That was gutsy by Marcel Hug. He led a breakaway early in the race which perhaps took a lot out of the men who had to try to keep tabs with him David Weir and Kurt Fearnley.

Fearnley came in just behind him with Weir third. Brilliant racing wherever you looked.

Image source, PA

Five men make the final turn in front of Buckingham Palace and DAVID WEIR is one of them. Has he got something in the locker to get this done? They power up the home straight, the noise is punishing on the ear drums and Marcel Hug looks strongest, he shows his hand and pushes from the front, they won't catch him... the Swiss has got it. 

We have a sprint finish in the men's wheelchair race....

The lead men are responding to every "whoop" and cheer on these streets, they are absolutely flying and a 4:39 sixth mile underlines the rapid pace.

Tatyana McFadden of the USA is now way out in front in the women's wheelchair race.

She's searching for her fourth London Marathon title and every time she's won it, she's broken her own record. 

Image source, Getty Images

This is what awaits a runner at just before 13 miles. Imagine it. You're already emotional, you see the crowds, hear the noise and perhaps even see a loved one around this popular spectator point. It's exhilarating.

If you're reading this and contemplating the crazy idea of doing this next year, do it.

The lead women are just experiencing the wall of noise that is Tower Bridge, Mary Keitany at the head of a group of seven. The halfway point is just a short stretch away.

Dame Kelly Holmes knows what racing is all about.

But the former 800m and 1500m runner has decided to have her first pop at 42,000m. 

"I've been trying to switch off and blank out the noise but you can't," she told BBC One before the race.

"Being with all these people is the best thing. Everyone has an energy and is here for the same reason.

"My training's not been brilliant but the last five weeks I've had some good runs. I've found the mindset quite difficult. I need to not go too fast, too early. And running with people is making me a bit anxious. 

"But I'd like to run under three hours 30 minutes."

Image source, .

Image source, Getty Images

• Name: Wilson Kipsang
• Age: 34
• Country: Kenya

Over his last dozen races his marathon record reads: W W W W W W W W W W W 2nd.

And where did that second-place finish come? That's right, London last year. Wilson Kipsang has revenge plotted against his compatriot Eliud kipchoge. 

He set a course record here in 2014 but does not expect to see the world record of 2:02.57 beaten today.

"There is a high possibility that we could run a world record, but our approach probably doesn't allow this," Kipsang told ESPN. "It's mental torture. A world record does not happen in that kind of scenario."  

And of course, for every celebrity there are hundreds of runners in fancy dress. Where else can you see a clown, a dinosaur and a caged man in one place on a Sunday morning?

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

If you watch closely you may spot a number of famous faces from the small screen running the London Marathon. 

Here's just a few who are taking part: 

• Call the Midwife's Jack Ashton.
• Eastender's Charlie Brooks.
• Emmerdale's Eric Pollard, Chris Chittell.
• Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer.
• The Only Way Is Essex's Bobby Norris.
• The Apprentice's Gary Poulton.
• Robert 'Judge' Rinder.
• Gogglebox's Baasit Siddiqui.

A start line selfie from former Wales rugby union winger Shane Williams. 

Good luck Shane!

Further down the women's elite field we have a race for a place at the Olympic Games don't forget.

Only Sonia Samuels and Alyson Dixon have the qualifying time but they must finish in the top two Britons to cement a place. Any of their rivals can of course accomplish both the qualifying time and position today. What a day to create your dreams and steal someone else's from them. We could see joy and despair at the finish line.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Ex-British Paralympic wheelchair racer on BBC One

"The pace is so up and down. This is totally playing into Dave Weir’s hands.

"Hug's putting in some short, sharp sprints and not damaging Weir at all. At what point are they going to kick? They won't want to wait for that final right turn. 

"Weir is tucked in at the moment and looking comfortable."

Britain's Paralympic champion David Weir is keeping up both Boston champion Marcel Hug and Australian Kurt Fearnley in the men's wheelchair race. The Swiss is out in front with Fearnley in 01:06:16, as Weir and Aaron Pike linger one second behind.

The lead women - fronted by Mary Keitany in her black beanie hat - look good at around two hour 20 minute pace. They hit 10 miles in 53:44 and a pack of roughly seven look ice cool. Tower Bridge is coming up soon and then a right-hand turn, a turn which takes you into the second half of the race where the pain will arrive at some stage.

Wakako Tsuchida, Amanda McGrory and Tatyana McFadden were out in front at the half way point in the women's elite wheelchair race, with a time of 50:46.

Britain's Shelly Woods, who went out of the race last year after technical difficulties, seems to have pulled up again, but we don't know if it's technical or physical problems just yet. 

Image source, .

Yes, you read that correctly. Within that eye-watering mileage Kipchoge loves two particularly hard runs. One is a 20 mile run at just over five-minute mile pace (at 8,000 ft altitude). The other is a run which includes 12 x 3 minutes of hard pace. 

I did warn you. A bit of a freak this guy.

Image source, Getty Images

• Name: Eliud Kipchoge
• Age: 31
• Country: Kenya

Put simply, this guy is a bit of a freak. His last six marathons have given up five wins and a second place. He was the guy everyone hated at school sports day I'd guess.

Last year Kipchoge cantered to victory in London in sub 2:05 and followed it up with a run of 2:04 at Berlin to win in September.

How many miles does he run a week? That's coming up next. Prepare yourselves.

Simon Needle
Our reporter on the ground