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| Thousands running London Marathon | Thousands running London Marathon |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| About 35,000 runners are pounding the streets of London desperately hoping to cross the finish line after 26 miles. | About 35,000 runners are pounding the streets of London desperately hoping to cross the finish line after 26 miles. |
| Among them are professional athletes, six Masai warriors, a 101 year old and amateurs hoping to raise thousands of pounds for their favourite charities. | Among them are professional athletes, six Masai warriors, a 101 year old and amateurs hoping to raise thousands of pounds for their favourite charities. |
| Forecasters had predicted perfect conditions for the 28th London Marathon but pouring rain drenched participants. | Forecasters had predicted perfect conditions for the 28th London Marathon but pouring rain drenched participants. |
| Defending champion Martin Lel from Kenya won the men's race in an unofficial time of 2 hours 5 minutes. | Defending champion Martin Lel from Kenya won the men's race in an unofficial time of 2 hours 5 minutes. |
| In the women's race, Irina Mikitenko, from Germany, took her first ever marathon win crossing the line in the pouring rain in 2 hours and 24 minutes. | In the women's race, Irina Mikitenko, from Germany, took her first ever marathon win crossing the line in the pouring rain in 2 hours and 24 minutes. |
| Earlier, some runners faced a slight diversion to the route following a suspected gas leak near Canary Wharf. | Earlier, some runners faced a slight diversion to the route following a suspected gas leak near Canary Wharf. |
| Engineers however found no trace of a leak, and the area was soon given the all clear. | Engineers however found no trace of a leak, and the area was soon given the all clear. |
| Singing and dancing | Singing and dancing |
| In the procession of runners weaving their way through the capital from Greenwich and Blackheath in south-east London to Buckingham Palace was Buster Martin. | In the procession of runners weaving their way through the capital from Greenwich and Blackheath in south-east London to Buckingham Palace was Buster Martin. |
| At 101, the smoker, drinker and father of 17 is hoping to become the oldest person to complete the race. | At 101, the smoker, drinker and father of 17 is hoping to become the oldest person to complete the race. |
| Others with dyed hair, in fancy dress or on stilts merely wanted to get to the end in one piece to raise money for charity. | Others with dyed hair, in fancy dress or on stilts merely wanted to get to the end in one piece to raise money for charity. |
| Six Masai warriors certainly came dressed in elaborate costumes of shields and jewellery but these were their every-day clothes - only their shoes made from car tyres were a new addition. | Six Masai warriors certainly came dressed in elaborate costumes of shields and jewellery but these were their every-day clothes - only their shoes made from car tyres were a new addition. |
| Isaya, one of the warriors, seemed confident his "comfortable" footwear would not pose a problem over the distance, but was less sure about the weather. | Isaya, one of the warriors, seemed confident his "comfortable" footwear would not pose a problem over the distance, but was less sure about the weather. |
| "It's very cold. It's very, very cold," he told the BBC. | "It's very cold. It's very, very cold," he told the BBC. |
| In pictures: The London Marathon href="/sport1/hi/athletics/7343047.stm">Kenyan sets new course record | |
| He said he anticipated his group, who aim to raise £600 for clean water for their home village in Tanzania, would cross the finish line after four hours, slowed down by their plans to sing and dance along the route. | He said he anticipated his group, who aim to raise £600 for clean water for their home village in Tanzania, would cross the finish line after four hours, slowed down by their plans to sing and dance along the route. |
| The memory of Jane Tomlinson, one of the London Marathon's most well known participants, lived on this year, as her daughter and husband ran together. | The memory of Jane Tomlinson, one of the London Marathon's most well known participants, lived on this year, as her daughter and husband ran together. |
| Mrs Tomlinson, from Yorkshire, died in September after a seven-year battle with cancer during which she performed many feats of endurance and raised millions for charity. | Mrs Tomlinson, from Yorkshire, died in September after a seven-year battle with cancer during which she performed many feats of endurance and raised millions for charity. |
| This year, her husband Mike, said he and his daughter Rebecca, 20, wanted to carry on the good work Jane had done for her charity, Jane's Appeal. | This year, her husband Mike, said he and his daughter Rebecca, 20, wanted to carry on the good work Jane had done for her charity, Jane's Appeal. |
| "It's hard to put into words the feelings for Jane. She was just the most astonishing person. She wanted to show people with terminal cancer can still get on and enjoy life," he said. | "It's hard to put into words the feelings for Jane. She was just the most astonishing person. She wanted to show people with terminal cancer can still get on and enjoy life," he said. |
| Jet lag | Jet lag |
| Dave Heeley, a blind runner from West Bromwich, is aiming to make London his seventh marathon, as part of the Seven Magnificent Marathons challenge run across seven continents in as many days. | Dave Heeley, a blind runner from West Bromwich, is aiming to make London his seventh marathon, as part of the Seven Magnificent Marathons challenge run across seven continents in as many days. |
| He has completed marathons in the Falklands, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, Sydney, Dubai and Tunisia, but has difficulty running with jet lag. | He has completed marathons in the Falklands, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, Sydney, Dubai and Tunisia, but has difficulty running with jet lag. |
| He told the BBC: "The trouble is, your body clock is all over the place and although you are tired and you want to sleep, your body's sort of saying 'hey, you're normally awake at this time, come on, get up', so it's certainly been an experience." | He told the BBC: "The trouble is, your body clock is all over the place and although you are tired and you want to sleep, your body's sort of saying 'hey, you're normally awake at this time, come on, get up', so it's certainly been an experience." |
| Celebrity runners | Celebrity runners |
| The professional athletes started the race in Blackheath, in south-east London, while the majority left from Greenwich Park. | The professional athletes started the race in Blackheath, in south-east London, while the majority left from Greenwich Park. |
| Paula Radcliffe, who has won the race three times and is the world marathon record-holder, was forced to withdraw because of a toe injury. | Paula Radcliffe, who has won the race three times and is the world marathon record-holder, was forced to withdraw because of a toe injury. |
| Celebrity runners include chefs Gordon Ramsay and Michel Roux, Liberal Democrat mayoral hopeful Brian Paddick, and Big Brother 2002 winner Kate Lawler who is running for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust wearing underwear designed by Ann Summers. | Celebrity runners include chefs Gordon Ramsay and Michel Roux, Liberal Democrat mayoral hopeful Brian Paddick, and Big Brother 2002 winner Kate Lawler who is running for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust wearing underwear designed by Ann Summers. |
| Mr Ramsey described the marathon as a great showcase for the 2012 London Olympics. | Mr Ramsey described the marathon as a great showcase for the 2012 London Olympics. |
| Were you watching the race? Or do you have a personal experience to share? Send us your comments and photos. | Were you watching the race? Or do you have a personal experience to share? Send us your comments and photos. |