Eliud Kipchoge now moves clear of the leading group which has been whittled down from around 40 runners to a handful. The defending champion also manages to grab a drink this time from the latest feeding station so a boost heading into the final stages.

Paula Radcliffe
Women's marathon world record holder on BBC TV

The key thing with Kipchoge missing his bottles as well, it can play on his mind. If he had allowed himself to appear stressed because he missed his feed station it would have acted as a boost for the other runners.

Richard Lendon: Olympics nearly finished. Might have to fill those long, empty hours with that the sleep thing. Boring…

Steve Cram
Athletics commentator on BBC TV

This isn't someone saying 'I feel good on Olympics day' Kipchoge will know that he will not have to slow down from this pace he has set.

The pace has definitely picked up as leader Eliud Kipchoge passes the 30km in 1:31:31 - the latest 5km done in 15:07.

Galen Rupp had been running almost shoulder-to-shoulder with Eliud Kipchoge for much of this race but is one of those in that leading group who is just starting to drop back a bit now as the pace picks up.

Paula Radcliffe
Women's marathon world record holder on BBC TV

The pedal is not yet fully down to the floor by any means but Kipchoge is starting to test them and ask questions of that leading group and see who is able to react.

Steve Cram
Athletics commentator on BBC TV

We are into the twisty section again and can Eliud Kipchoge, the defending champion, use this section to create a little bit of a gap here, break the rhythm and use these turns?

Eliud Kipchoge is the leader now, spearheading a Kenyan trio with Lawrence Cherono and Amos Kipruto as we approach 28km.

Kipchoge misses a feeding station not for the first time which I can't imagine is ideal in these sweltering conditions.

Daniel Do Nascimento stops again and now lies down on the floor clutching his stomach. Someone is quick to get to him and provide medical attention. Fingers crossed he's OK.

Daniel Do Nascimento was fist bumping Eliud Kipchoge in the lead a little earlier but suddenly stumbles and falls into a barrier. He gets up pretty quickly and runs to catch up with the leading group but that didn't look good. Not entirely sure he should have been allowed to continue.

What's everyone going to do by the way when we can't watch canoe sprint heats or a karate kata elimination round in the middle of the night next week?

There's going to be a big Olympic-shaped hole in our lives when this is all over.

Great Britain's Ben Connor and Chris Thompson are running in a group that also features Paul Pollock of Ireland. They've passed half race distance in 1:08:42.

The runners pass through the grounds of the former Hokkaido Government Office as we hit the halfway stage of the marathon. Stephen Mokoka currently leads the front group.

Andy: I can't talk for 5 minutes after running for the bus and these guys are having an in-depth conversation at 19km.

Claire Hughes: Omg the twisty section in the men's Olympic marathon is giving me flashbacks to the Canary Wharf section of London

The leaders have passed through the 20km mark, completing the latest 5km split in 15.43 and 1:01.47 overall.

VoiceOfTheMysterons: Oddly enough, you get a far better idea of how effortlessly fast the runners are going, when you watch the spectators at the side of the race trying to keep up with them ...

Callum Hawkins is very much part of a second group now behind the leaders, who are just starting to pull away into their own race.

The lads out in front are having a chat and a bit of a laugh as they approach the 19km mark - Eliud Kipchoge and Daniel Do Nascimento casually bumping fists.

Oh how I wish to be able to focus on anything other than putting one foot in front of the other at this stage of a race.

USA's Galen Rupp, bronze medallist in Rio, is that 40-strong leading group after 18km, staying close in particular to Eliud Kipchoge.

There may be no people dressed up in fancy dress in the race but I've just clocked a T-Rex cheering on from the sidelines.