Highlights London Marathon

Born in London today we have seen what is surely to become one of the

iconic events. Jo Pavey, debut marathon.

One of the greatest pieces of running that we've ever seen.

Shoulders burning, fingertips pushing! Eliud Kipchoge, one of the

fastest marathons of all time. The hand of friendship after 26

miles. It is a sight to behold every single

year. My name is Tanya. Hyam Vincent. This

is my wife Laura. I got that wrong. Hi, my name is Pepe, I am from

Mexico. From Canada. Wakefield. The United States. I am from South

Wales. I am running for my father who is unfortunately suffering from

pancreatic cancer. It is in memory of my mum. I have a point to prove

having come back from a life-threatening illness. I am

running for a premature baby charity. I'm running because...

Frankly, I'm not! It is something I've always wanted to do. We are

going to do the major marathons. This time last year I hadn't run

more than five kilometres. People say I am over the hill and I am not.

Why not do it now? I am running because I am a type one diabetic. To

stay healthy physically and mentally. We are running together.

Thank you! Hello and welcome to highlights of

the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon, close to 40,000 runners

were here at the start this morning, all with their own reasons for

running. We will catch up with the masses later in the programme but

first to go worthy elite races and the wheelchair athletes. It is

always a special day here but all the more so for all of us because it

will be the 37th and final time the legendary Brendan Foster will be

part of our commentary team. Brendan, we love you, and thank you.

He will be joined in the box by Steve Cram, women's marathon world

record holder Paula Radcliffe, six time London Marathon winner,

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, and Andrew Cotter.

At the blue start the elite women's and men's wheelchair race, there

will be some noise for this one. Winner of London 2012 Paralympic

golds, David Weir! His 18th London Marathon, six times a winner of

magical four golds in the Paralympics in London. But last year

finished third here and struggled in Rio, didn't finish the marathon.

What can he achieve here? Helen Glover and Heather Stanning getting

them under way. Tanni Grey-Thompson, we have talked about the vagaries

and difficulties of this course, so different to Boston which they raced

recently which for wheelchair racers is a quick course. This can be

fiddly at times. The London Marathon course is quite twisting and

turning, the profile drops in the first 10K which is quite fast but

quite early on in the race you start hitting the roundabouts, there is

speed ramps on the road in the first mile and a half and we have a really

big pack of men on the right-hand side. Everyone wants to try and jump

in the draft because it makes such an advantage. Marcel Hug has taken

it out because he wants to control the race, Kurt Fearnley in second

command David Weir needs to run a smart race, doesn't want to do too

much at the front because he wants to conserve his energy. Just run

through some of the main runners and riders. Look down the course, Marcel

Hug is the favourite today, Ernst van Dyk is very strong, the South

African. In the women's race it is all change without Tatyana McFadden

because she's won the last four here so without her Manuela Schar is the

one to look out for. Taking place today we have the IPC marathon World

Cup races, different category, T11/12, men and women, away they go.

Also you have T11 12 for para-athletes with a severe visual

impairment who run with guides, that is a race for men and women. T13,

para-athletes with a visual impairment who reach the minimum

criteria. And also athletes with lower and upper arm in --

impairments. It is probably the greatest women's field we have ever

had gathered. These are the ones who may be contending, all will be

contending, to win the London Marathon. Mary Keitany who has done

it before there. Mare Dibaba, the world champion. Some great names

from the track. Tirunesh Dibaba and Vivian Cheruiyot, running her first

one. Those other British athletes, Alyson Dixon who represented as in

the Lubitz last year, Charlotte Purdue getting onto the team to do

what she didn't do last year, perhaps the favourite amongst the

British contingent. Then favourite is Mary Keitany, two-time winner of

the event, coming back into some really good form in 2017. The world

champion from 2015, Mare Dibaba, Ethiopia's first-ever world marathon

champion, that is a surprising fact, isn't it, considering they have had

the likes of Tirunesh Dibaba to cheer over the years. Just still

getting to grips with the marathon event. So here they go there and.

2017 elite women's field ready to go. Our two Olympic heroes look down

on this stellar field as they had off on their own private little

quest, of course. The elite women get the roads to themselves.

