2.14s and for the first time her predicted time has slipped to
:15:02. > :15:06.2:15.08 which would still be a record but I don't think she will do
:15:07. > :15:07.that. If Tirunesh Dibaba keeps running strongly she might have a
:15:08. > :15:17.chance here. We are looking at a change in the
:15:18. > :15:22.men's race. We had Kenenisa Bekele retesting the pacemakers. The group
:15:23. > :15:28.has changed. The Olympic champion and world record holder has drifted
:15:29. > :15:31.to the back of the field. Looking to see if it is because of the feed
:15:32. > :15:37.station and he is waiting for a drink. There is the group. Instead
:15:38. > :15:44.of being at the front, Kenenisa Bekele early is fading away at the
:15:45. > :15:49.back. That is a shock. A bit of a surprise for all. We look at his
:15:50. > :15:54.team-mate, the user delays. Over the course of eight hundred metres, the
:15:55. > :16:00.great one is no longer in the favoured position. He has won at
:16:01. > :16:05.world record pace for half the distance. Will he struggle for the
:16:06. > :16:10.next half of the race? It looks as though he is going through a bad
:16:11. > :16:19.patch. The British battle is being one by Aly Dixon. We think Charlotte
:16:20. > :16:25.Purdue is further back, I am trying to look in the distance there. That
:16:26. > :16:30.could be a scrap for them. Aly Dixon is 12th in the race, she is passed
:16:31. > :16:39.some of the faster athletes, who went off to quick. We are waiting
:16:40. > :16:48.for her to go through. Her best was set in bowling, I think. She has
:16:49. > :16:56.slowed down a little. She is still heading for something around 2:28,
:16:57. > :17:01.2:29. Is that Charlotte Purdue in the background? May be only ten or
:17:02. > :17:08.15 seconds behind. The two-time world-record holder, the man who was
:17:09. > :17:11.trying to run halfway at world-record pace, and there is
:17:12. > :17:22.Kenenisa Bekele, he is struggling now. He came to win this one, the
:17:23. > :17:30.second fastest of all time. Having a lonely battle. The world record is
:17:31. > :17:36.not on today. He at least once a decent position. It will be under
:17:37. > :17:40.threat. He set off so confidently. He was amongst the pacemakers, he
:17:41. > :17:45.kept it going. He did everything he could, he said he was up for a race.
:17:46. > :17:49.But his performance is falling away. When you miss a bit of training,
:17:50. > :18:01.even the great one cannot do the job. He is working so hard,
:18:02. > :18:07.struggling for the moment, as his countryman Feyisa Lilesa, Daniel
:18:08. > :18:13.Wanjiru, and Abel Kirui, twice the world champion. Mary Keitany knows
:18:14. > :18:19.it is not too far from here. She is into the last five K. The sweep of
:18:20. > :18:27.the River Thames takes her towards Big Ben. Has she got a stitch
:18:28. > :18:32.problem? Tirunesh Dibaba was making inroads into the lead, she is
:18:33. > :18:38.already on the upslope, but that she have stomach problems? Yes, she has
:18:39. > :18:44.stomach cramps, which is a shame. I do not think she was that far behind
:18:45. > :18:48.us. We have just seen Mary Keitany, up this hill, that would have been
:18:49. > :18:53.30 seconds ago. Is this falling apart for Tirunesh Dibaba? They were
:18:54. > :18:59.heading for two of the fastest times ever. She is slowing almost to a
:19:00. > :19:05.walk. Even for elite runners, these last two or three miles. She is
:19:06. > :19:12.labouring now. Will she be able to keep to the finish? She has taken
:19:13. > :19:18.the drinks on-board, maybe that has upset her stomach. She was going
:19:19. > :19:23.strongly, running powerfully. She did have the lead. She comes to a
:19:24. > :19:28.standstill, the great one, Tirunesh Dibaba, walking along the
:19:29. > :19:38.embankment, trying to jog, really struggling. She has picked things up
:19:39. > :19:48.a bit. She is still heading for something inside 2:17. The world
:19:49. > :19:54.record is within sight. Unless she completely falls apart in the last
:19:55. > :20:00.mile, 2:17 or thereabouts could be hers. News from the British fans, we
:20:01. > :20:08.think Jo Pavey dropped out at around 16 miles. Tirunesh Dibaba looked as
:20:09. > :20:13.though she could eat into the lead, she got as close as 40 seconds, but
