London Marathon 2023 LIVE: Latest updates as Kelvin Kiptum breaks men’s record and Sifan Hassan wins women’s

The London Marathon is back in its usual April spot and some of the world’s most elite long-distance athletes are set to compete across the capital city’s streets on Sunday - as well as thousands of others taking part in the general public.

Sifan Hassan was a surprise winner of the women’s race on her debut over the distance, while Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum won the men’s race in the second fastest marathon in history. The first British man home was not Sir Mo Farah, but Yorkshire’s Emile Cairess, who finished a creditable sixth on his marathon debut. Another Briton, Philip Sesemann, outsprinted Farah on the final straight to finish eighth. Farah came home in his final marathon in ninth.

The course sees entrants will start in south Greenwich, heading back towards the centre of London on to cut by the Cutty Sark by the Thames, hugging the river as they travel through Bermondsey and crossing Tower Bridge. From there it’s through the old Docklands and Canary Wharf before doubling back to begin the final stretch through central London, passing the edge of St James’s Park and on to the famous finish on The Mall near Buckingham Palace.

Follow the 2023 London Marathon live below:

London Marathon LIVE

• Kelvin Kiptum wins men’s race to set new London Marathon record

• Sifan Hassan wins debut London Marathon in women’s elite race

• Marcel Hug wins men’s wheelchair race for fifth time

• Madison de Rozario win’s women’s wheelchair race for second time

• ‘I wanted to cry’: Mo Farah bids emotional farewell to London Marathon

Sifan Hassan wins debut London Marathon in thrilling sprint finish

Sunday 23 April 2023 13:02 , Karl Matchett

Sifan Hassan won the 2023 London Marathon on her debut in the distance, producing a sensational performance to defeat the Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir and Ethiopia’s Alemu Megertu in an astonishing sprint finish.

Hassan, the Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion in Tokyo, arrived in London just hoping to complete the race as the 30-year-old made the step up from the track. “I’m going to finish the distance or the distance is going to finish me,” the Dutchwoman said, but she triumphed in one of the greatest fields ever assembled for a marathon.

Hassan’s extraordinary victory came after she pulled up and stretched out her right 15 miles in, falling way off the pace. The Dutchwoman reeled in the leaders with three miles to go, then surviving confusion as she made a mess of collecting a drink from a water station. Hassan recovered, even offering rival Yalemzerf Yehualaw, last year’s winner, a swig from her bottle.

Down The Mall, Hassan used her track experience to pull away from Megertu and Jepchirchir in a sprint finish, coming home in two hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds. Hassan’s training for the marathon came while also observing Ramadan, where she did not eat or drink during daylight hours.

Full report:

Sifan Hassan wins debut London Marathon in thrilling sprint finish

London Marathon

Sunday 23 April 2023 19:52 , Jamie Braidwood

Tens of thousands of people have braved the pouring rain to complete what is likely to have been the largest London Marathon in history and which also saw a new top time in the men’s elite race.

Some 49,675 runners registered for this year’s race, up from the previous record of 43,199 in 2019 – and around 48,000 are expected to have crossed the finish line on Sunday.

TCS London Marathon organisers said they expanded numbers in an attempt to reach a cap of 50,000.

Meanwhile, amateur runners broke 45 Guinness World Records, including Alex Grady for fastest time dressed as a boxer and Richard Allison for quickest while dressed as a three-dimensional dinosaur.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts, who began using a stoma bag in 2021 following surgery for bowel cancer, completed the fastest marathon for a person with an ileostomy, with a time of 3:30:22.

Kelvin Kiptum smashes London Marathon record in extraordinary result

Sunday 23 April 2023 17:02 , Jamie Braidwood

Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum ran the second fastest time in history to win the London Marathon, shattering the course record, in an astonishing performance that at one stage threatened to break Eliud Kipchoge’s world best.

The 23-year-old Kiptum destroyed the field with the fastest second half of a marathon in history, finishing well clear with a time of 2:01.27 - the quickest ever in London. Kiptum tired towards the end and finished 18 seconds short of Kipchoge’s world record, but his performance suggested the great Kipchoge’s time could be under threat in the near future.

Sir Mo Farah finished ninth on his final appearance at the London Marathon, with the British great finishing behind compatriots Emile Cairess and Phil Sesemann. The top three was rounded out by Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor and Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola, who had been left behind by the remarkable Kiptum.

It was the second extraordinary performance of the day in London, after Sifan Hassan won the women’s race in what was her marathon debut.

Kelvin Kiptum smashes London Marathon record in extraordinary result

London Marathon

Sunday 23 April 2023 15:44 , Jamie Braidwood

XR activist Tom Crowther, 22, who cycled from Kent to attend the climate group’s four-day protests, said: “I think a lot of the people who are supporting the marathon probably also support a lot of the values of Extinction Rebellion.”