Meanwhile, in the wheelchair race, Tower Bridge, the men's wheelchair

racers are somewhere through Tower Bridge now. We thought there was a

crucial break at Tower Bridge and beyond where the three main

contenders, Marcel Hug and David Weir and Kurt Fearnley broke clear

but then they were reeled back in. This is at it stands now as they

head through whupping and out towards the I love dogs and Canary

Wharf. Everyone is back together, there you can see Marcel Hug, the

favourite, defending champion tucked in beside David Weir and going

through Kurt Fearnley, still connected and in with a chance. Will

we get a world record from our elite men? Here is the line-up headed by

Kenenisa Bekele, perhaps the greatest ever distance runner,

certainly on the track. Looking to cement that on the roads nobody has

held a world record for the 5000, 10000 and marathon, can he do it?

Kenenisa Bekele, so many gold medals and records on the track. The third

fastest marathon runner of all time. How quick can he go today? Chris

Thomson, Scott Overall, Tewelde, Johnny Haynes, all men in contention

for two British spots for the Great Britain team.

The official charity of the London Marathon is heads together, campaign

which aims to raise awareness and understanding around mental health

this use with the priority to remove the stigma around it. It is led by

the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The three of them

were here to start the men's elite and masses race. The 37th London

Marathon gets underway. They could be the greatest ever. Perfect

conditions. A sight to behold as ever. The greatest runners from

around the world gather in London once more, and followed by 40,000

special people, all running for all sorts of causes. But this year Heads

Together in particular, very much to the forefront. It's a very familiar

course from most. It has changed a little bit over the years but has

always started here in Greenwich, Shooters Hill Road, there was

Greenwich Park where we saw the Red Start, the masses getting underway,

and they all eventually meet roughly about three miles in, the green and

blue join earlier than that, then they run the fast miles down towards

the Cutty Sark area where the big crowds are. We expect so much

support on the roads. Grey weather today. Through the

Rotherhithe area, past ten miles, and then they will be able to see

Tower Bridge, the Shard and know that halfway approaches -- great

weather today. Heading towards the Canary Wharf area there has been a

few changes to the route over the years, a little bit twisty antennae

and that is where you can start to feel as you go through 20 miles,

down to the embankment, and able to see in the distance Big Ben

beckoning them home, and the last mile, turning a bird cage walk,

around the corner and the last 250 metres or so to the finish line, one

of the most famous sites in world sport. So far I can tell you that

this young lady here, Mary Keitany, two-time winner of the London

Marathon, has set out, and I'm going to sell say it is crazy pace, she

has a pacemaker and a training partner there, and they have been

going at a pace which will take them not only inside the women's only

record which Paula has, but also the world record which Paula set in 2003

here and we are heading at a pace for a time that will result in one

thing, I know that Paul is getting nervous but I think this is too fast

even for Mary Keitany. She looks like she is working hard but not

like she's falling apart yet. The chase group behind her are also

running really quickly. It looks as if we had a calm and tranquil pack

moving along in the men's wheelchair race but this has just settled down

into this path because Marcel Hug, the favourite and defending

champion, on the right half of the picture in the famous silver helmet,

put in a hit over the last kilometre and was clear of the rest, he had

David Weir for company but they had a long gap to the rest of Tanni

Grey-Thompson, but they have been swallowed up by the rest of the pack

again. Was he just saying this is what I've got and trying something?

Marcel Hug wanted to make a serious break because he's really wound it

up to his top speed and had his head down David Weir sat on his back

wheel and then you saw Hug indicator David Weir to say, come through, and

David Weir declined to come through. He is making Hug work for it.

Meanwhile in the women's race further back down the course there

is a minute lead for Manuela Schar, the Swiss athlete, the strong

favourite, might be a Swiss double with Manuela Schar in the women's

and Marcel Hug still looking strong in the men's but it's going to be a

sprint finish in the men's race. Mary Keitany is being cheered, she

has a pacemaker for company, she's running faster than anyone has run

before. While we look at the statistics it looks a bit bold and

brave and too aggressive, but seriously, when Paula was doing this

we were asking the same sort of questions. Paula was being brave and

pushing out into a new world and this lady is pushing even more so.

At the end of the day, if you are the second fastest marathon runner

of all time the only way you will possibly become the fastest marathon

runner of all time is by attacking it.