:20:14. > :20:21.it has extended a game to 72nd, because she had to stop. She is back
:20:22. > :20:26.running strongly. Mary Keitany can now sense that history waits for
:20:27. > :20:33.her. The Cheers greet this great Kenya runner. 35 years of age. She
:20:34. > :20:38.looks a couple of hundred metres a shared. She will realise she is
:20:39. > :20:46.heading for something special, something great. What will be her
:20:47. > :20:51.finish time? All on her own. She has been out in front since the first
:20:52. > :20:55.few miles, said her stall out, ran incredibly quickly, the fastest ever
:20:56. > :21:01.half marathon, broke the world record for 30 kilometres, and now
:21:02. > :21:09.heading towards a world-record for the women's only marathon. Mary
:21:10. > :21:14.Keitany of Kenya. Just on 2:17. We will have to wait for the official
:21:15. > :21:20.time. But she has broken the record, broken her personal best. She is
:21:21. > :21:24.still the second fastest in history, but what a performance. Here comes
:21:25. > :21:31.Tirunesh Dibaba. She will rise up the all-time rankings. She will hope
:21:32. > :21:37.to be the third fastest marathon runner of all time, she will break
:21:38. > :21:43.her own Ethiopian -- her own team-mate's if the European record.
:21:44. > :21:49.Tirunesh Dibaba finishing like the great track athlete we remember her
:21:50. > :21:55.as. Sprinting to the line. Tirunesh Dibaba takes a massively forward in
:21:56. > :22:00.her marathon career. Second in London, and the third fastest of all
:22:01. > :22:08.time. History being made in London 20. Mary Keitany, the early and
:22:09. > :22:14.diminutive Kenyans, rewarded for such brief running in the early
:22:15. > :22:26.stages. In the men, the former world champion Abel Kirui now has Daniel
:22:27. > :22:32.Wanjiru with him. And it looks like another Kenyan, Bedan Karoki,
:22:33. > :22:39.behind. It has been up and down, the pace. No Kenenisa Bekele to conduct
:22:40. > :22:45.this contest. He is still running strongly. Not that far off. Eight
:22:46. > :22:53.seconds, seven seconds? It is not over. Aly Dixon of Sunderland. Last
:22:54. > :23:03.year it was to gain selection for the Olympic Games. She were now have
:23:04. > :23:08.her eyes on the clock. Her personal best is 2:29:30. She will break
:23:09. > :23:15.that. Last few metres. Charlotte Purdue is heading for under 2:30.
:23:16. > :23:22.Aly Dixon may be emotional, what a great run. There is the smile. That
:23:23. > :23:30.is her trademark finish. A personal best. 12th place, I think. What a
:23:31. > :23:38.run from Charlotte Sergei. Still learning the marathon. She will run
:23:39. > :23:41.under 2:30, a personal best. She will be back in London for the World
:23:42. > :23:47.Championships, I am pretty sure. Kenenisa Bekele being cheered by the
:23:48. > :23:51.runners going in the opposite direction, he is the one they
:23:52. > :23:54.recognise. There are plenty of miles for him, plenty of time for him to
:23:55. > :24:02.catch Daniel Wanjiru, who looks good. He is moving better, then a DC
:24:03. > :24:07.Beck. He looks different than he did a few miles ago. He has a
:24:08. > :24:11.determination. He is hunting them down, moving through in third place.
:24:12. > :24:15.This is not the way he would have chosen to run the marathon, he was
:24:16. > :24:23.threatening the pacemakers in the early stages. He now has some idea
:24:24. > :24:29.that he will get a position. He will move into second place very quickly.
:24:30. > :24:35.He is running faster than anyone else at this stage. Here comes the
:24:36. > :24:40.great Kenenisa Bekele. People recognise him from either side. So
:24:41. > :24:46.they should, he is one of the greatest of all time. Tracy Barlow,
:24:47. > :24:50.what a story. Last year 's injured get the chance to run from the elite
:24:51. > :24:56.start, she has done it this time. That one will cement her place, it
:24:57. > :25:01.is a big personal best. She has run personal bests galore over the last
:25:02. > :25:05.few years. It is another big step forward, congratulations to her, the
:25:06. > :25:09.third British athlete home, she could be selected for the World
:25:10. > :25:16.Championship. Kenenisa Bekele looks like he is moving into track mode.
