London Marathon - Anyone watching?

[GroovyGangConscript]

First races (elite wheelchairs) about to start. Anyone else slobbing on the sofa watching folk exert themselves today?

I was just saying to DH, if I ran it I would carry o bunch of helium balloons, so friends could spot me. If you have run it, were they prohibited if you are running? as nobody seems to be carrying them.

Why not a Mental Health Mile, or a Single Parents Street, or a Cancer Survivors Stretch, Alzheimer's Avenue , couldn't they be vibrant and celebratory as well?

I've never encountered a race where this would be allowed, even at Disney where the usual rules of racing etiquette don't really apply as there are so many non-runners taking part.

Imagine everyone turned up with one, blowing this way and that, getting knotted together, catching on lamp-posts or street signs, deflating and dragging along the ground as a trip-hazard. Nightmare.

I'm excited by Yuko Gordon, a 72 year old lady who might smash the over 70s record. Go Yuko!

Best of luck to everyone running now.

The winning times are just incredible- these men and women are running faster then I cycle on a 26 mile route! I remember the days when a 3 hour marathon time was the goal and these guys are doing it in 2!!

Go Adele - great to see her looking happy and relaxed on the course.

Adele is around mile 22 according to twitter. I think she had to get under 4hrs to break the record.

Watching it and feeling very emotional, Alzheimer's, autism and cancer all close to my heart and to see people running for these charities warms my heart. Hero's all of them.

Adele (and Audrey)did it. Marathon runner and Guinness Book of Records record holder . What a woman.

There's a tracker app. It's made it a lot easier to spot someone.

Helium balloons used to be popular with spectators so their runner could spot them. Problem was there are limited designs and every other balloon would be a banana or similar

I've ran London marathon twice. Would not appreciate balloons on the floor or in my face tbh
The floor is slippery enough with gels residue/packets and discarded water bottles

Fab race 😁 men and women's just incredible, love the general participants, so emotional

I’ve been watching for my cousin, who’s running for the first time (it was her 60th birthday the other day, so I’m full of admiration for her). I’m also tracking her on the app, and she’s doing well. I got quite emotional watching the tv coverage at the finish - what an achievement!

I think she is a Nike sponsored athlete.

I’m on catch up! Love it!

It’s perfect distance running weather! The worst bit will have been keeping warm
before the start.

Good. Sponsoring female athletes and featuring them in their advertising is what * * Nike should have done in the first place rather than allowing men to parody women and mock female athleticism.

Sifan can't fail to inspire female athletes after her performance today.

Fell down a rabbit hole re. sub 2hr marathon, and has actually been done, but only in what you might call artificially optimised conditions (so does not count as a marathon record). From Wikipedia:

• Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) ran a time of 1:59:40.2 at the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna on 12 October 2019. This event was run with no other competitors, and with the assistance of fuel and hydration on demand, and in-out pacemakers. Therefore, the attempt was not eligible for official ratification.[101] This was faster than his previous assisted run of 2:00:25 at the NikeBreaking2 in Monza on 6 May 2017, which was also ineligible.[102]

@GroovyGangConscript it’s only a matter of time before it happens in a “real” race…..the right course, right weather conditions and one the pros with the bit between their teeth!

Definitely, emma I think we'll see it within the next decade, easily. Kipchoge has proved the human body can do it!

Adele is amazing - she has approached her cancer treatment and stoma which such positivity and has done so much on Instagram to reduce the stigma of having a stoma. I was over the moon for her that she smashed the record in 3.5 hours. A brilliant time for anyone.

I am now dreaming of a race where Kipchoge races Kiptum, because I think they could pace each other (and in my dream world both finish sub 2)

And if Safi Hassan was in the elite women's at the same event, and didn't have to slow for niggles, I think she could smash the women's record.

What an event that could be! I bet all the majors will be vying for that line up

Though today was also pretty good - Madison de Rozario triumphed in a closely matched women's elite wheelchair, and Marcel Hug just left the others standing!

It was great when they told Adele her time live on camera - what a moment.