The final bend and the finish line weights, six victories in the London

Marathon for David Weir, but the defending champion Marcel Hug has it

at the moment is, David Weir drives and gets the arms pumping and is

alongside and he is passing, does Marcel Hug have a response? David

Weir dips his head and drives on and seventh London Marathon victory is

going to come for David Weir and the Weir wolf roars again, one hour 31,

Weir has victory number seven, beating the defending champion

Marcel Hug, what a win for David Weir, victory number seven in

London. That is a devastating sprint finish for David Weir, the top speed

between him and Marcel Hug are similar but in that situation coming

round the final bend I thought it was Hug's but obviously not, well

done, David Weir, really proud. Aly Dixon leads the British contingent

by about 30 seconds ahead of Charlotte Purdue. She went through

the half quicker than she was planning to and she is heading for a

sub 2.28. 200 metres remain for Manuela Schar and the course record

of one hour 41 minutes here in London, which is held by Tatyana

McFadden. Just looking for the time of Manuela Schar, because it has

been her for much of the clock -- against the clock for much of the

race. Second for the last three years but here Manuela Schar will

take victory in just a shade under one hour 40, well, just over it.

That is a course record and a victory in the London Marathon, a

first victory in this event for Manuela Schar. The men are running

sub 2.02 pace, 28.51 through ten kilometres. So, real intent here,

big group. Again, Kenenisa Bekele has some legitimate right to go at

that sort of place, most of the others don't. Various Tirunesh

Dibaba, the three times Olympic champion working hard at this point

in second place, the traditional form and style wheat seed, the

calibre of this athlete, second to none in the world of distance

running. Three times Olympic champion, numerous times world

champion. Tirunesh Dibaba now without a pacemaker as she has been

for most of the way, but running strongly and running well.

Mary Keitany, what is she heading for here? Through 18 miles, very

fast. She has just gone through 30 K and the time is slipping. The

predicted time, if I went back to halfway, just before half way, it

was 2.13, and then it was just outside 2.14 and then it was high

2.14s and for the first time her predicted time has slipped to

2:15.08 which would still be a record but I don't think she will do

that. If Tirunesh Dibaba keeps running strongly she might have a

chance here. We are looking at a change in the

men's race. We had Kenenisa Bekele retesting the pacemakers. The group

has changed. The Olympic champion and world record holder has drifted

to the back of the field. Looking to see if it is because of the feed

station and he is waiting for a drink. There is the group. Instead

of being at the front, Kenenisa Bekele early is fading away at the

back. That is a shock. A bit of a surprise for all. We look at his

team-mate, the user delays. Over the course of eight hundred metres, the

great one is no longer in the favoured position. He has won at

world record pace for half the distance. Will he struggle for the

next half of the race? It looks as though he is going through a bad

patch. The British battle is being one by Aly Dixon. We think Charlotte

Purdue is further back, I am trying to look in the distance there. That

could be a scrap for them. Aly Dixon is 12th in the race, she is passed

some of the faster athletes, who went off to quick. We are waiting

for her to go through. Her best was set in bowling, I think. She has

slowed down a little. She is still heading for something around 2:28,

2:29. Is that Charlotte Purdue in the background? May be only ten or

15 seconds behind. The two-time world-record holder, the man who was

trying to run halfway at world-record pace, and there is

Kenenisa Bekele, he is struggling now. He came to win this one, the

second fastest of all time. Having a lonely battle. The world record is

not on today. He at least once a decent position. It will be under

threat. He set off so confidently. He was amongst the pacemakers, he

kept it going. He did everything he could, he said he was up for a race.

