- London Marathon tracker: How to follow running progress
- Why the first two-hour marathon could be round the corner
- Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge wins men's race in a time of 2:04:17
- Mo Farah finishes third in a British record 2:06:21
- Mary Keitany fails in bid to beat Paula Radcliffe's world record
- Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot win the women's race in 2:18.31
- Britain's David Weir wins men's wheelchair race for eighth time
Mo Farah became the fastest marathon runner in British history as he produced a promising and gutsy performance to finish third in his second London Marathon.
A “knackered” Farah crossed the line in a time of 2:06:21, comfortably clear of Steve Jones’ 33-year-old British record of 2:07:13, despite two mix-ups with water bottles in which he said marathon staff were taking pictures rather than helping him find his drink.
The race was won by Eliud Kipchoge, the Olympic champion and the man considered by many to be the greatest marathon runner ever, in a time of 2:04:17.
After a stunning start, it had appeared for a while that Kipchoge may be in contention to break the marathon world record, but he was unable to maintain his speed over the final few miles in scorching conditions.
Farah, who finished in a disappointing 8th place on his London Marathon debut in 2014, delivered a much-improved performance on his return to the capital’s tarmac after three months of intensive training in Ethiopia.
He had vowed to stick with the leaders, no matter the pace, and was true to his word as he remained with the leading pack for much of the race despite Kipchoge leading the contenders in a blistering start.
“They were going for world record pace,” Farah said. “So it was do or die. I went with it and hung on as much as I could. It was ridiculous.”
The 35 year-old is now fully focused on marathon running after retiring from a track career in which he won 10 world and Olympic titles, and this was an encouraging start to his full-time career over the longer distance.
The impressive time came despite Farah’s rhythm being disrupted by two mix-ups involving water bottles as he struggled to identify his drink on two separate occasions.
“The drinks stations were confusing,” he said. “The staff were helpful at the end but at the beginning they were trying to take a picture rather than giving me the drink.
“I was saying to the people on motorbikes to tell the staff to be a bit helpful instead of taking pictures. I wasn’t wasting energy, I just needed a drink. I had to get it right.”
Paula Radcliffe, the wife of Farah’s new coach Gary Lough, said she had “never seen Farah look this tired before” as he crossed the finish line with a grimace on his face, before collapsing to the ground a few metres later.
Farah was pipped to second place by Tola Shura Kitata, who produced a personal best of 2:05:00, but the British racer will be enthused by a run in which he finished well clear of Kenenisa Bekele, the legendary Ethiopian who crossed the line in sixth.
Mary Keitany failed to challenge Paula Radcliffe’s 15-year-old world record as she faded out of contention before finishing in a disappointing fifth in the women’s race.
Radcliffe had said before the race that she believed her 2003 time of 2hr 15min 25secs was under real threat from the Kenyan, who had won the 2017 marathon in the second-fastest time in history.
And Keitany, 36, looked set to produce a genuine challenge after blitzing clear in a remarkably quick start to the race.
But she was caught by the eventual winner, fellow Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot, after dramatically losing her rhythm with around 10 miles remaining.
Cheruiyot, 34, crossed the line in 2:18:31 after producing an astute performance a year after finishing fourth in her first London Marathon.
Britain's David Weir won the men's wheelchair race for the eighth time after a thrilling sprint finish.
The 38-year-old pipped Switzerland's Marcel Hug into second place, with Daniel Romanchuk of the USA third.
The leaders were well inside the course record time of one hour 28 minutes and 57 seconds during the first half of the race, in what were fine conditions for wheelchair racing.
But as the race wore on it became a tactical affair as the top three braced themselves for a late burst.
And just like last year, six-time Paralympic gold medalist Weir edged out two-time winner Hug to claim victory in a time of 1:31.15.
Follow all the action below...
Picture of the day?
Men's official RATIFIED times
Bizarre time discrepancies causing confusion
London Marathon organisers are desperately trying to get to the bottom of a bizarre time discrepancy following today's race.
When men's winner Eliud Kipchoge crossed the line, the clock above the finish clearly read two hours, four minutes and 17 seconds.
However, when the ratified results were published shortly after, the Kenyan's time was recorded at two hours, four minutes and 27 seconds, adding 10 seconds to his time.
Mo Farah's new British record was officially clocked at 2:06.32, which was 11 seconds slower than most observers read on the clock when he finished third.
There is occasionally a discrepancy between the starting gun and the chip at the finish, but that is normally a second or two, not 10 or 11.
Nearly an hour after the leaders had finished, race referees were investigating which of the official times, or the famous digital clock at the finish, is correct.
That feeling when you cross the finish line
When Harry met Farry
Despite being absolutely shattered at the finish, Mo is back up and enjoying some chit-chat with Prince Harry
Rob Pope is great
Rob Pope has dressed as Forrest Gump and is now a Guinness World Record holder.
