Summary

  • Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei wins fast women's race in 2:17.42, world record holder Brigid Kosgei fourth

  • Ethiopia's Sisay Lemma goes clear to win men's race in 2:04.01

  • Junior doctor Phil Sesemann seventh on marathon debut; Charlotte Purdue first GB woman to finish in 10th

  • Switzerland's Marcel Hug and Manuela Schar set course records to win wheelchair races; Britain’s David Weir third in men's race

  • Event returns to traditional course and with charity runners for first time since 2019

  • More than 36,000 on London's streets, with 40,000 participating virtually

Live Reporting

Becky Grey, Mike Henson and Sam Webb

  1. Get Involved

    #bbcmarathon or 8111 on text (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate)

    Gem, Lucas and Quinn: Good luck to my husband Steve Priddle (from Ringwood) we are so so proud of you. You have got this. All our love Gem, Lucas and Quinn xxxx

    Anonymous: Good luck Jamie Payne (49058) running for Children United & 1000 Hearts For Harry xxxx

    Anonymous: Good Luck to all the PGC1 squad. Remember the JSMentality. From all the ones cheering you on back in Daventry & Rugby.

    Please remember to put your name on texts

  2. 'Toughest wheelchair race in years'

    Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
    Eleven-time Paralympic champion on BBC TV

    With the number of medallists we've got from Tokyo, but also previous winners, it's one of the toughest races there's been for a few years.

    The conditions are much better this year. If it stays like this it will be perfect for some fast times this year.

  3. Start times

    Just 20 minutes to go before the wheelchair races begin.

    08:50 BST Elite wheelchairs

    09:00 BST Elite women

    09:30 BST Elite men and staggered mass start

  4. Get Involved

    #bbcmarathon or 8111 on text (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate)

    Heart Runner Girl: I haven’t been that fit this year (I sometimes hardly had the energy to get groceries), but going to enjoy the 26.2 mile sightseeing tour of London today. Let’s do this together!

  5. Positive Covid test despite 'strict protocols' in athletes' hotel

    Steve Cram
    Athletics commentator on BBC TV

    Despite the restrictions that were put in place at the athletes' hotel, I've been there for the last few days, everyone was wearing transponders to make sure their movements were monitored, we have had one positive test amongst the elite racers.

    Some athletes from red list countries were separated. There were very strict protocols that we've followed. Sadly Kinde Atanaw has had a positive test. Thankfully, everyone else has been given the all clear.

  6. Get Involved

    #bbcmarathon or 8111 on text (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate)

    Huge Good luck to Laura Cameron who is running her first EVER marathon for East Lancs Hospice in memory of her beautiful sister Louise Mayoh, the whole o Darwen are behind you!!!xxx

    Anonymous

    Good luck to my sister Diane law who is running for first time.

    Julie

  7. The course

    Only elite racers were allowed last year because of coronavirus and they had to run on a loop course rather than the traditional route.

    But the course is back to normal this year with runners starting in Blackheath and taking in landmarks like the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and finishing on the Mall by the most iconic site of them all: Buckingham Palace.

    A map of the London marathon courseLondon Marathon

  8. Atanaw withdrawn after positive test

    Ethiopia's Kinde Atanaw, who was seventh-fastest in the elite men's field, had to withdraw late last night because of a positive Covid-19 test.

    Atanaw was immediately isolated and all athletes and coaches who travelled with him as well as support staff and physios took a PCR test, with the others' results all coming back negative.

    All other athletes have been cleared to race.

    Event director Hugh Brasher said: “We are so sorry that Kinde Atanaw is not able to race tomorrow. Our absolute priority has been the safety and wellbeing of every athlete, coach, manager and staff member.”

  9. Get involved

    #bbcmarathon or 8111 on text

    If you are one today's 40,000 plus registered virtual runners, we want to hear from you to find out how you are getting on, where you are running and who you are fundraising for.

    You can send in your messages of support for virtual or in-person runners too.

    Contact us on Twitter using the hashtag #bbcmarathon or by texting 81111 (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate).

  10. Start times

    08:50 BST Elite wheelchairs

    09:00 BST Elite women

    09:30 BST Elite men and staggered mass start

  11. We'll be bringing you live updates on the elite races, with the wheelchair races first up, and sharing your messages of support.

    So let's look at what's coming up and how you can get in touch.

  12. Two and a bit years ago

    28 April 2019.

    Virgil van Dijk and Vivianne Miedema were tearing it up...

    Virgil Van Dijk and Vivanne MiedemaPA Media

    Daniel Craig and his co-stars were flogging his latest Bond flick...

    James Bond promotional shotGetty Images

    ....and the London Marathon was splattering the streets of London with sweat, colour and craziness...

    London Marathon: Watch as Big Ben encounters some difficulty

    In some ways, it feels so recent. And in other ways, so long ago.

    For the first time in more than two years, a full-bore, old-course London Marathon is on.

    It's good to have it back...