:25:17. > :25:19.His cadence has increased, he is looking like the Kenenisa Bekele
:25:20. > :25:25.that we see running 52, 53 seconds for the last lap of a 10,000 metre
:25:26. > :25:31.race. But the gap is still there. We can see them both together, the
:25:32. > :25:37.bikes show us there is a gap. Kenenisa Bekele as to lift his body,
:25:38. > :25:42.move into sprinting mode, Daniel Wanjiru looks over his shoulder,
:25:43. > :25:48.being hunted by the greatest of all, a man who has finished strongly in
:25:49. > :25:53.many races. A man who has been a privilege to observe. I wonder, has
:25:54. > :26:02.he got one last effort? Can he dig one out? Come on, Kenenisa Bekele! I
:26:03. > :26:06.should not say that! The gap has extended again. Those of us who
:26:07. > :26:11.watch athletics over the years, you always say that when it comes to a
:26:12. > :26:14.sprint finish, the Ethiopian will beat the Kenyans, but today I fear
:26:15. > :26:18.that will not be the case for Kenenisa Bekele. Daniel Wanjiru
:26:19. > :26:26.takes another look behind, he has found something extra. It may be
:26:27. > :26:32.that Kenenisa Bekele, as he takes one look behind for the first time,
:26:33. > :26:36.instead of concentrating a Fred, the gap is insurmountable for even the
:26:37. > :26:43.greatest, even Kenenisa Bekele. He cannot close it now. You cannot lift
:26:44. > :26:48.your legs in the same way over 10,000 metres as in the marathon, it
:26:49. > :26:54.does not happen. Let's look at Daniel Wanjiru. Kenya have had some
:26:55. > :26:58.great champions. He would not have been the favourite if you looked
:26:59. > :27:02.down the list today, but he showed when he won the Amsterdam marathon
:27:03. > :27:09.that he has got massive potential. He will be just outside his best,
:27:10. > :27:20.which is 2:05:21. That is phenomenal running. Daniel Wanjiru carrying a
:27:21. > :27:26.famous name, the great Sammy was an Olympic champion, no longer with us,
:27:27. > :27:32.but it is Daniel's day, his race, his London Marathon. He has held off
:27:33. > :27:38.the best, he has held off Kenenisa Bekele, and he can enjoy his moment,
:27:39. > :27:45.arms aloft. Daniel Wanjiru wins the 2017 London Marathon in fine style.
:27:46. > :27:50.Congratulations to him. Kenenisa Bekele tried his best, he tried
:27:51. > :27:53.everything he knew. He dug himself out of a bad patch, but it lost
:27:54. > :27:59.enough on the day, he settled for second spot. Daniel Wanjiru, the
:28:00. > :28:02.biggest victory of his career. Whatever happens in the rest of his
:28:03. > :28:10.life, he will say, that was the day I beat Kenenisa Bekele, I held off
:28:11. > :28:15.the greatest. That is Robbie Simpson, running well, but there is
:28:16. > :28:22.an athlete had of him, it could be Josh Griffiths. There he is. This
:28:23. > :28:28.could be a surprise. In the same way that Tracy Barlow did it last year,
:28:29. > :28:31.what a performance from him, under 2:15, he could be the first
:28:32. > :28:42.tradition athlete across the line, he could join Hawkins. Simpson has
:28:43. > :28:46.run another qualifying time. That is one for the selectors. Could he be
:28:47. > :28:54.representing Great Britain in the World Championships in London this
:28:55. > :29:00.summer? What a story that would be. The surprise winner of the men's
:29:01. > :29:05.race, Daniel Wanjiru. Not too far off his personal best. Kenenisa
:29:06. > :29:13.Bekele could not close the gap at the end. Bedan Karoki finishing
:29:14. > :29:20.third in his first marathon. Josh Griffiths, his first ever marathon.
:29:21. > :29:23.A brilliant run for him, that will qualify him for the World
:29:24. > :29:30.Championship team along with Robbie Simpson.
:29:31. > :29:38.A third victory for Mary Keitany in the London Marathon, this was the
:29:39. > :29:42.quickest time. A new world record for a women's only race. Tirunesh
:29:43. > :29:50.Dibaba becomes the third fastest of all time. Aly Dixon of the best of
:29:51. > :29:59.the British athletes for a third year in a row. A personal best for
:30:00. > :30:02.her. And for Tracy Barlow. Those three pretty much booking their
:30:03. > :30:04.places for the World Championships in the summer.