On speculation that protesters could try to disrupt the race, he said: “I do think it’s quite a desperate situation that we are in globally and I wouldn’t think badly of them (if anyone did disrupt the race).

“But I’m here to support the people who are running.

“I also hope nobody does (disrupt it) but we’ll see, everyone been told not to.”

London Marathon

Sunday 23 April 2023 15:14 , Jamie Braidwood

An Extinction Rebellion (XR) activist stewarding people near the TCS London Marathon said there were “a handful of naughty people” who would have liked to block the race to protest about the climate situation”.

Up to 50,000 XR activists are in Westminster, central London, for the third day of a protest dubbed “The Big One”, with the race and rally intersecting as runners pass the Houses of Parliament.

The proximity of the two events had sparked fears climate protesters could try to disrupt the annual race.

XR said they would not intentionally do so but direct action protest group Just Stop Oil (JSO) refused to say whether activists might attempt to interrupt it.

Michel, 63, who withheld his last name, lives in Brussels, Belgium, but travelled to central London for Extinction Rebellion’s four-day protest.

Speaking at a barrier to the race route near Parliament on Sunday, he told the PA news agency: “I’m supporting the Extinction Rebellion group and today we are helping the event of the London Marathon as a steward because we would like to stop people from disrupting the race.

“There are a handful of naughty people who would like to block the race to protest about the climate situation.

“We believe a handful of people might want to do an action to block the race to protest that we are not doing anything for the climate and we would like to stop that because we don’t believe it’s necessary.”

‘Training for a marathon a decade after my last one taught me a crucial lesson'

Sunday 23 April 2023 14:44 , Jamie Braidwood

“Now, I don’t want to put you off darling… but you did say that if you ever mentioned running a marathon again, I was to tell you not to do it?”

My mum says this with an air of anxious trepidation that’s somewhat dampened by defeatism. She already knows it’s too late; she already knows I’m a goner.

Only one offer could ever have tempted me to break my ironclad pact: a place in the London Marathon.

Opinion: Training for a marathon after a decade taught me one crucial lesson

London Marathon

Sunday 23 April 2023 14:14 , Jamie Braidwood

Peaceful protests at the London Marathon

Sunday 23 April 2023 13:51 , Jamie Braidwood

Stunning finish from Sifan Hassan

Sunday 23 April 2023 13:37 , Jamie Braidwood

It’s hard to overstate how extraordinary that run from Sifan Hassan was.

From pulling up with a tight hip, to catching up with the best marathon runners in the world, to pulling clear with a sprint down the Mall.

‘I wanted to cry’: Sir Mo Farah bids emotional farewell to London Marathon

Sunday 23 April 2023 13:17 , Jamie Braidwood

An emotional Sir Mo Farah finished ninth on his final appearance at the London Marathon and confirmed September’s Great North Run will be his final race.

The Olympic great came home in two hours, ten minutes and 28 seconds and was beaten to the line by fellow Briton Philip Sesemann on the final straight.

Yorkshire’s Emile Cairess was two places higher in sixth on his marathon debut, but Farah was roared around the streets of London as he bid farewell to the race.

The 40-year-old said he will now look to “give back” to the sport once he waves his final goodbye in Newcastle later this year.

“London has been so great to me over the years and I wanted to be here to say thank you to the crowd and the support that was just amazing,” Farah told the BBC.

‘I wanted to cry’: Sir Mo Farah bids emotional farewell to London Marathon

Kelvin Kiptum smashes London Marathon record in extraordinary result

Sunday 23 April 2023 13:10 , Karl Matchett

Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum ran the second fastest time in history to win the London Marathon, shattering the course record, in an astonishing performance that at one stage threatened to break Eliud Kipchoge’s world best.

The 23-year-old Kiptum destroyed the field with the fastest second half of a marathon in history, finishing well clear with a time of 2:01.27 - the quickest ever in London. Kiptum tired towards the end and finished 18 seconds short of Kipchoge’s world record, but his performance suggested the great Kipchoge’s time could be under threat in the near future.

Sir Mo Farah finished ninth on his final appearance at the London Marathon, with the British great finishing behind compatriots Emile Cairess and Phil Sesemann. The top three was rounded out by Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor and Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola, who had been left behind by the remarkable Kiptum.

Full report:

Kelvin Kiptum smashes London Marathon record in extraordinary result

Ukrainian soldier who lost leg to run London Marathon for unity against Russia

Sunday 23 April 2023 12:52 , Karl Matchett

A Ukrainian soldier who lost his leg and has been fighting on the front line wearing a prosthesis will run the London Marathon to raise money and share a message of unity against Russian aggression.