But his performance is falling away. When you miss a bit of training,

even the great one cannot do the job. He is working so hard,

struggling for the moment, as his countryman Feyisa Lilesa, Daniel

Wanjiru, and Abel Kirui, twice the world champion. Mary Keitany knows

it is not too far from here. She is into the last five K. The sweep of

the River Thames takes her towards Big Ben. Has she got a stitch

problem? Tirunesh Dibaba was making inroads into the lead, she is

already on the upslope, but that she have stomach problems? Yes, she has

stomach cramps, which is a shame. I do not think she was that far behind

us. We have just seen Mary Keitany, up this hill, that would have been

30 seconds ago. Is this falling apart for Tirunesh Dibaba? They were

heading for two of the fastest times ever. She is slowing almost to a

walk. Even for elite runners, these last two or three miles. She is

labouring now. Will she be able to keep to the finish? She has taken

the drinks on-board, maybe that has upset her stomach. She was going

strongly, running powerfully. She did have the lead. She comes to a

standstill, the great one, Tirunesh Dibaba, walking along the

embankment, trying to jog, really struggling. She has picked things up

a bit. She is still heading for something inside 2:17. The world

record is within sight. Unless she completely falls apart in the last

mile, 2:17 or thereabouts could be hers. News from the British fans, we

think Jo Pavey dropped out at around 16 miles. Tirunesh Dibaba looked as

though she could eat into the lead, she got as close as 40 seconds, but

it has extended a game to 72nd, because she had to stop. She is back

running strongly. Mary Keitany can now sense that history waits for

her. The Cheers greet this great Kenya runner. 35 years of age. She

looks a couple of hundred metres a shared. She will realise she is

heading for something special, something great. What will be her

finish time? All on her own. She has been out in front since the first

few miles, said her stall out, ran incredibly quickly, the fastest ever

half marathon, broke the world record for 30 kilometres, and now

heading towards a world-record for the women's only marathon. Mary

Keitany of Kenya. Just on 2:17. We will have to wait for the official

time. But she has broken the record, broken her personal best. She is

still the second fastest in history, but what a performance. Here comes

Tirunesh Dibaba. She will rise up the all-time rankings. She will hope

to be the third fastest marathon runner of all time, she will break

her own Ethiopian -- her own team-mate's if the European record.

Tirunesh Dibaba finishing like the great track athlete we remember her

as. Sprinting to the line. Tirunesh Dibaba takes a massively forward in

her marathon career. Second in London, and the third fastest of all

time. History being made in London 20. Mary Keitany, the early and

diminutive Kenyans, rewarded for such brief running in the early

stages. In the men, the former world champion Abel Kirui now has Daniel

Wanjiru with him. And it looks like another Kenyan, Bedan Karoki,

behind. It has been up and down, the pace. No Kenenisa Bekele to conduct

this contest. He is still running strongly. Not that far off. Eight

seconds, seven seconds? It is not over. Aly Dixon of Sunderland. Last

year it was to gain selection for the Olympic Games. She were now have

her eyes on the clock. Her personal best is 2:29:30. She will break

that. Last few metres. Charlotte Purdue is heading for under 2:30.

Aly Dixon may be emotional, what a great run. There is the smile. That

is her trademark finish. A personal best. 12th place, I think. What a

run from Charlotte Sergei. Still learning the marathon. She will run

under 2:30, a personal best. She will be back in London for the World

Championships, I am pretty sure. Kenenisa Bekele being cheered by the

runners going in the opposite direction, he is the one they

recognise. There are plenty of miles for him, plenty of time for him to

catch Daniel Wanjiru, who looks good. He is moving better, then a DC

Beck. He looks different than he did a few miles ago. He has a

determination. He is hunting them down, moving through in third place.

This is not the way he would have chosen to run the marathon, he was

threatening the pacemakers in the early stages. He now has some idea

that he will get a position. He will move into second place very quickly.

He is running faster than anyone else at this stage. Here comes the

great Kenenisa Bekele. People recognise him from either side. So

they should, he is one of the greatest of all time. Tracy Barlow,

what a story. Last year 's injured get the chance to run from the elite

start, she has done it this time. That one will cement her place, it

is a big personal best. She has run personal bests galore over the last

few years. It is another big step forward, congratulations to her, the

third British athlete home, she could be selected for the World

Championship. Kenenisa Bekele looks like he is moving into track mode.