:30:05. > :30:08.running strongly she might have a chance here.
:30:09. > :30:20.I was ready to run the best time. And of course the two of us have run
:30:21. > :30:25.2.18 so it was a credit for us today. Daniel, your race was also
:30:26. > :30:30.similarly world-record pace for so long as well. Did you expect to go
:30:31. > :30:35.off at quite the pace it did? The race was very fast. Anything can
:30:36. > :30:42.happen. We helped each other from the start. We were talking about how
:30:43. > :30:46.the pace was and we tried to maintain the pace up to half the
:30:47. > :30:53.race and then from there the race was becoming tougher and tougher. I
:30:54. > :30:59.prepared to come and win and already I've tested the world-record pace so
:31:00. > :31:05.I know how it feels. My first marathon today, it was always to
:31:06. > :31:09.qualify for the Commonwealth Games for Wales. That is what you had in
:31:10. > :31:13.your mind, gold Coast next year? That was in my mind, I felt good all
:31:14. > :31:18.the way through, kept working through, and it all went to plan.
:31:19. > :31:23.Charlotte, you had Alyson in your sights the whole time, I wonder how
:31:24. > :31:27.much was going on in your mind after last year when you missed out on
:31:28. > :31:30.qualification for Rio. Last year was disappointing but last
:31:31. > :31:34.year was my first marathon and obviously I took a lot from that.
:31:35. > :31:38.This is my third one in a year and everyone I have got faster and I'm
:31:39. > :31:43.happy to be going to the world champs. You finished behind Alyson
:31:44. > :31:47.who led all the way. Could you feel hurt and since she was coming? I
:31:48. > :31:51.could, I was trying to use the crowd to sense how far behind she was and
:31:52. > :31:54.how much she was gaining but the crowd was so loud you couldn't
:31:55. > :31:59.really hear anything because as you came past they continued to shout. I
:32:00. > :32:06.just went for it and wanted to see how fast I could go and I have found
:32:07. > :32:09.out. This is how they finished in the men's. Rafael Botello Jimenez in
:32:10. > :32:14.the third, Marcel Hug, defending champion in second but the winner
:32:15. > :32:15.for the second time, -- seventh time, David Weir, what a finish and
:32:16. > :32:25.what a win and he may be back. It's been great, it's been
:32:26. > :32:28.challenging since Rio to get mentally ready and focused for this
:32:29. > :32:31.race and to be honest to a three months ago I didn't think I would
:32:32. > :32:37.get on the start line because I had been struggling a bit with a little
:32:38. > :32:46.bit of depression, to be honest. So to get here and to race and to win
:32:47. > :32:50.and to beat Tanni record is an honour. She's been runner-up three
:32:51. > :32:58.times but now Manuela Schar of Switzerland taking the victory in a
:32:59. > :33:01.course record time ahead of two Americans. Within the London
:33:02. > :33:07.Marathon today there has been competition in seven categories of
:33:08. > :33:13.the World Para Athletics para World Cup. This was in the T51/52
:33:14. > :33:18.category. That is Ray Martin, the American defending his London title.
:33:19. > :33:25.This is the category for the 5152 slightly more impeded in the
:33:26. > :33:38.category. Ray Martin defending his title in the 51/52s. This was the
:33:39. > :33:43.Brazilian Da Silva winning the 45/46 for athletes in them with upper arm
:33:44. > :33:52.impairments, only men running in this one. 2.33 was third place but
:33:53. > :33:54.Da Silva taking the victory. Just to give you confirmation of all of the
:33:55. > :34:00.winners in the various categories, in the men's 31112 for those with
:34:01. > :34:11.severe visual impairment running with a guide was taken by Wada.
:34:12. > :34:21.Those with a minimum criteria of running impairment not running with
:34:22. > :34:27.a guide. Da Silva and Martin taking the victory in the 45/46 and 51/52.