He's running 15.5k miles five times across America to raise money for charity.
Pacemakers are the best makers
Top, top, top gents.
Mo Farah: 'It was all good!'
I am knackered! The guys just went for it, for world record pace, it was do or die and I went with it as much as I could.
The drinks stations was quite confusing, I went to pick it up, the staff was really helpful towards the end but at 15k I figured it out.
It's so different to track, its incredible. It's a different pain, different training, I've enjoyed doing the training and taking part.
I was telling the staff don't take a picture of me - get my drink ready! I wasn't wasting energy I had to get that right.
We did talk about it, we did practise, I had to get the drink in me to get some energy.
It takes time, I really enjoyed it, gave 110 per cent. I've got a long way to learn about the marathon, I haven't seen my kids for three months, I'm excited to go see them and be a normal family.
Why is the pain different?
Heavy legs, you're alright for one bit but as you go along you get tired, tired, tired.
If I could run 2:06 here in a major marathon, there's some good guys I beat today, so i'm pleased finishing third, it would've been nice to pace myself. but i went through 60 minutes, its ridiculous!
I got great support from the crowd. I want to thank everyone who came out. It was all good.
Farah is knackered
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson on David Weird's win
"This is the strongest race we've had! David played an incredibly smart race, played it right tactically, in terms of wheelchair racing, it's a bit weird him sitting next to me cos I've known him since he was a kid but hes one of the best wheelchair racers ever."
Great photo of Kipchoge
"The Queen started it, the King finished it!" is Radcliffe's line. I like it.
Mo Farah breaks the British record!
He's finished in third place in 2:06:21 and looks exhausted. An absolutely awesome effort from Sir Mo!
"I've never seen him look this tired before!" says Radcliffe. He's coming in and won't be caught though.
ELIUD KIPCHOGE WINS THE MEN'S RACE!
A masterclass of marathon running! I think he's done that in 2:04:15, which is incredible. Kenya places first, Kitata of Ethiopia finishes in under 2:05 as well.
And here comes Mo Farah!
They're so close!
Kipchoge looks like he has more to give! He's way out in front!
He has a quick look over his shoulder but there's nobody even close to him. He's a machine!
Radcliffe on Farah
"You get to this point and you know you have a mile to go, you really appreciate that (the crowds). It's a very welcome sight. When a marathon runner gets to this point everyone expects to be tired but he's gritting his teeth and pushing his body as hard as he can."
Sam Dean on the women's race
Here's our man in the media room at the marathon, Sam Dean, on Keitany's failure to produce the race she'd hoped to.
Water fiasco
Kipchoge pulling away
He's gained about three/four metres on Kitata in second place. Is Kitata beginning to falter? Kipchoge is like a terminator robot, he doesn't look tired and just keeps on going. A grimace is starting to show on his face though...
And Farah is pushing himself. There's not as much bounce in the legs but he looks OK. He's still chasing the leaders.
Big cheers for Mo!
Kipchoge still leading
Kitata is on his shoulder, using him as a pacemaker and making sure he's there for the last stage of the race. Farah still in third.
Women's race finishing times
- VIVIAN CHERUIYOT (KEN) 02:18:31
- BRIGID KOSGEI (KEN) 02:20:13
- TADELECH BEKELE (ETH) 02:21:30
- GLADYS CHERONO (KEN) 02:24:10
- MARY KEITANY (KEN) 02:24:27
And for those interested in the progress of Great Britain's runners, Lily Partridge is about to finish her race and smash her personal best. That puts her in eighth place - she's the first British woman to finish today.
Farah watch
That's him on Tower Bridge from earlier and in real time, Farah has dropped way behind the leaders in the men's race though. Kipchoge is in control of this one, Farah in third.
She's not even out of breath
Congratulations! At 2:18.30 that puts her in the top 10 fastest times ever. A tremendous race.
Keitany fell way behind in the end. She's coming to the finish line now, that early push must have taken it out of her.
VIVIAN CHERUIYOT WINS THE WOMEN'S RACE!
600 metres to go for the women's race!
Cheruiyot leads the way! They're on the Mall, she looks good! Tired... but good.
Is Farah getting tired?
Those legs look a little weary. Farah is 0:07 off the leader and his face is that of a man pushing himself to stay in this race. And here comes another water station - can he navigate the precarious acquisition of a bottle this time?!
Radcliffe on Farah's race
"At this stage of the race he won't be panicking, he'll be feeling strong. He's well aware that ahead of him Kitata is running a risk. Just focus on the road in front of you, when you're tired it's one foot in front of the other. Nothing complicated, just get your body through it."
2.2 miles to go for the women
I raise my water to thee, the pacemakers. They are the real heroes. Also the athletes.
Mo watch
Kipchoge has gone up another notch and has a couple of metres on Farah in third place now.