Roman Kashpur lost his leg in 2019 when he stood on a mine, but fought on the front line in Ukraine wearing a prosthesis for six weeks after Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

The 26-year-old, from Khmelnyk in Vinnytska, has since moved into a role training fellow troops and on Sunday he will run in the 43rd London Marathon to represent his country and raise money for Citizen – a charity that supports Ukrainian servicemen with amputations.

Ukrainian soldier who lost leg to run London Marathon for unity against Russia

London Marathon 2023 prize money: How much will the winners get?

Sunday 23 April 2023 12:46 , Karl Matchett

The London Marathon returns to a traditional spring date in 2023, with some of the world’s best distance runners set to compete.

The ever-anticipated event has been held in the autumn in each of the last three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, however, it is back to a late April date, with elite athletes and recreational runners all training hard in a bid to complete the 26.2-mile course in the fastest time.

While the charitable efforts of many participants deserve and command much of the focus over the weekend, for those in the elite fields, there is also prize money to be won.

Here’s everything you need to know.

London Marathon 2023 prize money: How much will the winners get?

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 12:39 , Karl Matchett

Sir Mo Farah’s words after finishing his final London Marathon:

I’ve got great support here over the years and I wanted to make my last Marathon here.

I was confident and thought I’d do between 2.05 and 2.07 but you never know. I gave it my all but my body just didn’t respond. I pushed myself all the way but it didn’t respond and that’s when you know it’s time to call it a day!

Part of me was wanting to cry along the course - the crowd and people are amazing, even though it’s pouring with rain people come out and that’s what the sport needs, that’s what keeps me going. I will miss that, it’s quite emotional.

To finish third here was incredible. We need to give back to the younger athletes and teach them anything is possible. Some younger ones don’t understand that’s what they can do but they can. That’s what I want to give back to them.

It’s my turn, I’ve got a couple of races more and then I’m done. The Great North Run will be my last race to say goodbye to the fans and I’m looking forward to it. I’ve had an amazing career.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 12:37 , Karl Matchett

The largest-ever London Marathon will see tens of thousands of runners due to raise over £60 million for charity.

At least 45,000 people are expected to take part – including entrants classed as non-binary for the first time – up from 40,643 in 2022, making this year’s mass-participation race the biggest ever, according to organisers.

The Met Office has warned that runners in both the elite and mass races are likely to be hit by heavy downpours.

Racers range in age from 90-year-old David Picksley, to Lana Dales, who turns 18 the day before the race.

Largest-ever London Marathon set to raise £60 million for charity

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 12:30 , Karl Matchett

Sensational from the elite athletes all around!

Now it’s time to turn attentions to the tens of thousands of others who are racing for so many other causes and stories.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 12:24 , Karl Matchett

Sifan Hassan has been speaking to BBC Sport:

“It was really amazing. I never thought I will finish a marathon and here I am with my greatest mile. I won, I can’t believe it. It was such an amazing crowd, every kilometre I was so grateful. I didn’t know when I was going to stop,” she said.

“I saw them miss a drink and I was terrible getting them. I didn’t practice drinking during Ramadan and I didn’t know where to get them. When I was drinking, the first few minutes I couldn’t breathe properly. I also had a hip problem, so I stopped! It’s crazy. But then it went a little bit better.”

Kelvin Kiptum smashes London Marathon record in extraordinary result

Sunday 23 April 2023 12:17 , Karl Matchett

Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum ran the second fastest time in history to win the London Marathon, shattering the course record, in an astonishing performance that at one stage threatened to break Eliud Kipchoge’s world best.

The 23-year-old Kiptum destroyed the field with the fastest second half of a marathon in history, finishing well clear with a time of 2:01.27 - the quickest ever in London.

It was the second extraordinary performance in London, after Sifan Hassan won the women’s race in what was her marathon debut.

More here:

Kelvin Kiptum smashes London Marathon record in extraordinary result

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 12:17 , Karl Matchett

Full list of winners today from the four which are finished:

Men’s wheelchair - Marcel Hug, 1:23:44

Women’s wheelchair - Madison De Rozario, 1:38:51

Men’s elite - Kelvin Kiptum, 2:01:25 (London course record)

Women’s elite - Sifan Hassan, 2:18:33

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 12:12 , Karl Matchett

This is the last stretch for Sir Mo Farah too, who gets a big cheer as he comes around the final corner.

Phil Sesemann streaks past him at the last stretch to finish second among the British men, then Farah in 2:10:27.