:34:28. > :34:30.Britain's future Olympians and Paralympian is where inaction this
:34:31. > :34:36.morning at the Mini London Marathon. What are you most looking forward
:34:37. > :34:40.to? Just running through London and taking the experience in. I am a bit
:34:41. > :34:44.nervous but also a bit emotional because this is my sixth and final
:34:45. > :34:50.year. The best athletes from each London borough and every region of
:34:51. > :34:54.the UK were Ronan Dunne at selected to run the final section of the
:34:55. > :35:07.course, starting with the under 17 boys. -- were selected to run. How
:35:08. > :35:12.was the race for you, Jack? Really tiring, I am dead now but I'm happy
:35:13. > :35:17.I won. Carrie, how did you feel that went? It went really well, very
:35:18. > :35:25.close to my PB, I have to find out if it was a PB. Here is the Roll of
:35:26. > :35:26.Honour for the 2017 Mini London Marathon. Congratulations to the
:35:27. > :35:34.winners and those who took part. On to the masses and as we know who
:35:35. > :35:37.raise millions of pounds for charity of civil year, but just for you here
:35:38. > :36:25.is a few more numbers about today's race.
:36:26. > :36:29.Brendan, you have sat here for all 37 years and this will be the last
:36:30. > :36:38.time you will be with us. This must bring back lots of
:36:39. > :36:43.memories but I suppose every year you and me look forward to what will
:36:44. > :36:51.unfold over the next few hours. This is a site, it is a major change
:36:52. > :36:57.since the grey and navy blue of the early years, fluorescent yellow
:36:58. > :37:01.stands out. The numbers were 6000 in the 1981 London Marathon. 40,000
:37:02. > :37:06.today. It's come an awful long way in those 37 years. It is now a
:37:07. > :37:09.national institution and Chris Brazier and John Disley who founded
:37:10. > :37:14.this wonderful event after having tried and tried in the New York
:37:15. > :37:18.Marathon to see if London had the appetite and the attitude and
:37:19. > :37:25.hospitality towards it. But there we are. Beautiful day, perfect running
:37:26. > :37:29.conditions. It will take a good few minutes for all 40,000 to cross the
:37:30. > :37:32.start finish line and each one of them wearing their own personal
:37:33. > :37:36.transponders which are activated as they crossed the start line so they
:37:37. > :37:40.all get their individual times. It is probably a good thing that for
:37:41. > :37:45.many of them they get to run a bit slowly in the first few miles. David
:37:46. > :37:49.Coleman, the great David Coleman sitting in this seat, used to say
:37:50. > :37:55.start slow and get slower. Taking pictures of the Royals, great
:37:56. > :38:00.picture, get them to do a selfie with you, that's the next thing. I
:38:01. > :38:04.bet that happens throughout the day. As she crosses the start line she
:38:05. > :38:08.has a collector's item. They are already, they are in good spirits,
:38:09. > :38:14.on a joyous occasion. Now they are moving closer, they are going to get
:38:15. > :38:19.in amongst it soon. You can sense it. They will be talking and
:38:20. > :38:23.wondering if they should run it. Which one of us will run it? They
:38:24. > :38:29.keep pushing Harry forward but all three of them would be contenders,
:38:30. > :38:32.they are all athletic young people. This is a great site. The slow
:38:33. > :38:37.procession through the gates of Greenwich Park ready to start the
:38:38. > :38:45.journey which will bring them to where we are on The Mall in front of
:38:46. > :38:50.Buckingham Palace. Cutty Sark looks beautiful. It has always been a
:38:51. > :38:54.great landmark of the London Marathon for many years. We couldn't
:38:55. > :38:59.see it while they were undergoing this work but it looks resplendent.
:39:00. > :39:03.On a beautiful morning in London, a great day for marathon running. The
:39:04. > :39:07.temperature expected to get up to about 15 degrees so not too bad,
:39:08. > :39:12.maybe a little warm for some of the later finishes. As ever, all of
:39:13. > :39:16.these marathons, big races around the world, it is the thousands of
:39:17. > :39:23.people taking part who produced the spectacle of the event. There is
:39:24. > :39:28.Mark Chapman who is supposed to be presenting Match of the Day 2. Is he
:39:29. > :39:32.going to make it? Plenty of time, not on until 10:30pm tonight. He
:39:33. > :39:35.looks all right, looks like he's enjoying it. I tell you what, you
:39:36. > :39:44.know how they often use lots of good slo-mo on Match of the Day? Don't
:39:45. > :39:47.need slo-mo for Chappers. These are some of the records being attempted
:39:48. > :39:51.this year and I can't believe these are official world records but they
:39:52. > :39:57.are. The fastest marathon dressed as an emoji, yes, that is a thing. Liam
:39:58. > :40:02.is trying that I don't know the details of emoji he is dressing up
:40:03. > :40:06.as, probably the one crying with laughter. Fastest marathon dressed
:40:07. > :40:13.as a love heart, again, that is a thing! Fastest marathon in a
:40:14. > :40:17.sleeping bag. I presume you have to be hopping around rather than like a
:40:18. > :40:24.little caterpillar. There is Paula's telephone box. If you were with a
:40:25. > :40:26.mile to go that would put you in a bit of bother.
