london marathon

This year’s Virgin Money London Marathon was the biggest in the events history as over 39,000 completed the 26.2-mile race from Blackheath to Westminster.

Of the 39,140 who crossed the finish line in The Mall yesterday evening, records were broken everywhere. The marathon celebrated its one millionth finisher, several participant established Guinness World Records and time records, and astronaut Tim Peake became the first person ever to run the marathon in space.

This year’s winner, Eliud Kipchoge, smashed the men’s course record and became the second fastest marathon runner in history. Kipchoge obtained the men’s title with 2:03:05, just one minute 25 seconds inside Wilson Kipsang’s course record, and eight seconds outside the world’s best. Kipchoge also set a 30K world record en route to victory.

Jemima Sumgong took the race home for the ladies, despite rebounding from a heavy fall, sealing the fifth Kenyan double in the event’s 36 editions. Sumgong grabbed the crown from defending champion Tigist Tufa with a 2:22:58 time.

Tatyana McFadden defended her title, becoming the first to win four women’s wheelchair crowns in a row since Francesca Porcellato in 2006, while Marcel Hug won the men’s race for the second time.

McFadden and Hug both have maximum points in the inaugural Abbott World Marathon Majors wheelchair series and grabbed gold for their nations in the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup, while China’s Zheng Jin set a T11 world record in the women’s race for visually impaired runners.

Four British runners also booked their tickets to the Rio Olympics after achieving qualifying marks. Scot Callum Hawkins, eighth in the men’s race, smashed a big personal best of 2:10:52 while Tsegai Tewelde was the second Briton to finish. Alyson Dixon and Sonia Samuels also secured their spots for the GB women’s team.

After the elites came the masses, where 39,523 were set on their way running by Peake’s 10-second countdown. All but 377 finished the course, including the one millionth runner who’s name will be announced on 9 May.

World champion cyclist Chris Newton was among the celebrity ‘names’ to complete the marathon, beating his own best time with 2:44:37, while double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes clocked an impressive 3:11:27 and became the fastest female celebrity runner of the event.

There were an impressive 31 Guinness World records set at the marathon this year, including one in space, where Tim Peake completed the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon in 3:35:21. Sean Fitzpatrick broke the record for running in a film character costume, competing as Elsa from Frozen in 2:39:08, followed by Alistair Smith who clocked 2:45:37 as fastest in a nurse’s uniform. Naomi Flanagan was the quickest of the women, sporting a Tinkerbelle costume to become the fastest dressed as a book character in 3:08:34.