His name is read out and it’s one big final cheer in his final London Marathon.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 12:11 , Karl Matchett

Leul Gebresilase and Seifu Tura cross the line, then so too does Emile Cairess - the British debutant who will now likely go third in the all-time list for Brits in the London Marathon. It’s sixth for him in 2:08:06, a great run.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 12:06 , Karl Matchett

Here come the nearest challengers. It’s Geoffrey Kamworor in second, 2:04:24 for him. Straight to Kiptum and gives him a massive hug. That’s a one-two for Kenya. Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia comes third. We’ve had word Amos Kipruto is getting medical attention a little further back too.

London Marathon live - Kelvin Kiptum wins men’s race

Sunday 23 April 2023 12:03 , Karl Matchett

Incredible run! Kelvin Kiptum speeds through, the fastest-ever London Marathon, a new PB, the second-fastest ever time in the history of a marathon anywhere in the world.

Two hours, one minute, 26 seconds! Absolutely sensational.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 12:01 , Karl Matchett

Right, Kelvin Kiptum. What records is he going to break here?! The London Marathon course record is definitely falling but will the world record too?

He’s just now on two hours and he will know how close he is to it.

Sifan Hassan wins debut London Marathon in thrilling sprint finish

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:59 , Karl Matchett

Sifan Hassan won the 2023 London Marathon on her debut in the distance, producing a sensational performance to defeat the Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir and Ethiopia’s Alemu Megertu in an astonishing sprint finish.

Hassan, the Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion in Tokyo, arrived in London just hoping to complete the race. “I’m going to finish the distance or the distance is going to finish me,” the Dutchwoman said, but she triumphed in one of the greatest fields ever assembled for a marathon.

Hassan’s extraordinary victory came after the 30-year-old pulled up with a leg injury earlier in the race. Hassan had to stop and stretch out her leg before catching up with the leading pack, which also included the defending London champion Yalemzerf Yehualaw.

More here:

Sifan Hassan wins debut London Marathon in thrilling sprint finish

A real inspiration – young rivals hail Sir Mo Farah ahead of marathon farewell

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:59 , Karl Matchett

Sir Mo Farah has been hailed as an inspiration by his rivals ahead of his final London Marathon on Sunday.

Farah confirmed on Thursday that this weekend would be the last time he attempts the 26.2-mile course in the capital.

While the four-time Olympic champion will take part in other races in England during the remainder of 2023, his final hurrah will be the TCS London Marathon.

Victory in the event has eluded Farah, who had to pull out of the October race with a hip issue and has not been involved since 2019.

It would take an extraordinary turn of events for the British veteran to taste success in his final London Marathon given his form and fitness issues over the last couple of years, but he has been hailed by the runners battling to cross the finish line first.

A real inspiration – young rivals hail Sir Mo Farah ahead of marathon farewell

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:58 , Karl Matchett

Eliud Kipchoge’s world record is in sight for Kelvin Kiptum if he keeps up this pace. Just over 1.5km to go there.

First here are a few fantastic photos from the women’s finish.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:48 , Karl Matchett

An absolutely sensational finish from Hassan, who was well off the main group but made up the ground, hauled herself back in from sixth into the group of three in the final stretch - then left them in the dust.

Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya and Alemu Megertu of Ethiopia take second and third.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:46 , Karl Matchett

It’s Sifan Hassan who wins!! Her debut marathon and she’s a winner! Absolutely streaked away in the final metres and the Dutch athlete takes the tape in style!

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:44 , Karl Matchett

It’s one from three now for the win - Jepchirchir, Megertu and Hassan are in a massive fight now and the crowds in the grandstand cheer them all on.

Who is going to find the late burst?!

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:42 , Karl Matchett

Right then, final stretch for the women.

It’s Jepchirchir leading, Megertu second, Yehualaw third, Hassan fourth right now. Chepkirui has fallen off the pace a bit.

The first one to make a little break was Megertu but then she quickly drops back in. Last year’s winner Yehualaw has dropped off a little more, into fourth.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:38 , Karl Matchett

Cairess has left Farah some way in the distance. About on track for a 2:08:00 pace for the younger Brit at the moment.

Back to the women’s race though - and a mistake there for Hassan - she forgot her drink was on the right side instead of the left. She swerves across and grabs it last minute, then offers Yehualaw a sip. Bit of a mental battle there perhaps?

Approaching the last mile now.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:32 , Karl Matchett

Defending champion, Olympic champion. Megertu was third last year. And the great track athlete, Hassan.

Elsewhere, Kiptum starts to up the pace and opens up a bit of a gap - but then misses his drink. That could be significant. He isn’t altering his approach though, he has quickly opened up about a 20m break between himself and the rest, just as he looked to do in Valencia to win there. 1:30:00 now in the men’s.

