The rain had eased off a bit but it's come back with a vengeance now.

That might be contributing to the slowing of the pace up front. Brigid Kosgei and Ruth Chepngetich have just completed the 19th mile in 5:34. I think they were around 5:08 earlier in the race.

Hope this women's elite race doesn't fizzle out.

Keep an eye out for a T-Rex roaming the streets of Gloucester today. Running in fancy dress is all well and good when there are thousands of others doing it around you, quite a different experience when it's a solo run.

Leaders Brigid Kosgei and Ruth Chepngetich have just completed the 18th mile but they've massively slowed the pace.

That last one was a 5:28 so that women's-only world record of 2:17.01 may be out of reach now.

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Hannah England
Former world 1500m silver medallist on BBC TV

Hopefully Steph Twell can go away, get healthy and decide what to focus her 2021 efforts on.

Oh no!

Steph Twell has stopped. She has been struggling with foot injury plantar fasciitis. The Briton is in tears as she hobbles off the course.

Britain's Steph Twell looks to be struggling after almost an hour and a half of running.

The 31-year-old, who was looking to get another Olympic qualifying time under her belt, was in a pack before but she's now running on her own and grimacing.

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Brigid Kosgei is staying on Ruth Chepngetich's shoulder as they come up to mile 16.

Kosgei was the favourite going into this but Chepngetich, who doesn't have a coach and is running in her first marathon major, is looking strong.

The pair are about to lap a bunch of seven runners.

Image source, PA Media

Women's elite race:

07:00-10:00 - BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and mobile app

Uninterrupted coverage of the whole day:

07:15-15:20 - Connected TVs, BBC Sport website and mobile app

Men's elite race:

10:00-13:00 - BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and mobile app

A Wright Marathon Workout with Mark Wright:

12:45-13:15 - BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and mobile app

Wheelchair races:

13:00-15:20 - BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and mobile app

Highlights:

19:00-20:00 - BBC Red Button

23:35-00:35 - BBC Two (00:00-01:00 in Northern Ireland)

We're just over halfway through the women's elite race but there is still A LOT more marathon to come today.

Image source, PA Media

Andrew Cotter
BBC Sport commentator

This course was actually considered for Eliud Kipchoge's sub-2 hour attempt which eventually took place in Vienna.

It was decided weather might be a factor and they needed a place with a more settled climate.

But it is a fast course and that's why Kosgei and Chepngetich are heading for a women's only world record.

If you're just joining us, the marathon looks very different this year.

London Marathon event director Hugh Brasher speaks to BBC sports news correspondent Joe Wilson about the unique event.

Ruth Chepngetich has surged ahead and Brigid Kosgei falls behind. The world record holder pushes hard and catches up again as they cross the line - 10 laps to go and it's getting a bit spicy now.

Further back, Britain's Lily Partridge and Steph Twell are still on track for the Olympic qualifying time.

Twell, who has achieved the time before, has still got her raincoat on. If you're not warm after an hour of elite marathon running, when will you be warm?

Tom Brown
BBC Sport Wales in Llandudno

It's one thing running the London Marathon after months of training and with thousands of fans cheering you on. It's quite another to run on your own, in the driving rain, after just a few weeks to prepare. But that's the situation 64-year-old Ian Turner is in today as he prepares to run his 26.2 miles back and forth along the picturesque Llandudno promenade in North Wales.

This will be Ian's 14th London Marathon but he says he doesn't run for fun, only to raise money. And he's been raising vital funds for the NSPCC's Childline service for almost three decades now.

Brigid Kosgei and Ruth Chepngetich are out on their own now as they just pass the hour mark with 11 laps to go.

And they're lapping their first athlete as well - Britain's Helen Davies. Never nice being lapped, but not too bad when it's by a world record holder and world champion.

Fans are not allowed as is the new normal with sports events, but the Queen and Prince William have managed to bag an invite.*

Great to see the Queen has brought a bunch of flowers too, presumably for the winners.

*NB: those are cardboard cut-outs, obvs

Image source, PA Media

Juliadroz: Best of luck to Neil Foster, running solo on the remote island of St Helena in the South Atlantic for 2 wonderful charities, SHAPE & Aeromobilty.

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There is a world record to go for today as well.

They're probably not pushing the pace enough for the main one, but the women's-only record is 2:17.01 set by Mary Keitany.

There's £95,000 on offer for the person who breaks it, so worth a go.