“Knowing Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to me, although winning the US Open was a pretty good second.”
2015 Marathon report
Over 38,000 people took part in the 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon.
The media centre with two large screens - to watch two races simultaneously
The mixed zone - waiting for the first runners!
The Men’s race in the London Marathon was billed as the battle between two Kenyans, defending champion, Wilson Kipsang and world record holder, Dennis Kimetto. The race finished with a Kenyan 1,2,3 with Kipsang second and Kimetto third but both were beaten by a third Kenyan, Eliud Kipchoge.
The three victorious Kenyans!
The winner’s time was 2 hours 4:42 – Kipsang’s time of 2:4:47 was the fastest time in the history of the race by a runner who did not win!Kipchoge said afterwards: “I’ve won races a lot over the last couple of years and I am a low key person so there will be no big celebrations".
Eliud Kipcoge on his way to victory.
In the women’s race, Kenyans were the favourites but the race was won by Ethiopia’s Tigist Tufa, in a time of 2:23:22 from former winner Kenya’s Mary Keitany (Kenya) and another Ethiopian, Tirfi Tsegaye. Tufa, said: “I want to help my immediate family financially, in different ways. There are also some children I know I would like to help financially. Then I’d like to buy a car as I don’t have one yet.”
Five elite women before the race.
The Men’s wheelchair race was won by Joshua George of USA in 1hour 31:31, who finished a second ahead of Britain’s David Weir, who was seeking a seventh London Marathon win. Favourite and defending champion, Marcel Hug dropped out with a puncture.
Defending champion and strong favourite. Tatyana McFadden, won the women’s wheelchair race in a new record time of 1:41.14
The moment of victory for Tatyana McFadden
And in the mixed zone!
41 year old Paula Radcliffe, who still holds the women’s world marathon record, was running her last competitive race – running among the club runners, not the elite. Despite injury problems her time of 2:36.55 was inside the 2016 Olympic A standard!
It was an honour to be part the Paula Radcliffe swansong.
Photos: Virgin Money London Marathon and Stuart Weir