London Marathon: How technology is making the race entirely different from its ancient beginnings

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:30 , Karl Matchett

The marathon was always supposed to be ancient. When the event started, at the first modern Olympics in 1896, it was intended as a way of calling on ancient traditions; pointing back to the Ancient Greek origins of the games, and the probably mythical tale of the runner Pheidippides who ran to Athens from Marathon to report on the success of the battle there.

Nobody knows for sure what shoes – or none – Pheidippides was wearing. But his contemporary counterparts’ footwear is so advanced that it would have appeared thoroughly alien to any Ancient Greek, or even the marathon runner of a couple of decades ago.

They are just one technology that is thoroughly transforming the sport of long-distance running, admired for so long for being an ancient and simple art of strapping on some shoes and going as far and as fast as possible. Alongside super shoes have come digital twins and advanced wearables, technologies so advanced that they threaten to smash records and change the way athletes run.

More here on the ever-increasing role of tech in sport:

The London Marathon could soon look completely different

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:27 , Karl Matchett

Well now. Hassan is back in the lead group after making up all that distance, so there’s five looking at this late fight as we pass the two-hour mark.

Chepkirui is next in her sights, then the other three are all more or less level.

Are we going to see a debutant winner? A back-to-back winner? All options still on the table here.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:18 , Karl Matchett

Kipruto, Kiptum and Legese leading the way for the men. Kamworor is in attendance too. They are an hour and ten minutes into the race there.

But for now it’s the women’s race we’re focused on, with a great finish in sight.

Sam Harrison is 12th, the lead Brit, looking for a PB for sure as it stands.

In the lead quartet it’s Yehualaw, Jepchirchir, Chepkirui and Megertu battling away. Korir and Hassan are still just behind.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:08 , Karl Matchett

Now the lead group is starting to split! Four out in front and the pace is starting to rise.

Yehualaw checks her watch, Megertu throws away her bottle. That group looks to be responding to Hassan’s push to haul them back in - they don’t want her close for the final mile or so, which has been her strong point in distance racing until now, even if not in marathons.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:04 , Karl Matchett

Kelvin Kiuptum is just a second ahead of the chasing pack right now in the men’s.

Hassan has closed the gap to about 20m to the leaders in the women’s race - Jepchirchir is in the lead, Chepkirui second but pretty much level in any case. There’s real excitement building over the end to this race and it could be a scintillating finish.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:02 , Karl Matchett

Over the bridge come the leaders of the men’s race. Mo Farah just about dropping off now as he grabs his drink at the start of it. Emile Cairess is just behind him too.

Huge crowds over the bridge as usual, as we pass the one-hour mark.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 11:00 , Karl Matchett

Hassan is closing the gap a little to the lead runners - we’re 1:31:30 into the women’s Marathon and about 14km are left.

There’s a group of six at the front right now with Jepchirchir, Dibaba and Yehualaw all leading the way.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 10:57 , Karl Matchett

And in a surprise twist it’s Madison de Rozario who comes around the final turn ahead and she streaks clear to claim her second London Marathon win!

Schar in second, Debrunner third and Scaroni in fourth as that group who led throughout all cross the line in quick succession.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 10:52 , Karl Matchett

The women’s wheelchair race is into the final kilometres and it’s Catherine Debrunner in front, with Madison de Rozario, Susannah Scaroni and Manuela Schar all in close attendance - it’s still a four-way fight but will need a big finish from one of the others to overhaul Debrunner.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 10:49 , Karl Matchett

The pace-setters are out of the main group now in the women’s race. Still a group of five or six of them at the front now.

In the wheelchair race, David Weir crosses the line in just under 1:33:00, fifth place as he finishes another London Marathon.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 10:42 , Karl Matchett

“It is another truly dominant performance from Marcel Hug. We talk so much about David Weir on these shores but Hug is on course to become the greatest of all time,” says BBC’s Andrew Cotter on Hug’s victory.

“It is his third consecutive victory in London and his fifth overall. He was barely challenged at all during that race, which just tells of his quality.”

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 10:42 , Karl Matchett

Marcel Hug crosses the finishing line and wins the men’s wheelchair race! He is well out in front and adds the London title to that of Boston he won last week.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 10:40 , Karl Matchett

Some early excellent images coming through from this year’s London Marathon!

Ukrainian soldier who lost leg to run London Marathon for unity against Russia

Sunday 23 April 2023 10:24 , Karl Matchett

A Ukrainian soldier who lost his leg and has been fighting on the front line wearing a prosthesis will run the London Marathon to raise money and share a message of unity against Russian aggression.