:40:27. > :40:31.For most people being on dry land, if you've been at sea for a while is
:40:32. > :40:35.a bit of a relief. For you, Rachel, you didn't give yourself that
:40:36. > :40:39.option. No, we trained on a seven-month deployment so it's been
:40:40. > :40:42.quite difficult, hasn't it? Unbelievable, and running the London
:40:43. > :40:46.Marathon different to running on a treadmill on a ship? We have four
:40:47. > :40:50.treadmills on the ship that we used to train on and the flight deck is
:40:51. > :40:57.200 metres long so we set ourselves a bit of a challenge. Unbelievable,
:40:58. > :41:02.you are doing incredibly well. How are you feeling, Darren? How are the
:41:03. > :41:11.legs? The warm up phase is definitely of the fun started 12 or
:41:12. > :41:16.13 miles back. Chappers you look grateful for the rest. I am, thank
:41:17. > :41:21.you. I wouldn't have stopped but you put a chair down for me. How long
:41:22. > :41:25.can I sit here? Not long, you only have about eight miles to go, how
:41:26. > :41:35.does that sound? I thought it was a bit less than eight. No. It is
:41:36. > :41:38.getting worse sitting here. It is horrific and amazing in equal
:41:39. > :41:43.measure. I don't know what others have said, but it is really hot, not
:41:44. > :41:49.helped by the fact I have tights and a long-sleeved top on having trained
:41:50. > :41:54.in the winter in Manchester. But the support is just unbelievable. I was
:41:55. > :41:59.fine until, you turn the wrong way at Tower Bridge, it always does me,
:42:00. > :42:03.going the wrong way. I've walked a bit recently and feel so guilty
:42:04. > :42:08.because the support is so unbelievable. But I am just
:42:09. > :42:12.absolutely shattered. Tower Bridge, that is about halfway,
:42:13. > :42:18.they turn right from there and go down to Canary Wharf and then come
:42:19. > :42:22.back. Grand scenes and grand sites, Big Ben, part of Westminster, the
:42:23. > :42:28.London eye, the City of London as you look towards the East.
:42:29. > :42:31.Some say the bulk of running a marathon never goes away. I've never
:42:32. > :42:41.tasted it. Dale has tasted it how many times? 37. 37 in London and how
:42:42. > :42:47.many in total? 100. This is your 100th marathon? On my 80th birthday.
:42:48. > :42:53.I wish we had somebody to sing happy birthday, when you leave we will
:42:54. > :42:57.sing it. Why do you do this? I'm raising money for charity, Sense,
:42:58. > :43:02.the deaf and blind charity. And I have a new ankle, that is why I have
:43:03. > :43:07.a crutch. You keep coming up with the surprises. You are a superhero.
:43:08. > :43:13.You are a Bicentennial man and we are very, very proud of you. Keep it
:43:14. > :43:19.up. I promised to sing it, # Happy birthday to you
:43:20. > :43:22.# Happy birthday to Dale # Ollie, I have stopped you, you are
:43:23. > :43:27.about the only person that doesn't take a seat at the 18 mile mark.