His cadence has increased, he is looking like the Kenenisa Bekele

that we see running 52, 53 seconds for the last lap of a 10,000 metre

race. But the gap is still there. We can see them both together, the

bikes show us there is a gap. Kenenisa Bekele as to lift his body,

move into sprinting mode, Daniel Wanjiru looks over his shoulder,

being hunted by the greatest of all, a man who has finished strongly in

many races. A man who has been a privilege to observe. I wonder, has

he got one last effort? Can he dig one out? Come on, Kenenisa Bekele! I

should not say that! The gap has extended again. Those of us who

watch athletics over the years, you always say that when it comes to a

sprint finish, the Ethiopian will beat the Kenyans, but today I fear

that will not be the case for Kenenisa Bekele. Daniel Wanjiru

takes another look behind, he has found something extra. It may be

that Kenenisa Bekele, as he takes one look behind for the first time,

instead of concentrating a Fred, the gap is insurmountable for even the

greatest, even Kenenisa Bekele. He cannot close it now. You cannot lift

your legs in the same way over 10,000 metres as in the marathon, it

does not happen. Let's look at Daniel Wanjiru. Kenya have had some

great champions. He would not have been the favourite if you looked

down the list today, but he showed when he won the Amsterdam marathon

that he has got massive potential. He will be just outside his best,

which is 2:05:21. That is phenomenal running. Daniel Wanjiru carrying a

famous name, the great Sammy was an Olympic champion, no longer with us,

but it is Daniel's day, his race, his London Marathon. He has held off

the best, he has held off Kenenisa Bekele, and he can enjoy his moment,

arms aloft. Daniel Wanjiru wins the 2017 London Marathon in fine style.

Congratulations to him. Kenenisa Bekele tried his best, he tried

everything he knew. He dug himself out of a bad patch, but it lost

enough on the day, he settled for second spot. Daniel Wanjiru, the

biggest victory of his career. Whatever happens in the rest of his

life, he will say, that was the day I beat Kenenisa Bekele, I held off

the greatest. That is Robbie Simpson, running well, but there is

an athlete had of him, it could be Josh Griffiths. There he is. This

could be a surprise. In the same way that Tracy Barlow did it last year,

what a performance from him, under 2:15, he could be the first

tradition athlete across the line, he could join Hawkins. Simpson has

run another qualifying time. That is one for the selectors. Could he be

representing Great Britain in the World Championships in London this

summer? What a story that would be. The surprise winner of the men's

race, Daniel Wanjiru. Not too far off his personal best. Kenenisa

Bekele could not close the gap at the end. Bedan Karoki finishing

third in his first marathon. Josh Griffiths, his first ever marathon.

A brilliant run for him, that will qualify him for the World

Championship team along with Robbie Simpson.

A third victory for Mary Keitany in the London Marathon, this was the

quickest time. A new world record for a women's only race. Tirunesh

Dibaba becomes the third fastest of all time. Aly Dixon of the best of

the British athletes for a third year in a row. A personal best for

her. And for Tracy Barlow. Those three pretty much booking their

places for the World Championships in the summer.

running strongly she might have a chance here.

I was ready to run the best time. And of course the two of us have run

2.18 so it was a credit for us today. Daniel, your race was also

similarly world-record pace for so long as well. Did you expect to go

off at quite the pace it did? The race was very fast. Anything can

happen. We helped each other from the start. We were talking about how

the pace was and we tried to maintain the pace up to half the

race and then from there the race was becoming tougher and tougher. I

prepared to come and win and already I've tested the world-record pace so

I know how it feels. My first marathon today, it was always to

qualify for the Commonwealth Games for Wales. That is what you had in

your mind, gold Coast next year? That was in my mind, I felt good all

the way through, kept working through, and it all went to plan.

Charlotte, you had Alyson in your sights the whole time, I wonder how

much was going on in your mind after last year when you missed out on

qualification for Rio. Last year was disappointing but last

year was my first marathon and obviously I took a lot from that.

This is my third one in a year and everyone I have got faster and I'm

happy to be going to the world champs. You finished behind Alyson

who led all the way. Could you feel hurt and since she was coming? I

could, I was trying to use the crowd to sense how far behind she was and

how much she was gaining but the crowd was so loud you couldn't

really hear anything because as you came past they continued to shout. I

just went for it and wanted to see how fast I could go and I have found

out. This is how they finished in the men's. Rafael Botello Jimenez in

the third, Marcel Hug, defending champion in second but the winner

for the second time, -- seventh time, David Weir, what a finish and

what a win and he may be back. It's been great, it's been

challenging since Rio to get mentally ready and focused for this

race and to be honest to a three months ago I didn't think I would

get on the start line because I had been struggling a bit with a little

bit of depression, to be honest. So to get here and to race and to win

and to beat Tanni record is an honour. She's been runner-up three

times but now Manuela Schar of Switzerland taking the victory in a

course record time ahead of two Americans. Within the London

Marathon today there has been competition in seven categories of

the World Para Athletics para World Cup. This was in the T51/52

category. That is Ray Martin, the American defending his London title.

