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| Thousands running London Marathon | Thousands running London Marathon |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| About 35,000 runners have been pounding London's streets desperate to cross the finish line after 26 miles. | About 35,000 runners have been pounding London's streets desperate to cross the finish line after 26 miles. |
| Among them were elite athletes, six Maasai warriors, a 101-year-old man and amateurs hoping to raise thousands of pounds for their favourite charities. | Among them were elite athletes, six Maasai warriors, a 101-year-old man 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 a new course record of 2 hours 5 minutes. | Defending champion Martin Lel from Kenya won the men's race in a new course record 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. |
| Singing and dancing | Singing and dancing |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| It's very, very cold Isaya, Maasai warrior In pictures: The London Marathon Kenyan sets new course record | It's very, very cold Isaya, Maasai warrior In pictures: The London Marathon Kenyan sets new course record |
| At 101, the smoker, drinker and father of 17 was hoping to become the oldest person to complete the race. | At 101, the smoker, drinker and father of 17 was 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 Maasai warriors certainly came dressed in elaborate costumes of headdresses, shields and jewellery but these were their every-day clothes - only their shoes made from car tyres were a new addition. | Six Maasai warriors certainly came dressed in elaborate costumes of headdresses, 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. |
| He said he anticipated his group, who aim to raise money 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 money 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. |
| Jet lag | Jet lag |
| 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 last 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 last 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 their 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 their 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. |
| Afterwards, Rebecca said she was relieved to have finished and said she had thought of her mother over the final mile. | Afterwards, Rebecca said she was relieved to have finished and said she had thought of her mother over the final mile. |
| Dave Heeley, a blind runner from West Bromwich, was aiming to make London his seventh marathon in as many days. | Dave Heeley, a blind runner from West Bromwich, was aiming to make London his seventh marathon in as many days. |
| Singer Ronan Keating and Olympic rower James Cracknell took part | Singer Ronan Keating and Olympic rower James Cracknell took part |
| As part of the Seven Magnificent Marathons challenge run across seven continents, he has completed marathons in the Falklands, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, Sydney, Dubai and Tunisia so far but jet lag has proved a problem. | As part of the Seven Magnificent Marathons challenge run across seven continents, he has completed marathons in the Falklands, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, Sydney, Dubai and Tunisia so far but jet lag has proved a problem. |
| "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." | "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." |
| 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 was running for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust wearing underwear designed by Ann Summers. | |
| Mr Ramsey, who completed the distance in three hours and 45 minutes, said: "As I was coming over Tower Bridge, someone shouted, 'run, fat boy, run' - I don't know if they were talking to me." | |
| 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. |