:43:28. > :43:31.How is the British crowd cheering you on? They make you feel ten feet
:43:32. > :43:36.tall, I don't like running, I hate it, and the crowd are keeping me
:43:37. > :43:42.going, the crowd and jelly babies, so it's all good. I often say to the
:43:43. > :43:47.guys out there for four, five, six hours, the elites have it easy, they
:43:48. > :43:49.are done in two hours, they don't have to compete with rising
:43:50. > :43:54.temperatures and being out there for as long as these guys. Yes,
:43:55. > :43:58.hydrating and taking on various gels and whatever people use, jelly beans
:43:59. > :44:02.were my favourite doing long runs but everybody has their own tipple,
:44:03. > :44:07.as it were. Brendan has enjoyed a couple of cupcakes in the commentary
:44:08. > :44:11.box. Yes but I earned them and I deserve them. I just asked Superman
:44:12. > :44:21.what else I should call him. You said? Clark Kent. I said what else,
:44:22. > :44:31.and you said? I've run my 302nd marathon today. 302nd marathon? 31st
:44:32. > :44:36.London Marathon today in 1996. That is sensational. I've raced ?61,000
:44:37. > :44:42.for charities and I run four North London hospice and hope to raise
:44:43. > :44:44.?2000. His real name is Jim, do you still feel super? Definitely, yes,
:44:45. > :44:52.thank you very much. Off you go! This is the best marathon in the
:44:53. > :47:09.world, that's one of the best sites in the world of sport.
:47:10. > :47:21.Karaoke Graham has arrived right on cue, take it away, you have a song
:47:22. > :47:27.lined up. I'm A Believer.
:47:28. > :48:16.Go on, Graham! You are not riding on your own
:48:17. > :48:22.today. I am running with my mate, my son has just finished, but my bet's
:48:23. > :48:25.knee has gone, so I am going a bit of head and stopping and trying to
:48:26. > :48:30.stay with him as much as I can. I got him an ice cream earlier, but I
:48:31. > :48:34.am still waiting for him to come through. That is what friends are
:48:35. > :48:40.for, it is what the attitude is about. Everybody here, the people
:48:41. > :48:42.who have cheered us on, the marshals, the police, St John
:48:43. > :48:50.Ambulance, it is fantastic, such a great day. Why are you running? I
:48:51. > :48:55.have been an ambassador for the Air Ambulance Service for 13 years, I
:48:56. > :48:59.thought it was about time I did something. A couple of days later I
:49:00. > :49:03.decided to do the marathon with my son, and he got run over and he
:49:04. > :49:10.needed the London air Ambulance to get him.
:49:11. > :49:22.Some more numbers, 7200 runners today will write blogs. Most popular
:49:23. > :49:29.occupation, accountant. 2285 accountants. Celebrating the end of
:49:30. > :49:36.the tax year! They can work out their split really well! Is Brendan
:49:37. > :49:42.Foster retirement from commentating, can he run it next year? Is there a
:49:43. > :49:48.world-record for the best Brendan Foster? Or retired commentators from
:49:49. > :49:54.the BBC? Surely there is a category. He will not even pick up the
:49:55. > :50:01.microphone. I just have. He has come out of retirement to say that! What
:50:02. > :50:06.are you doing next year? I shall be sitting watching the London Marathon
:50:07. > :50:12.on the TV, initially with my breakfast, and then with my lunch.
:50:13. > :50:19.You cannot miss this incredibly luminous outfit, you have the visor
:50:20. > :50:27.on, the sun has come out. Marathon number two? Three. How does it feel?
:50:28. > :50:32.I did it for my 60th and my 65th, and now I am doing it because I am
:50:33. > :50:39.70, so it is my aim to finish today, and it will be my last marathon. It
:50:40. > :50:46.will be a shame to have lost you. You still have half the race to go,
:50:47. > :50:50.but who is your charity? Cystic fibrosis and believes Jewish welfare
:50:51. > :50:57.board. You are incredible, and surely a liar, 70? I am! Which are
:50:58. > :51:01.so impressed with you, you are getting a round of applause, keep
:51:02. > :51:07.going. An awful lot of people running for a
:51:08. > :51:11.lot of reasons, what is yours? I am running to break a world record, and
:51:12. > :51:16.to raise some cash for the racing welfare charity, a local charity. I
:51:17. > :51:22.cannot help but notice you have a tumble dryer on your back. I watched
:51:23. > :51:27.the marathon at home last year and saw somebody go for the record, and
:51:28. > :51:34.something switched and I thought, I will have a go at that. A stupid
:51:35. > :51:39.decision. He looked fit enough! You are at 18 miles, eight more to go. I
:51:40. > :51:47.have got to get under six hours, so I have to ours. We will see. I think
:51:48. > :51:54.you will be fine, but I do not want to get in the way, so you carry on.