This is the category for the 5152 slightly more impeded in the

category. Ray Martin defending his title in the 51/52s. This was the

Brazilian Da Silva winning the 45/46 for athletes in them with upper arm

impairments, only men running in this one. 2.33 was third place but

Da Silva taking the victory. Just to give you confirmation of all of the

winners in the various categories, in the men's 31112 for those with

severe visual impairment running with a guide was taken by Wada.

Those with a minimum criteria of running impairment not running with

a guide. Da Silva and Martin taking the victory in the 45/46 and 51/52.

Britain's future Olympians and Paralympian is where inaction this

morning at the Mini London Marathon. What are you most looking forward

to? Just running through London and taking the experience in. I am a bit

nervous but also a bit emotional because this is my sixth and final

year. The best athletes from each London borough and every region of

the UK were Ronan Dunne at selected to run the final section of the

course, starting with the under 17 boys. -- were selected to run. How

was the race for you, Jack? Really tiring, I am dead now but I'm happy

I won. Carrie, how did you feel that went? It went really well, very

close to my PB, I have to find out if it was a PB. Here is the Roll of

Honour for the 2017 Mini London Marathon. Congratulations to the

winners and those who took part. On to the masses and as we know who

raise millions of pounds for charity of civil year, but just for you here

is a few more numbers about today's race.

Brendan, you have sat here for all 37 years and this will be the last

time you will be with us. This must bring back lots of

memories but I suppose every year you and me look forward to what will

unfold over the next few hours. This is a site, it is a major change

since the grey and navy blue of the early years, fluorescent yellow

stands out. The numbers were 6000 in the 1981 London Marathon. 40,000

today. It's come an awful long way in those 37 years. It is now a

national institution and Chris Brazier and John Disley who founded

this wonderful event after having tried and tried in the New York

Marathon to see if London had the appetite and the attitude and

hospitality towards it. But there we are. Beautiful day, perfect running

conditions. It will take a good few minutes for all 40,000 to cross the

start finish line and each one of them wearing their own personal

transponders which are activated as they crossed the start line so they

all get their individual times. It is probably a good thing that for

many of them they get to run a bit slowly in the first few miles. David

Coleman, the great David Coleman sitting in this seat, used to say

start slow and get slower. Taking pictures of the Royals, great

picture, get them to do a selfie with you, that's the next thing. I

bet that happens throughout the day. As she crosses the start line she

has a collector's item. They are already, they are in good spirits,

on a joyous occasion. Now they are moving closer, they are going to get

in amongst it soon. You can sense it. They will be talking and

wondering if they should run it. Which one of us will run it? They

keep pushing Harry forward but all three of them would be contenders,

they are all athletic young people. This is a great site. The slow

procession through the gates of Greenwich Park ready to start the

journey which will bring them to where we are on The Mall in front of

Buckingham Palace. Cutty Sark looks beautiful. It has always been a

great landmark of the London Marathon for many years. We couldn't

see it while they were undergoing this work but it looks resplendent.

On a beautiful morning in London, a great day for marathon running. The

temperature expected to get up to about 15 degrees so not too bad,

maybe a little warm for some of the later finishes. As ever, all of

these marathons, big races around the world, it is the thousands of

people taking part who produced the spectacle of the event. There is

Mark Chapman who is supposed to be presenting Match of the Day 2. Is he

going to make it? Plenty of time, not on until 10:30pm tonight. He

looks all right, looks like he's enjoying it. I tell you what, you

know how they often use lots of good slo-mo on Match of the Day? Don't

need slo-mo for Chappers. These are some of the records being attempted

this year and I can't believe these are official world records but they

are. The fastest marathon dressed as an emoji, yes, that is a thing. Liam

is trying that I don't know the details of emoji he is dressing up

as, probably the one crying with laughter. Fastest marathon dressed

as a love heart, again, that is a thing! Fastest marathon in a

sleeping bag. I presume you have to be hopping around rather than like a

little caterpillar. There is Paula's telephone box. If you were with a

mile to go that would put you in a bit of bother.

