Not only was the 38th edition of the Virgin London Marathon the hottest on record, it was the largest, with 40,255 runners crossing the finish line on The Mall, beating last year’s record by 768 runners. Amongst these runners, one held onto his winner’s title, one broke a British marathon record and 34 set new world records.
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Her Majesty The Queen pushed the famous red button from her lawn in front of Windsor Castle, setting off the men’s elite field at 10.00am on Sunday 22nd April. Just over two hours later, Eliud Kipchoge won the marathon, crossing the line in 2:04:17. Two minutes later, Sir Mo Farah crossed the line in 2:06:21, beating Steve Jones’s 33-year British marathon record, and claiming third place on the podium.
Related: Farah breaks the British Marathon record at London Marathon 2018
Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya won the women’s elite race, finishing with a PB of 2:18:31.
Before the elites was the Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon, with a course record being set by Kare Adenegan in the girls’ Under-17 wheelchair event. Cera Gemmell won the Under-17 girls’ crown.
Unfortunately, the hottest London Marathon on record was too much for 748 of the 41,003 runners who did not finish the iconic 26.2 miles from Blackheath to Westminster. According to the Met Office, temperatures of 24.1°C were recorded in St James’s Park.
London Marathon event director Hugh Brasher said organisers distributed four-and-a-half litres of water per person, which is more than any other mass participation event in the world, however he admitted water did run out at miles eight, nine and 10.
Despite warnings to leave the costumes at home, plenty of brave runners took on the 24°C heat in fancy dress, with 34 Guinness World Records being made. One of these was Rob Pope, who set the record for the fastest marathon in a film costume, as he crossed the line dressed as Forrest Gump in 2:36:28. Pope has received widespread news coverage, after his 18-month mission to recreate Forrest Gump’s run across America, clocking up 40 miles a day, whilst raising funds for WWF and Peace Direct.
Other records include Matt Berry, who became the fastest man to run a marathon in a wedding dress (2:55:52), Joe Gale, who completed the fastest marathon dressed as a love heart (3:05:55), Tim Perkins, who ran the fastest marathon dressed as a tree (3:52:35), David Smith, who ran the fastest marathon dressed in motorcycle leathers (4:00:11), Victoria Bell, who ran the fastest marathon dressed as a poo emoji (4:18:06), Colin Haylock who ran the fastest marathon wearing ski boots (5:52:16) and Michelle Frost, who completed the fastest marathon on stilts (6:37:38).
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Runners also included firefighters who were the first on the scene at the Grenfell Tower disaster last year. The crew raised more than £41,000 for the children affected by the disaster. Red Watch Manager Mick Dowden spoke for all of his team at the finish line: “We’ve all visualised coming down The Mall, but it was unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable.
“From day one, it’s been an unbelievable journey. It’s so far-reaching. We fully needed it and not just for us – for the community and the rest of the London Fire Brigade who attended.”
Police officer Charlie Guenigault, who was stabbed five times whilst helping others during the London Bridge terror attack ran for King’s College Hospital, where he had three hours of emergency surgery following the attack.
David Wyeth and Matt Rees – the Swansea Harriers runner who famously supported his comrade across the line at last year’s London Marathon finished minutes apart. Rees crossed the line in 2:47:55, before waiting to greet his friend at the finish. Wyeth told the BBC’s Gabby Logan “I was pleased to see him. I assumed he had gone to have a shower, he had already congratulated the winners but it was great to see him. Great to have the first person to give a hug was my main man.”
Former GB cyclist Chris Newton was the fastest celebrity, finishing in 3:07:11 seconds. John Lamont won the politician’s race, finishing his first marathon in 3:38:03. Other famous faces included TV and Radio presenter George Lamb, who finished in 4:49:50, singer Rochelle Humes, who crossed the line in 5:27:47 and Chris Evans, who ran his forth marathon in 5:12:10. Katie Price set out to run dressed as a lung, raising money for the British Lung Foundation. Unfortunately, Price dropped out with a knee injury at the 10K mark and a policeman was later seen riding through London holding her lung costume.
Women’s running pioneer Kathrine Switzer, age 71, who famously became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry, completed her first London Marathon in 4:44:49. Switzer said: “London’s always been there for me. I’m shattered but elated to have taken part today. It’s been a beautiful day.” Meanwhile London Marathon’s oldest runner, Samuel Starbrook, crossed the line in 8:21:44, with the words ‘ouch’ emblazoned on his age UK charity vest.
Sadly, this morning representatives from the organisers of the London Marathon shared the news that runner Matt Campbell had died, after collapsing at mile 22.5. A professional chef from the Lake District, Campbell had appeared on Masterchef last year. Campbell was 29 and running in memory of his father. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.
A record number of people, 386,050 in fact, applied for this year’s London Marathon, making it the most popular marathon in the world. The ballot for the 2019 London Marathon opens on Monday 30th April.