Roman Kashpur lost his leg in 2019 when he stood on a mine, but fought on the front line in Ukraine wearing a prosthesis for six weeks after Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

The 26-year-old, from Khmelnyk in Vinnytska, has since moved into a role training fellow troops and on Sunday he will run in the 43rd London Marathon to represent his country and raise money for Citizen – a charity that supports Ukrainian servicemen with amputations.

Ukrainian soldier who lost leg to run London Marathon for unity against Russia

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 10:17 , Karl Matchett

Sifan Hassan just falling a little bit off the main leading group. Lots of interest over her race today. The first drinks intake has just happened, 49 minutes into the women’s race.

No drinking during training for Hassan as she was observing Ramadan, so this is a new aspect to contend with.

Asefa Kebede, Yalemzerf Yehualaw and Tadu Teshome are all up there still.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 10:12 , Karl Matchett

Manuela Schar is just ahead in the women’s wheelchair race, but it’s still looking like a four-way tussle there. If she does claim victory it’ll be a Swiss double, with Marcel Hug still way out in front in the men’s race and looking set for a comfortable victory already.

David Weir is in fifth at the moment, just behind Daniel Romanchuk.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 10:05 , Karl Matchett

The waves of runners in the mass event have started too now. They’ll go through in stages, grouping them slightly apart to avoid too much congestion on the roads.

Everybody is individually timed of course so no need to worry about going through the start line ten minutes after someone else!

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 10:00 , Karl Matchett

Time for the elite men to get underway.

Mo Farah is running his final Marathon, plus we’ve got Kenenisa Bekele, the current defending champion Amos Kipruto and the world champion Tamirat Tola. Kelvin Kiptum is the fastest-ever debutant, he’s here too. Chris Thompson, Ben Connor and Emile Cairess are among the other British entrants to watch out for.

We’ll have about another 47,000 runners starting just behind them too!

26.2 miles for them all to complete - and here we go, Eliud Kipchoge hits the start button and they are all underway!

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:55 , Karl Matchett

We’re close to the men getting started - Bekele, Kiptum, Legese. They’re all there. Eliud Kipchoge is only watching on but otherwise the fastest of the fastest are all there.

At the other end of the spectrum we’ve just heard from the youngest (18 years and one day) and the oldest (90 years old!) runners who are taking part in the mass event. Superb stuff.

Sir Mo Farah expects emotional weekend for his final London Marathon

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:50 , Karl Matchett

Sir Mo Farah has admitted there could be tears after he reiterated Sunday’s London Marathon will be his last.

The four-time Olympic gold medallist revealed in January that 2023 was set to be his final year in athletics and he would not attempt another 26.2-mile race following this weekend’s exploits.

Farah had to pull out of last year’s TCS London Marathon with a hip injury but he is happy with how his training camp in Ethiopia has gone and is ready to enjoy his last hurrah in the capital.

“Sunday will probably be my last marathon in terms of just being realistic,” the 40-year-old said at a press conference.

“It will be my last marathon. It won’t be my last race but in terms of marathon, the London Marathon will be my last.”

Sir Mo Farah expects emotional weekend for his final London Marathon

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:47 , Karl Matchett

Eliud Kipchoge is speaking to BBC Sport - he’s not running today as he was at Boston last week, where he experienced the rare emotion of not winning.

“The city of London is really good. It’s cool to be here and see the community is cheering the athletes. London is like home, it’s the place to be.

“It’s a strong field and I’m counting on them to push their limits. That’s the way to improve their careers.”

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:45 , Karl Matchett

In the wheelchair race Marcel Hug is now well ahead of Daniel Romanchuk and this is quickly looking like he’ll be making it a Boston-London double in very quick succession.

The women’s race sees a much tighter group in the lead, four athletes battling away with Susannah Scaroni out in front right now.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:43 , Karl Matchett

Marathon bosses are talking about the possibility of disruption today with some groups having suggested their intention for protests.

“We’ve put so many mitigations in place. It’s 26 miles of roadway - we hope people realise what this event does for physical health, mental health. We hope it goes off as it should do and how it has done,” says the race director Hugh Brasher on BBC Sport.

Previously, he added: “I’ve come from a meeting with Extinction Rebellion, they will be uniquely asking all their participants to help guard the London Marathon,” he said. “To do something which is unique in their history, to protect what is one of the crown jewels of British sport.

“We have been talking to Extinction Rebellion for months. They have been very clear they are in a new phase of wanting to engage the general public in a different way.”

More details here.

London Marathon boss responds to fears protesters will disrupt event

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:34 , Karl Matchett

Eilish McColgan has vowed to return stronger when she eventually makes her London Marathon debut after pulling out of Sunday’s race because of a knee problem.