For most people being on dry land, if you've been at sea for a while is

a bit of a relief. For you, Rachel, you didn't give yourself that

option. No, we trained on a seven-month deployment so it's been

quite difficult, hasn't it? Unbelievable, and running the London

Marathon different to running on a treadmill on a ship? We have four

treadmills on the ship that we used to train on and the flight deck is

200 metres long so we set ourselves a bit of a challenge. Unbelievable,

you are doing incredibly well. How are you feeling, Darren? How are the

legs? The warm up phase is definitely of the fun started 12 or

13 miles back. Chappers you look grateful for the rest. I am, thank

you. I wouldn't have stopped but you put a chair down for me. How long

can I sit here? Not long, you only have about eight miles to go, how

does that sound? I thought it was a bit less than eight. No. It is

getting worse sitting here. It is horrific and amazing in equal

measure. I don't know what others have said, but it is really hot, not

helped by the fact I have tights and a long-sleeved top on having trained

in the winter in Manchester. But the support is just unbelievable. I was

fine until, you turn the wrong way at Tower Bridge, it always does me,

going the wrong way. I've walked a bit recently and feel so guilty

because the support is so unbelievable. But I am just

absolutely shattered. Tower Bridge, that is about halfway,

they turn right from there and go down to Canary Wharf and then come

back. Grand scenes and grand sites, Big Ben, part of Westminster, the

London eye, the City of London as you look towards the East.

Some say the bulk of running a marathon never goes away. I've never

tasted it. Dale has tasted it how many times? 37. 37 in London and how

many in total? 100. This is your 100th marathon? On my 80th birthday.

I wish we had somebody to sing happy birthday, when you leave we will

sing it. Why do you do this? I'm raising money for charity, Sense,

the deaf and blind charity. And I have a new ankle, that is why I have

a crutch. You keep coming up with the surprises. You are a superhero.

You are a Bicentennial man and we are very, very proud of you. Keep it

up. I promised to sing it, # Happy birthday to you

# Happy birthday to Dale # Ollie, I have stopped you, you are

about the only person that doesn't take a seat at the 18 mile mark.

How is the British crowd cheering you on? They make you feel ten feet

tall, I don't like running, I hate it, and the crowd are keeping me

going, the crowd and jelly babies, so it's all good. I often say to the

guys out there for four, five, six hours, the elites have it easy, they

are done in two hours, they don't have to compete with rising

temperatures and being out there for as long as these guys. Yes,

hydrating and taking on various gels and whatever people use, jelly beans

were my favourite doing long runs but everybody has their own tipple,

as it were. Brendan has enjoyed a couple of cupcakes in the commentary

box. Yes but I earned them and I deserve them. I just asked Superman

what else I should call him. You said? Clark Kent. I said what else,

and you said? I've run my 302nd marathon today. 302nd marathon? 31st

London Marathon today in 1996. That is sensational. I've raced ?61,000

for charities and I run four North London hospice and hope to raise

?2000. His real name is Jim, do you still feel super? Definitely, yes,

thank you very much. Off you go! This is the best marathon in the

world, that's one of the best sites in the world of sport.

Karaoke Graham has arrived right on cue, take it away, you have a song

lined up. I'm A Believer.

Go on, Graham! You are not riding on your own

today. I am running with my mate, my son has just finished, but my bet's

knee has gone, so I am going a bit of head and stopping and trying to

stay with him as much as I can. I got him an ice cream earlier, but I

am still waiting for him to come through. That is what friends are

for, it is what the attitude is about. Everybody here, the people

who have cheered us on, the marshals, the police, St John

Ambulance, it is fantastic, such a great day. Why are you running? I

have been an ambassador for the Air Ambulance Service for 13 years, I

thought it was about time I did something. A couple of days later I

decided to do the marathon with my son, and he got run over and he

needed the London air Ambulance to get him.