:51:55. > :52:01.Brilliant outfit, I love it, do you regret getting so warm? A bit, but
:52:02. > :52:04.we are nearly there, raising money for McIntyre, a charity that helps
:52:05. > :52:11.disabled people. Great support, amazing. I feel free to ask but much
:52:12. > :52:17.money will you raise? Hopefully close to ?1000. I have been raising
:52:18. > :52:22.money through the year. It is all going to a great cause. Next year,
:52:23. > :52:29.if you entered, would you have the same attire? Maybe not a dinosaur!
:52:30. > :52:41.Maybe something cooler! Well done, not far to go, well done.
:52:42. > :53:27.# Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
:53:28. > :53:34.# I'm running and I won't touch ground
:53:35. > :53:47.# Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
:53:48. > :53:52.# Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
:53:53. > :53:54.# I'm running and I won't touch ground
:53:55. > :53:58.# Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
:53:59. > :54:01.# I'm running and I won't touch ground
:54:02. > :54:06.# Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
:54:07. > :54:25.Helen, fantastic outfit. I knew it was St George 's take, so I thought,
:54:26. > :54:31.how can I go one better than St George? I will carry a dragon.
:54:32. > :54:38.Raising money for charity at the same time. What is the atmosphere
:54:39. > :54:44.like? Everybody speaks about it. It is amazing. I cannot even describe
:54:45. > :54:50.it. I don't think he would be able to get through it without the crowd
:54:51. > :54:56.with you. It is fabulous. It is the best day of the year. Brilliant. The
:54:57. > :55:07.finish is that way, you can pick up a nice medal. And have a cup of tea.
:55:08. > :55:11.Have one for me as well! Thank you! Looking down from the south side of
:55:12. > :55:15.the Thames, past the London eye, towards the embankment. They are
:55:16. > :55:23.coming to the final five kilometres or so. Well done, pepper pig. I am
:55:24. > :55:30.not really with the kids! But well done, Blake. And various others in
:55:31. > :55:36.various other guises. And quite far down the course, this is coming up a
:55:37. > :55:41.slope towards Westbury Circus, alongside Canary Wharf. Water
:55:42. > :55:45.bottles half empty scattered around the course, and the crowd stayed
:55:46. > :55:52.there to cheer on those who are a bit slower, but again, it almost
:55:53. > :55:56.does not bother what time you do it. Staying the course and completing
:55:57. > :56:04.it. It is the end goal for so many people of so many months of training
:56:05. > :56:11.and perhaps years of aspiration. Was that not a personal best? I was
:56:12. > :56:16.going for four and a half hours, but I have never hit the wall before. 18
:56:17. > :56:21.miles, I never came back. It is horrible. Hitting a ball is not as
:56:22. > :56:29.uncomfortable, a real ball. How was your build-up this year? I was a bit
:56:30. > :56:35.slack. The more long runs you do, the more things start to fall off,
:56:36. > :56:38.so I did not do so many, but you can feel it. But the crowd is better
:56:39. > :56:45.than ever. It has been a great day. As ever, I
:56:46. > :56:50.have enjoyed every single moment. A bit sad for all of us in the
:56:51. > :56:55.commentary box, being Brendan's last one. It has been a cracking London
:56:56. > :56:59.Marathon again. A huge well done from us, from me personally, to
:57:00. > :57:05.everybody, it has been a pleasure to meet everyone, getting in the
:57:06. > :57:07.build-up, getting ready for the race, and I hope you have all
:57:08. > :57:12.achieved your dreams out there today.
:57:13. > :57:16.One of the many great things about the London Marathon is that
:57:17. > :57:20.everybody gets a medal. That could be you in 2018. Even if you have
:57:21. > :57:27.been motivated to just get up and get active, get over to the Get
:57:28. > :57:32.Inspired page on the BBC website. There is plenty more athletics
:57:33. > :57:33.coming up on the BBC very soon. Starting with highlights of the
:57:34. > :58:00.world relay championships. That is all we have time for fall
:58:01. > :58:07.after a record-breaking feat by Mary Keitany, a sensational 74 David
:58:08. > :58:10.Weir, and thousands of others, smiling through the pain barrier on
:58:11. > :58:13.what has been another fantastic London Marathon date. For now, from
:58:14. > :59:08.all of us, goodbye. Our crack team of experts
:59:09. > :59:17.use pioneering research