Event organisers announced on Thursday evening that McColgan had delayed her travel to London to give her the best chance of competing, and would not be attending a scheduled pre-event media conference on Friday morning.

The 32-year-old Scot – who won her first major title in the 10,000m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games – had hoped for good news on the fitness front, but eventually admitted defeat after not being able to shake off the issue in time to run.

“There are a few factors that have come together like a bad storm. A whole host of things in the last three weeks have built up and this knee thing has been the final crack in the armour.”

McColgan had planned to run the 2022 London Marathon last October before being forced to withdraw due to a medical issue.

McColgan, whose mother Liz won the London Marathon in 1996, said: “I’ve shed a lot of tears in the last two days. It feels tougher because I’ve missed two now, for two entirely different reasons.

“I know how special the London Marathon is. I’ve been there with my mum, watched Paula Radcliffe on TV.

“I’ve had so many people messaged me to say they are running or they are coming out to watch it, raising money for charity.

“There are so many incredible stories around London and this weekend, so to not be a part of it, having trained so hard to be there, it is sad.”

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:33 , Karl Matchett

The remaining contenders in the elite women’s race (and their personal best time):

• Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH, personal best 2:17:23)

• Tigist Assefa (ETH, 2:15:37)

• Peres Jepchirchir (KEN, 2:17:16)

• Almaz Ayana (ETH, 2:17:20)

• Genzebe Dibaba (ETH, 2:18:05)

• Sutume Asefa Kebede (2:18:12)

• Judith Jeptum Korir (KEN, 2:18:20)

• Emily Sisson (USA, 2:18:29 NR)

• Alemu Megertu (ETH, 2:18:32)

• Natasha Wodak (CAN, 2:23:12 NR)

• Charlotte Purdue (GBR, 2:23:26)

• Susanna Sullivan (USA, 2:25:14)

• Ellie Pashley (AUS, 2:26:21)

• Stephanie Davis (GBR, 2:27:16)

• Maor Tiyouri (ISR, 2:29:04)

• Alice Wright (GBR, 2:29:08)

• Rosie Edwards (GBR, 2:31:56)

• Samantha Harrison (GBR, 2:32:22)

• Eilish McColgan (GBR, debut)

• Sifan Hassan (NED, debut)

• Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH, debut)

• Dominique Scott (RSA, debut)

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:31 , Karl Matchett

A sad start - Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei is unfortunately already out after just a couple of minutes.

She came into the Marathon with a slight injury and clearly it hasn’t cleared up in time, leaving the marathon world record holder to step aside and leave the field.

Eilish McColgan withdraws from London Marathon due to knee injury

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:30 , Karl Matchett

You’ll notice one elite name is absent today - Eilish McColgan pulled out of the London Marathon on Sunday because of a knee problem.

Event organisers announced on Thursday evening that McColgan delayed her travel to London to give her the best chance of competing, and would not be attending a scheduled pre-event media conference on Friday morning.

The 32-year-old Scot, who won her first major title on the track at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, had hoped to see how the injury responded, but confirmed she had not been able to shake off the issue in time to run.

Eilish McColgan withdraws from London Marathon due to knee injury

London Marathon live - women’s race starts

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:27 , Karl Matchett

And they’re off! The women’s elite race is underway amid plenty of cheers. The weather could impact later on in terms of timings, with rain expected from around 10am local time.

But the expectation is also simply that this could be an epic race with so many potential winners.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:24 , Karl Matchett

Sifan Hassan, Almaz Ayana, Peres Jepchirchir, Yalemzerf Yehualaw and more.

We’ve got the current world record holder, the reigning Olympic champion, the 2022 Marathon winner and a double Olympic champion, the current 10,000m champion and the current 1,500m world record holder.

There’s an absolutely huge amount of talent lining up for the elite women’s race and that’s due to get underway in just a couple of minutes. The athletes are going through their final preparations now.

The greatest distance race of all time, this is being heralded as.

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:20 , Karl Matchett

Defending champion Yalemzerf Yehualaw feels in “good shape” as she looks to retain her London Marathon title on Sunday.

The Ethiopian won last year’s race in October with a time of two hours 17 minutes and 26 seconds, which was the third fastest at the event, to finish ahead of previous winner Joyciline Jepkosgei.

Although Britain’s Eilish McColgan has pulled out because of a knee problem, the 2023 field includes world-record holder Brigid Kosgei and reigning Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir, while Sifan Hassan is set to make her marathon debut following 10,000 metres and 5,000m gold at Tokyo 2020.

Yehualaw, 23, knows Sunday will present a stern challenge of her ambitions to follow Kosgei in winning back-to-back London Marathon titles.

“I am so happy to be back in London, a beautiful city with a great competition. My preparation has gone very well,” she said.