Some more numbers, 7200 runners today will write blogs. Most popular

occupation, accountant. 2285 accountants. Celebrating the end of

the tax year! They can work out their split really well! Is Brendan

Foster retirement from commentating, can he run it next year? Is there a

world-record for the best Brendan Foster? Or retired commentators from

the BBC? Surely there is a category. He will not even pick up the

microphone. I just have. He has come out of retirement to say that! What

are you doing next year? I shall be sitting watching the London Marathon

on the TV, initially with my breakfast, and then with my lunch.

You cannot miss this incredibly luminous outfit, you have the visor

on, the sun has come out. Marathon number two? Three. How does it feel?

I did it for my 60th and my 65th, and now I am doing it because I am

70, so it is my aim to finish today, and it will be my last marathon. It

will be a shame to have lost you. You still have half the race to go,

but who is your charity? Cystic fibrosis and believes Jewish welfare

board. You are incredible, and surely a liar, 70? I am! Which are

so impressed with you, you are getting a round of applause, keep

going. An awful lot of people running for a

lot of reasons, what is yours? I am running to break a world record, and

to raise some cash for the racing welfare charity, a local charity. I

cannot help but notice you have a tumble dryer on your back. I watched

the marathon at home last year and saw somebody go for the record, and

something switched and I thought, I will have a go at that. A stupid

decision. He looked fit enough! You are at 18 miles, eight more to go. I

have got to get under six hours, so I have to ours. We will see. I think

you will be fine, but I do not want to get in the way, so you carry on.

Brilliant outfit, I love it, do you regret getting so warm? A bit, but

we are nearly there, raising money for McIntyre, a charity that helps

disabled people. Great support, amazing. I feel free to ask but much

money will you raise? Hopefully close to ?1000. I have been raising

money through the year. It is all going to a great cause. Next year,

if you entered, would you have the same attire? Maybe not a dinosaur!

Maybe something cooler! Well done, not far to go, well done.

# Ain't nothing gonna break my stride

# I'm running and I won't touch ground

# Ain't nothing gonna break my stride

# Ain't nothing gonna break my stride

# I'm running and I won't touch ground

# Ain't nothing gonna break my stride

# I'm running and I won't touch ground

# Ain't nothing gonna break my stride

Helen, fantastic outfit. I knew it was St George 's take, so I thought,

how can I go one better than St George? I will carry a dragon.

Raising money for charity at the same time. What is the atmosphere

like? Everybody speaks about it. It is amazing. I cannot even describe

it. I don't think he would be able to get through it without the crowd

with you. It is fabulous. It is the best day of the year. Brilliant. The

finish is that way, you can pick up a nice medal. And have a cup of tea.

Have one for me as well! Thank you! Looking down from the south side of

the Thames, past the London eye, towards the embankment. They are

coming to the final five kilometres or so. Well done, pepper pig. I am

not really with the kids! But well done, Blake. And various others in

various other guises. And quite far down the course, this is coming up a

slope towards Westbury Circus, alongside Canary Wharf. Water

bottles half empty scattered around the course, and the crowd stayed

there to cheer on those who are a bit slower, but again, it almost

does not bother what time you do it. Staying the course and completing

it. It is the end goal for so many people of so many months of training

and perhaps years of aspiration. Was that not a personal best? I was

going for four and a half hours, but I have never hit the wall before. 18

miles, I never came back. It is horrible. Hitting a ball is not as

uncomfortable, a real ball. How was your build-up this year? I was a bit

slack. The more long runs you do, the more things start to fall off,

so I did not do so many, but you can feel it. But the crowd is better

than ever. It has been a great day. As ever, I

have enjoyed every single moment. A bit sad for all of us in the

commentary box, being Brendan's last one. It has been a cracking London

Marathon again. A huge well done from us, from me personally, to

everybody, it has been a pleasure to meet everyone, getting in the

build-up, getting ready for the race, and I hope you have all

achieved your dreams out there today.

One of the many great things about the London Marathon is that

everybody gets a medal. That could be you in 2018. Even if you have

been motivated to just get up and get active, get over to the Get

Inspired page on the BBC website. There is plenty more athletics

coming up on the BBC very soon. Starting with highlights of the

world relay championships. That is all we have time for fall

after a record-breaking feat by Mary Keitany, a sensational 74 David

Weir, and thousands of others, smiling through the pain barrier on

what has been another fantastic London Marathon date. For now, from

all of us, goodbye. Our crack team of experts

use pioneering research