London Marathon: Thousands of runners take part in colourful race
'Agony, ecstasy, triumph and tears' - ITV News' Chloe Keedy reports from the finish line of the 2022 London Marathon
Thousand of runners pounded the pavements of the capital, on Sunday, as they took part in the London Marathon.
Some 50,000 people set off on the eagerly-awaited 26.2-mile race from Blackheath in south-east London to the finish line on The Mall.
Elite athletes - including Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner - had already claimed victory in the wheelchair races, on Sunday morning, by the time most of those taking part began their runs in front of cheering crowds.
They included charity fun runners in colourful costumes, people undertaking a personal challenge and those wanting the chance to enjoy the incredible atmosphere which London always offers.
Lionesses Leah Williamson, Jill Scott and Ellen White - who were part of England Women’s Euro 2022 winning team - got things under way as official race starters in Blackheath.
Among those taking part was Rob Duncombe, chief pharmacist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, who was running for charity wearing an “absolutely stunning” 8ft tall oak tree costume.
Actor Stephen Mangan, who was running for Marie Curie UK, joked that “for reasons I’ve yet to fully understand I’m running the London Marathon” as he urged people to sponsor him to help raise money for “an incredible charity”.
A total of 18 Guinness World Record titles were broken by those taking part in the event, including the fastest marathon for a male dressed in pyjamas and a female in a toga.
As official Guinness World Records adjudicator, Will Munford stood on the finish line to verify each one. It was David Jones who secured the fastest time of all the records as he ran the marathon in two hours, 45 minutes and 15 seconds while wearing pyjamas.
Other record-breakers included Sarah Dudgeon, who broke the world record for the fastest marathon dressed as a witch (female) in three hours, 11 minutes and 52 seconds.
Donato Esposito snatched the title for the fastest marathon dressed as a hospital patient (male) in three hours, 19 minutes and 23 seconds, and Victoria Carter’s three-hour, 23 minute and 48 second run got her the record for the fastest marathon dressed as a vampire (female).
Both runners and spectators had to contend with rail services that started later than usual, following Saturday’s strikes by the RMT union, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) and Aslef, the drivers’ union.
Organisers had advised people to plan ahead, but said they were “very grateful” to Southeastern and Network Rail for their help in ensuring that train services from central London to the starting point on Sunday morning ran as planned.
Sunday’s TCS London Marathon marks the third time it has taken place in October, after it was moved due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Organisers said the race will be returning to its traditional spring slot in 2023 with the ballot for places to run on April 23 open until 9pm on October 7.
Eliud Kipchoge, who is not running in this year’s race after his world record-breaking run in Berlin last weekend, handed out medals at Saturday’s TCS Mini London Marathon which saw thousands of children take part in 2.6k and one-mile events.