“I want to defend my title on Sunday and am ready to do my best.”

Yehualaw told a press conference: “I am in good shape. I am just focused on a long run like before (rather than any specific time), and I like that.”

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:16 , Karl Matchett

The wheelchair race is all set for starting, Susannah Scaroni in place after just recently winning in Boston.

London’s course record last year fell to Catherine Debrunner - she’s back too.

Eight-time winner David Weir is there and gets a huge cheer as the 43-year-old prepares to start.

Marcel Hug won in Boston for the men last week and he’s here again too.

Gordon Perry hits the button - and we’re officially underway!

London Marathon 2023 prize money

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:10 , Karl Matchett

The London Marathon returns to a traditional spring date in 2023, with some of the world’s best distance runners set to compete.

The ever-anticipated event has been held in the autumn in each of the last three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, however, it is back to a late April date, with elite athletes and recreational runners all training hard in a bid to complete the 26.2-mile course in the fastest time.

While the charitable efforts of many participants deserve and command much of the focus over the weekend, for those in the elite fields, there is also prize money to be won.

Here’s everything you need to know.

London Marathon 2023 prize money: How much will the winners get?

David Weir feels refreshed ahead of 24th London Wheelchair Marathon

Sunday 23 April 2023 09:06 , Karl Matchett

David Weir feels refreshed and ready to go again as he prepares to tackle a 24th consecutive London Wheelchair Marathon – with no plans to retire just yet.

While Sir Mo Farah reiterated Sunday would mark his last London Marathon appearance, Weir, 43, already has his sights set on reaching a quarter-of-a-century of appearances in the showpiece event.

The British para-athlete, an eight-time winner in London, produced an impressive victory in the Paris Marathon at the start of April.

Having finished third in London in both 2021 and 2022, Weir remains determined to deliver another strong display back on home soil.

David Weir feels refreshed ahead of 24th London Wheelchair Marathon

What time does the London Marathon start?

Sunday 23 April 2023 08:59 , Karl Matchett

Here are all the start times for the day with the mini marathon already underway. The elite wheelchair, elite women’s and elite men’s will follow - along with everyone else!

What time does it start?

8.50am BST: Mini London marathon

9.15am: Elite wheelchair races

9.25am: Elite women’s race

10.00am: Elite men’s race and mass start

London Marathon: What time is the emergency alert system test?

Sunday 23 April 2023 08:55 , Karl Matchett

Millions of mobile phones across the UK will emit a loud alarm and vibrate in a nationwide test of a new public alert system later this month.

The system is intended to be used in life-threatening situations including flooding and wildfires. The message will be received on 4G and 5G mobile phones, along with sound and vibration for up to 10 seconds.

However, the timing will coincide with several large public events including Premier League matches and the London Marathon. Find out more here:

What time is theemergency alert system test?

London Marathon runners could face heavy rain for much of the race

Sunday 23 April 2023 08:49 , Karl Matchett

Tens of thousands of people running this year’s London Marathon could be drenched in heavy rain for much of the race, forecasters have warned.

The Met Office has predicted a “very wet” Sunday in the capital with a higher than 50% chance of downpours persisting through a nine-hour window from 7am until 4pm.

Jonathan Vautrey, a spokesman for the forecaster, said runners will experience temperatures of around 10C.

London Marathon runners could face heavy rain for much of the race

‘There will be tears’: Can Mo Farah roll back the years in final London Marathon?

Sunday 23 April 2023 08:40 , Karl Matchett

There will be tears when Sir Mo Farah turns away from Buckingham Palace on Sunday morning and dashes down The Mall one last time.

A final marathon for one of the all-time great Britons, who has been humbled by the alluring distance, growing wiser with age as he bids to conquer 26.2 miles for the first time since October 2019 when he finished eighth in Chicago in 2:09:58 - 4:47 slower than his personal best.

Now 40 years of age, Farah appreciates merely stepping on the start line, following a late withdrawal last year in London. Reflecting on a legendary career, which included four Olympic gold medals and the British marathon record, Farah is savouring the journey.

‘There will be tears’: Mo Farah braced for ‘emotional’ London Marathon

London Marathon live

Sunday 23 April 2023 08:28 , Karl Matchett

The London Marathon returns in 2023 as one of the signature events on the distance-running calendar.

After a pandemic enforced shift in timing, this year sees the race revert to its traditional springtime place.

Thousands of entrants will aim to complete the 26.2 mile course, taking in the sights and the sounds as they weave through some of the city’s most famous streets.

And the elite racing crowns are set to be as hotly contested as ever, with strong fields named.

Here’s everything you need to know.

London Marathon 2023: Route, time, tracking, road closures and who is racing